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20 years anniversary of female inclusion in weightlifting at the Olympic Games

The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games held great significance, not only in terms of weightlifting history, but also in terms of universal sports history. For the first time female weightlifters were able to compete at an Olympic Games.

In the millennium year, the Olympics were held at the second half of September, where in addition to the men categories, women categories were added to the weightlifting program. Previously female weightlifters could only compete at continental and world championships.

On the Olympic program weightlifters competed in 8 male and 7 female weight classes. Altogether 162 male athletes from 63 countries and 85 female athletes from 47 countries participated in the weightlifting competitions.

The medal ceremony of the first female weightlifter was one of the greatest moments in weightlifting history, where Tara Nott (USA) was awarded the gold medal in the 48 kilograms on September 17, 2000.After the win of Tara Nott, overall Chinese weightlifters dominated the female categories, but Mexico and Colombia also won gold medals. On the last day of the women’s competition on the 22nd of September, China won the gold medal in the +75kg category. With this win China recorded a total of four female category wins.

The distribution of gold medals was greater for men: six countries won gold medals, with Iran and Greece winning 2-2 gold medals in the male weight classes. In the male categories a total of 13 nations, in the women categories 14 countries won Olympic medals in Sydney.

Female weightlifters broke 17 senior world record, while male weightlifters broke 9 senior world records during the Sydney Olympic Games.

Medal Table of the Sydney Olympic Games:

Men

Gold

Silver

Bronze

GRE

2

2

0

IRI

2

0

0

BUL

1

2

0

CHN

1

1

1

CRO

1

0

0

TUR

1

0

0

GER

0

2

0

POL

0

1

0

BLR

0

0

2

RUS

0

0

2

GEO

0

0

1

QAT

0

0

1

ARM

0

0

1

Women

Gold

Silver

Bronze

CHN

4

0

0

USA

1

0

1

COL

1

0

0

MEX

1

0

0

INA

0

1

2

TPE

0

1

1

PRK

0

1

0

POL

0

1

0

HUN

0

1

0

NGR

0

1

0

RUS

0

1

0

GRE

0

0

1

IND

0

0

1

THA

0

0

1