China's Olympic champion Li Wenwen won three gold medals in the women's +87 kilogram category on her return at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on Wednesday.
Li sustained an injury in her right elbow at the World Championships in September last year, which forced her out of the Hangzhou Asian Games a month later. Wednesday marked her first appearance since the injury, as she reasserted her dominance in the super-heavyweight contest with three golds from lifting 145 kg in the snatch, 180 kg in the clean and jerk, and 325 kg of total weight, with the snatch result surpassing her own record of 140 kg at the Tokyo Olympics.
Li Wenwen in action during the women's +87 kg category final at the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, April 10, 2024. /Xinhua
"Before I was injured, things went too smooth for me. I was caught off guard when the injury happened," said Li.
"Then I started to reflect on my problems and realized there was something problematic with my moves, so I adjusted training which was reflected in my performance today," she added.
"I lifted 145 kg in my third attempt of the clean and jerk today, and it felt even lighter than the 133 kg from my first attempt. I need to continue to enhance myself. I think I still have a chip on my shoulder when it comes to snatch," she reflected.
"I give myself an 80 out of 100 today. I still got room to improve," said the 24-year-old.
The IWF World Cup in Thailand, which started on March 31, will draw its curtain on April 11 and is part of the qualifying process to the Paris Olympics.
Team China's lifters have concluded their World Cup trip with a total of 11 golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes, while four lifters shattered five world records. Li is the only lifter in the team who has pocketed three gold medals.