Young weightlifter shows promise
Iraq concludes Paris Olympics without medals
PARIS — Iraq’s participation in the Paris Olympics concluded without any medals as weightlifter Ali Ammar Yusur Rubaiawi finished sixth in the men’s +102 kg category on Saturday night.
Ali Ammar, at just 20 years old, was the youngest competitor in his category. He lifted a total of 437 kg, which ranked him sixth out of the top 12 global competitors. Although he did not win a medal, his performance was notable for setting two Junior World Records in the Snatch and overall total during the competition.
In the Snatch event, Rubaiawi exceeded his personal best by lifting 200 kg, marking a significant achievement on the global stage. He also established a new youth world record with a combined lift of 437 kg in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk events.
The gold medal in the men’s +102 kg category went to Georgia’s Lasha Talakhadze, who lifted a total of 470 kg. Armenia’s Varazdat Lalayan took silver with a 467 kg lift, and Gor Minasyan of Bahrain claimed bronze with a total lift of 461 kg.
Despite the lack of medals, Ali Ammar’s performance underscores the young weightlifter’s potential in forthcoming competitions.
The overall performance of Iraqi athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics was marred by setbacks, including disappointing results and a doping scandal. Sprinter Taha Hussein was ousted in the men’s 100-meter quarterfinals, and judoka Sajjad Ghanim faced suspension after testing positive for banned substances. In swimming, Hasan Ali did not progress beyond the heats in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, finishing seventh in his heat. Additionally, the men’s football team, despite victory against Ukraine, exited early after defeats to Argentina and Morocco.
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