Deng Wei sets world record

SINGAPORE: Golden girl Deng Wei just failed to make it six-for-six in lifts, but even though she missed her last attempt in the clean and jerk she claimed an impressive victory in the women’s 58-kilogramme weightlifting competition at the Youth Olympic Games and set a world record in the process.

Deng did not give her opponents a chance from the outset as she dominated the snatch by reaching 110-kg on her third attempt.

She followed with 132-kg in the clean and jerk for a 242-kg total, one kg better than the previous International Weightlifting Federation’s junior world record.

First time in a pool

Excited Liberians Sima Weah and Mika-Jah Teah, who usually train in a river, experienced a swimming pool for the first time ever when they competed at the Games.

The pair, who took their first airplane flight to get here, took part in the men’s 50-metre freestyle heats and finished 24 seconds behind the fastest qualifiers. “We swim in the open river,” said Teah. “This is my first time in a pool.” The 17-year-olds train in the Rockspring Valley River near Liberia’s capital Monrovia.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2010.