Coachless lifter Kianoush Rostami predicts more golds

Weightlifting gold medallist Kianoush Rostami confidently predicted more world records and first-place finishes for Iran after he grabbed his country's first medal of the Rio Games on Friday.

The 25-year-old, who doesn't have a coach, broke his own world record with a combined total of 396 kg as he topped the podium in the men's 85kg competition, edging China's Tian Tao into silver.

The in-form lifter raised 179kg above his head in the snatch before jerking 217kg. Tian finished on 395kg while Romanian Gabriel Sincraian took bronze with 390.

"I'm happy that I have the first Iranian medal but I'm sure that after me there will be more," said Rostami, adding that he expected Iran to dominate the remaining heavyweight categories of weightlifting.

Iranian lifters Ali Hashemi, Mohammadreza Barari and Behdad Salimikordasiabi are all tipped to do well in the men's 94kg, 105kg and +105kg groups respectively.

"We will see more world records and golds. Just wait," he warned ominously.

Rostami kissed the platform, then sank to his knees and looked skywards after surpassing Tian into first place with his 217kg lift, the last of the competition.   

Rostami is enjoying the year of his sporting life. In May he set the world record in the clean and jerk with a 220kg lift.

In the process he also claimed the combined total record with 395kg, which he broke on Friday.

Rostami jumped onto the podium to receive his gold medal as a boisterous band of supporters, who cheered him on all night, chanted and waved Iranian flags.

At one point during the lifts they even performed an Icelandic haka clap, made famous during the recent European Championships football in France.

Rostami, who won a bronze medal at London 2012 that is being upgraded to a silver because of a doping violation, said he had been through a number of coaches but none fitted.

"We've sometimes had problems in the past with Iranian coaches. I'm sorry but nobody can help me now," he said.

Chinese Tian narrowly missed out on gold despite only executing two successful lifts, which included an Olympic record 217kg in the clean and jerk.

In contrast, bronze medallist Sincraian successfully raised all six attempts above his head.

"I haven't done six out of six for ten years," he told reporters afterwards, adding: "I wanted to get a medal. It didn't matter what colour." 

Fourth-placed Denis Ulanov of Kazakhstan also finished on 390 but Sincraian was handed bronze by virtue of being lighter.

Source: AFP