Topic: Nobody predicted Sa as a gold medalist

[Yechang Lee]

Everybody said about Oleg, Sagir, Li. IWF also mentioned Davtyan, Khatchatryan, but not Sa.
This stopped 7th gold medal of China in weightlifting.

Frankly, I also didn't think Sa will win, though I thought he could medal.
Maybe Li was in bad condition. He was 76.91kg, which means he lost bodyweight with difficulty.

After sa won gold, he tried 211kg WR C&J. In practice he succeed 210kg, but couldn't finish this lift.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I thought Sagir would take it. An exciting session, even dead tired.

[Shaun Le Conte]

Actually I thought he had a good chance of winning. I am not sure if I said this directly in one of the prediction threads but people who know me know that I have been enthusiastic about the Korean lifters all year.

I was disappointed by the two Korean bombouts so far as they both would have won medals had they been able to make a jerk. I didn't think Lee Bae Young would repeat his bombout at last year's worlds. Why start so dang high in the C&J?

Yoon Jin Hee is my personal favourite lifter in 53 kg and I had hoped that she would win but the Thai was too strong - so not a chance. I wish she hadn't gotten an adjumma haircut for these Games ;) Spoiled it for me.

[Rob Macklem]

Shaun, while I didn't pick Sa to win I think the best from Korea is yet to come....ie 2009 Worlds. They always have a strong team, well coached, they are very good technically. Next to the Chinese I say they  probably have the strongest work ethic in the training (from what I've observed at the worlds). Go Korea!

[Yechang Lee]

Baeyoung Lee didn't started heavy C&J.
He can easily lift 185kg C&J, but convulsions in calf pressed him. It caused him second injury.

[walt lampert]

I must admit I was rooting for Sagir. Didn't really think there would be a repeat of the Europeans here but the situation is now different.  Normally Perepechenov can clean anything and his problem lies in the jerk however he just wasn't the same.  His body is also different to me.  He did not appear as heavily muscled as in the past. I am completely impressed with the Koreans , I will be paying more attention to them from know on.  Drug testing results are going to be interesting.

Walt

[Larry Robinson]

I can vouch for Shaun. He did predict Sa winning.

[Brooke Burkhalter]

I must admit I was rooting for Sagir. Didn't really think there would be a repeat of the Europeans here but the situation is now different.  Normally Perepechenov can clean anything and his problem lies in the jerk however he just wasn't the same.  His body is also different to me.  He did not appear as heavily muscled as in the past. I am completely impressed with the Koreans , I will be paying more attention to them from know on.  Drug testing results are going to be interesting.

Walt

I was pulling for Sagir as well. He looked hurt, right elbow, here and at the Europeans.

Did anyone notice how far he leapt out from under his miss! I thought he was going to end up off the platform. He's a freak! He will come back hopefully and get another couple World Champs. Still one of the greatest talents ever it looks like to me.