Chinese Weightlifter Liang Xiaomei Sets New World Record
Chinese weightlifter Liang Xiaomei made history at the International Weightlifting Federation’s 2023 World Weightlifting Championships by setting the first Senior world record in the Women’s 81-kilogram division. Xiaomei lifted 159 kilograms (350.5 pounds) in the clean & jerk, surpassing the previous record and winning the competition outright.
This achievement is not only a new personal record for Xiaomei, but also a significant milestone in the Women’s 81s category, which was not recognized as an Olympic division until 2020. Prior to this, no weightlifter had been able to exceed the pre-set ‘World Standards’ for the 81s. However, the category is now included in the Paris 2024 Olympics, motivating Xiaomei and her competitors to push their limits.
Xiaomei’s performance this year was a substantial improvement from her previous performance in the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships where she totaled 270 kilograms. She won the 2023 Championships with a total of 281 kilograms, trumping her teammate, 2020 Olympic Champion Wang Zhouyu.
Despite her impressive achievements, Xiaomei is not guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Olympics. Each country can only send three weightlifters per gender division, and Xiaomei’s result in Riyadh will be compared to her teammates’ performances in other weight categories to determine the most worthy candidates.
