Mauricio Loaiza was proclaimed champion in strength and Olympic total in the Junior Weightlifting World Championship

Published at: 08/05/2026 09:44 AM

The Venezuelan Mauricio Loaiza was crowned champion in Olympic strength and total of the 94 kg division, winning 207 and 373 kg, respectively, in the Junior Weightlifting World Championship, which is being held in Egypt.

The silver medal went to Georgian Jajvani Goga with a record of 367 kg, followed by Iranian Hamidreza Zarei with 366 kg.

Loaiza started the starting mode with a weight of 160 kg, exhibiting one of the best records with the Armenian Valerik Minasyan.

For the second attempt, Goga redistributed the order on the table with 165 kg, placing himself at the top,

In his second attempt, the Venezuelan loaded 164 kg, a mark immediately matched by the Armenian Minasyan.

In the third round, Goga took the lead by lifting 170 kg. For his part, Loaiza lifted 166 kg in his last attempt to win the silver medal in the sport.

The third place was held by Minasyan with 164 kg, after failing in his attempt for the 166 kg.

In the two-stroke event, the fight for the gold medal focused again on Loaiza and Jajvani.

The Venezuelan made a first strategic move on the platform, successfully loading 200 kg.

For his second movement, the criollo lifted 203 kg, which placed him momentarily in the first place. The Armenian Minasyan was out of competition after failing all three attempts.

For his part, the Iranian Hamidreza Zarei, who until then was out of the medal table, attacked with a package of 204 kilos that gave him the illusory first place.

Because in the last attempt of the competition, Loaiza performed again on the platform and set a personal record of 207 kg, which awarded him the gold medal in both halves and in the Olympic total.

Zarei last performed with a failed 212 kg attempt and finished in second place with 204 kg. The podium in both halves was completed by Georgian Goga with 200 kg.

Mazo News Team