Source: China Daily

08-19-2008 11:19

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

The surprise withdrawal of Iran's double Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh, unbeatable in recent years, has opened the floor today for lesser-known weightlifters vying for gold and the unofficial title of the world's strongest man.

The new favorite in the +105kg division is Latvia's Viktors Scerbatihs, a 33-year-old lawmaker who hopes to overcome challengers from Russia, Germany and Ukraine to add Olympic gold to his world and European titles.

"Even though the (Iranian) dropped out, there are still a number of strong guys. The competition will be no less difficult," said Nikolai Parkhomenko, president of the Russian weightlifting federation.

Ukraine's Artem Udachyn becomes a medal contender at today's  +105kg thanks to the surprise withdrawal of Iran's double Olympic  champion Hossein Rezazadeh.

Rezazadeh, known as the "Iranian Hercules", was expected to go for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal but pulled out last month after doctors said he should avoid "heavy and stressful activity".

That rules out lifting 200kg over your head, so Rezazadeh's spot was given to 24-year-old Rashid Sharifi, this year's Asian champion.