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Rezazadeh's prayers answered with second Olympic weightlifting gold for Iran SYDNEY, Sept 26 (AFP) - With a prayer and a superhuman lift, Iran's Hossein Rezazadeh was crowned the strongest man in the world on Tuesday. Relative unknown Rezazadeh equalled the heaviest lift in 80 years of Olympic weightlifting history, a massive 260kg, to take gold in a dramatic superheavyweight showdown. It was Iran's second gold in consecutive days after the success of Hossein Tavakoli in the 105kg division. Rezazadeh, who said a short prayer to a Muslim prophet renowned for his warrior qualities before every lift, defeated two legends of the sport on his way to gold. He held off Germany's Ronny Weller, gold medallist in Barcelona in 1992 just two years after he miraculously survived a horrific car crash which killed his girlfriend, and reigning superheavyweight champion Andrei Chemerkin of Russia who weighed in at a colossal 174.84kg. The Iranian, who was only third at last year's World Championships, won with a world record total of 472.5kg (212.5kg and 260kg) with Weller, who held the old mark of 465kg, in silver medal position on 467.5kg. Ashot Danielyan of Armenia was third on 465kg. Chemerkin saved himself for what would have been a gold medal winning last lift but, after running onto stage, he failed at an outrageous attempt on 272.5kg - 12.5kg heavier than he lifted to win in Atlanta four years ago. The 22-year-old Rezazadeh, who was Asian Junior Champion just three years ago, fell to his knees and kissed the ground after making the winning lift of 260kg. "Every time I lifted I called for help from God. I invoked the name of a prophet who was known as a great warrior," said Rezazadeh, who weighs 147kg. "I was up against very good opponents and had to lift heavier weights than ever before to win." Weller said that Rezazadeh was such an unknown that he could not remember his face or his name. "I do not want to say too much about him and his victory," said Weller. "Iranians keep coming out of nowhere. It is like a movie by (Steven) Spielberg." Asked if it was possible for world records to be broken so frequently without the assistance of drugs, Weller brandished the books which detail the times he has been tested. "I have four books here - you can come up and look at them," said Weller. "I have been tested a lot." In contrast Rezazadeh said he had been tested just three times recently - once in Iran, once in Sydney eight days before competition and after his victory on Tuesday. The snatch section set the tone for the thrilling superheavyweight shoot out with the giants of the sport smashing the world record three times. Danielyan broke the old world mark of 206kg with a mighty lift of 207.5kg. Weller, who had failed at that weight, upped the bar to 210kg and powered it above his head. In scenes reminiscent of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when the excitable Weller celebrated what he thought was a gold medal lift by cheering loudly and throwing his shoes into the crowd, the German stood on the podium with arms aloft and yelled "Yah, Yah, Yah." But his mark only lasted a few minutes. Rezazdeh, who had held the record at 206kg, marched onto stage, raised his eyes to the heavens in silent prayer and hoisted an amazing 212.5kg - 6.5kg heavier than the mark he set last November. Chemerkin made a quiet entry into the competition lifting 202.5kg as if it was a plastic toy. The expected big finish in the clean and jerk did not materialise and the Russian policeman finished fourth.
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