Dimas grabs third consecutive gold

SYDNEY, SEPT. 23. `Golden Greek' Pyrros Dimas, fired by a tongue- lashing from his coach after a shaky start, won his third straight Olympic weightlifting gold medal on Saturday.

Dimas took the title with a Herculean lift of 215 kg in the clean and jerk to beat Germany's Marc Huster, second at the Atlanta Games four years ago, and George Asanidze of Georgia on lower body weight after all three lifters totalled 390 kgs.

The 29-year-old Dimas sent the flag-waving Greek supporters into raptures with his winning lift and he acknowledged them with a huge smile and a one finger victory salute.

He returned to the stage for a world record attempt of 218.5 kg but, with his golden mission already successful, was not focused and failed. He responded to chants from the crowd to come out for curtain call and he danced with delight on the winner's podium after receiving his medal.

Dimas was at the centre of a dramatic opening snatch discipline. He missed his first attempt at 175 kg as he was timed out just as he bent to lift the bar.

Obviously ruffled, he failed in his second attempt and was manhandled by his coach on the way back to the warm up room where he verbally lambasted him. A few minutes later a more composed Dimas came to the stage and successfully hoisted 175Kg, glancing right and then left in his trademark fashion with the bar still raised above his head. Dimas was near to tears of relief as he strode off the stage.

- AFP

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Section  : Sport
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