Chinese strongman Lu Yong has undergone what were called "ups and downs" in five minutes, and he survived that.
Lu, 22, entered into the clean and jerk section with an achievement five kilos less than Belarusian veteran lifter Andrei Rybakou's.
Rybakou, two-time world champion and Athens silver medalist, successfully jerked 200kg and 204kg and Lu succeeded in his first jerk attempt of 208kg, still one kilo less than Rybakou's total.
Rybakou ordered a 209kg, and made a good lift. He broke his own world record of total, bettering it by one kilo.
Lu ordered 214. If he made it, he would defeat the Belarusian as he is lighter than Rybakou in bodyweight.
"Good lift!" the referees gave three white lights.
The spectators roared, ready to celebrate for the victory.
However, there was some disagreement. Lu sit on the bench in the warm-up area, staring blankly at the camera lens.
The result was reversed by the jury members after discussion from good to bad.
"My mindset was definitely affected," he told reporters after the game.
The rookie only had one last chance.
"At that moment the only thing in my mind was how to succeed in the third attempt," he said.
He bowed, felt the barbell, lifted it to his chest, rested it there for two seconds, adjusted his breath, and raised it above his head, steadily.
"Good lift!"
No more disagreement.
The rookie claimed title in the men's 85kg category, winning China the eighth weightlifting gold at Beijing Olympics and first gold in men's heavy bodyweight classes in its Olympic history.
Spectators roared again. Lu pointed his forefinger to them and shouted "Zhongguo, Jiayou!" (China, Go!) for four times.
Although born in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, home to many top lifters in light bodyweight classes, Lu didn't show special interest in weightlifting until he was picked up by local coach Lan Yanyun when playing basketball when he was 12 years old.
Five years later, Lu was chosen by the weightlifting team of the autonomous region and in 2005, he was accpeted by the national team.
He won the snatch gold in 2004 national championships, won gold in junior national championships in 2005, got silver in the National Games in 2005, and silver in the 2005 world championships.
After lifting a nationwide best of 393kg at this year's national championships, he qualified for the Olympics and was expected to make breakthrough in this category.
He did it, in spite of all the difficulties he came across during the last five minutes in the competition.
Lu said he hadn't had a good sleep since Aug. 9, when the competition started, and hadn't eaten for two days.
"Now I just want to have a rest," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)