Russian lifter Khadzhimurat Akkaev got a bronze medal in the men's 94kg weightlifting at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday, but he was more angry than happy.
"My coach is stupid," said the 23-year-old, complaining his coach for making him be allocated in Group B.
"It's all my coach's decision," he said.
Competing in the Group B on Sunday, Akkaev, Athens runner-up, was in a class of his own.
He snatched 185kg, just 3kg under the world record and went on to lifted 217kg in clean and jerk, all without missing a lift.
He had full confidence before the Group A competition began.
"I think these 402kg should be enough for winning gold," he said.
However, Ilya Ilin of Kazakhstan and Polish lifter Szymon Kolecki edged him out of the podiums for gold and silver medalists.
Ilin totaled 406kg and Kolecki cleared 403kg.
The Russian lifter threw his bouquet to the spectators and stood on the platform without expression in his face after the medal ceremony.
"If I had competed in Group A, I would have won the gold," said Akkaev, who was only ranked third in Group B with an entry total of 390kg.
However, he admitted that he did not have good performance before coming to Beijing.
"I was lifting 390kg to 395kg before the Olympics, but in the process of preparation I improved to lift more," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2008)