Crew Italy’s two-time bronze medalist seems stronger than ever.
Antonino Pizzolato is, perhaps, Italy’s finest weightlifter. Italian weightlifters floundered on the 2024 Olympics in Paris after elevating their profile all through the pre-Video games qualification interval, however Pizzolato walked away along with his second Olympic bronze medal within the 89-kilogram class by the pores and skin of his tooth.
- On Oct. 23, 2024, Pizzolato blasted social media with a 180-kilogram snatch — properly above something he’s ever hit in a sanctioned weightlifting competitors.
“To be continued…” Pizzolato hinted, indicating that he’s in nice form forward of the upcoming 2024 World Weightlifting Championships in December and, months afterward, the European Championships in ‘25.
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Antonino Pizzolato’s 180KG Snatch, in Context
The battle for gold in Paris started 18 months earlier than the opening ceremonies. The 89-kilogram division was chosen for the 2024 Olympics shortly earlier than the 2022 European Weightlifting Championships. Pizzolato set a world report clear & jerk, 217 kilograms, at that occasion — a primary for the division since its creation six years prior.
Because the world’s finest weightlifters started campaigning for Paris choice, Pizzolato postured as the person to beat within the 89s. Come the summer time Video games, although, and a number of other different athletes had surpassed “Nino” within the weightlifting Whole, whereas his performances stagnated:
Whereas Pizzolato remained afloat, athletes like Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar soared, pushing the 89-kilogram information ever increased. As of Oct. 2024, Nasar holds the clear & jerk and Whole information within the class, whereas the snatch crown belongs to Jeison Lopez, who lifted 182 kilos on the World Cup in April.
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It’s not identified whether or not Pizzolato has snatched greater than 180 kilograms within the fitness center; it’s 5 kilos above something he’s ever lifted in competitors, although. Notably, Pizzolato managed a very heroic 222-kilogram clean at Europeans in ‘24.
- If he might handle to grab 180 and jerk 222, he would current a viable problem to Nasar, whose world report Whole stands at 404 kilograms.
That’s an enormous “if.” Nasar has maintained an upward trajectory in weightlifting since 2021. If something, Pizzolato’s 180-kilogram snatch proves two issues:
- He’s nonetheless one of many world’s finest weightlifters, regardless of the stagnation in his competitors snatch performances over time.
- There will probably be loads of thrilling weightlifting happening within the subsequent six months, even with out an Olympic Video games occasion to stay up for.
The 2024 World Weightlifting Championships run from Dec. 6 to fifteen in Manama, Bahrain. In line with the preliminary entry record posted Oct. 7, each Pizzolato and Nasar are signed up within the 89s.
Extra Weightlifting Information
Featured Picture: @nino_pizzolato / Instagram