Roxana Cocos won the silver medal on Wednesday, in the weightlifting 69 kilo category, bringing Romania the sixth medal from London Olympics Games. The gold medal went to Jong Sim Rim (North Korea, with 261 kilos), while bronze went to Marina Shkermankova (Belarus, 256 kilo, but heavier than Cocos).
Rim’s gold was confirmed on the penultimate lift while bodyweight alone separated second, third and fourth place. Shkermankova of Belarus taking bronze ahead of unfortunate compatriot Dzina Sazanavets after all three tied on 256kg.
The weight category was wide open after Russia’s gold medal favourite Oksana Slivenko, world and European champion, was forced to withdraw last week due to an injury.
This was the sixth medal in the Olympic Games for Romania, after Alin Moldoveanu’s gold (shooting competition – 10 meter air rifle), Alina Dumitru’s silver (judo, cat. 48 kg) Corina Căprioriu’s silver (judo, cat. 57 kg), gymnastics team’s bronze (Cătălina Ponor, Sandra Izbaşa, Diana Bulimar, Diana Chelaru and Larisa Iordache) and Razvan Martin’s bronze (men’s 69 kg weightlifting).
Photo courtesy of Daily Mail
Oana Vasiliu