First precious metal in 14 years: Roberto Gutu gave the Federal Association of German Weightlifters (BVDG) a perfect start to the World Championships in Bahrain.
In the class up to 73 kilograms, the 24-year-old managed 154 kg in the snatch, thereby improving his own German record. It is the first German World Cup medal since Beijing Olympic champion Matthias Steiner won gold in Antalya in 2010.
National coach Velagic: “We had to wait an incredible 14 years for it”
“It’s an incredible feeling”said Gutu: “I wanted to fight for a medal at a European Championship at some point, but to have it happen so quickly at a World Cup is just crazy.” National coach Almir Velagic also reacted emotionally: “Incredible, I can hardly believe it. I almost cried after tearing it when we realized it was bronze. That really hits home for me. We are so proud of him. We had to wait an incredible 14 years for it. “
Gutu also came tenth in the clean and jerk with 177 kg, and in the duel he also achieved a strong seventh place with a German record of 331 kg. At his World Cup debut last year, Gutu missed out on a medal by just three kilograms when he finished fifth in the snatch with the then German record of 151 kg.
A total of three Germans at the start
While the German team collectively missed the Olympic Games in Paris, Gutu, Raphael Friedrich and Lisa Marie Schweizer (each on Wednesday) will be competing for the BVDG at the big end of the year in Manama.