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Athens

Athens

Two weightlifting events are contested; the men's one hand lift and men's two hand lift. The top two places are won by the same two men in each event, though their order is reversed for the two events. Great Britain's Launceston Elliot claims gold in the one hand lift ahead of Denmark's Viggo Jensen, who takes top honours in the two hand lift.

The Olympic Medals from the 1896 Games in Athens, the First Olympic Games of the Modern Era. © Photo by Getty Images.
The Olympic Medals from the 1896 Games in Athens, the First Olympic Games of the Modern Era. © Photo by Getty Images.
1896
Paris

Paris

The Paris 1900 Games were held as part of the Exposition Universelle World's Fair and weightlifting was originally part of the schedule. However, after the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques announced that they would have the sole right to organise any sport during the fair, the sport was dropped. The International Olympic Committee ceded control of the Games and a new schedule, without weightlifting, went ahead.

The Eiffel Tower, built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, was the central focus of both the 1889 and the 1900 Paris Exhibition site where some of the Olympic Games was based. © London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images.
The Eiffel Tower, built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, was the central focus of both the 1889 and the 1900 Paris Exhibition site where some of the Olympic Games was based. © London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images.
1900
St Louis

St Louis

Two weightlifting events are contested; the men's two hand lift and men's all-around dumbbell. Greece's Perikles Kakousis tops the podium in the two hand lift ahead of the United States' Oscar Osthoff, who wins the all-around dumbbell event.

The 1904 Olympic Games was part of the St Louis World's Fair. © Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
The 1904 Olympic Games was part of the St Louis World's Fair. © Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1904
London

London

Weightlifting was dropped from the Olympic schedule for 1908, along with golf and roque. Hockey, figure skating, sailing, shooting, jeu de paume, polo, rackets, rugby union and water motorsports were added.

White City Stadium at Shephard's Bush where the Olympic Games were held in London. © Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
White City Stadium at Shephard's Bush where the Olympic Games were held in London. © Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1908
Stockholm

Stockholm

No weightlifting competition was held as the Swedish organisers successfully requested that the sport should not feature on the programme, along with track cycling, boxing and winter sports. The Swedes had initially asked for four sports but the International Olympic Committee increased the number to 14.

General view of the Opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. © Photo by Getty Images.
General view of the Opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. © Photo by Getty Images.
1912
Antwerp

Antwerp

Weightlifting returns to the Olympic programme with competition in five men's weight classes. France top the medals table with two golds thanks to winning performances from Henri Gance at middleweight and Ernest Cadine at light heavyweight.

The Opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games on April 20, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. © Getty Images.
The Opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games on April 20, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. © Getty Images.
1920
Paris

Paris

Competition again consists of five weight classes and, despite hosts France winning two gold medals once again, it is Italy who top the overall standings with three. Pierino Gabetti takes the featherweight crown, while Carlo Galimberti and Giuseppe Tonani come away with the middleweight and heavyweight titles respecively.

Louis Hostin, best French medal winner in his category, lift weight, 15 September 1937. After taking silver in the Light Heavyweight at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Hostin won two gold medals at the 1932 los Angeles Olympics and 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was also European champion in 1930 and 1935 and world vice-champion in 1937. Photo credit AFP/AFP via Getty Images.
Louis Hostin, best French medal winner in his category, lift weight, 15 September 1937. After taking silver in the Light Heavyweight at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Hostin won two gold medals at the 1932 los Angeles Olympics and 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was also European champion in 1930 and 1935 and world vice-champion in 1937. Photo credit AFP/AFP via Getty Images.
1924
Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Germany are the strongest performers on this occasion, claiming two gold medals and a bronze. Kurt Helbig shares the lightweight title with Austria's Hans Haas, while Josef Strassberger triumphs in the heavyweight division. Hans Wölpert finishes third at featherweight.

Alf Baxter of Great Britain competes in a weightlifting event at the Amsterdam Olympics, 30th July 1928. © Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Alf Baxter of Great Britain competes in a weightlifting event at the Amsterdam Olympics, 30th July 1928. © Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1928
Los Angeles

Los Angeles

France return to the top of the overall medals standings courtesy of success for Raymond Suvigny, René Duverger and Louis Hostin in the featherweight, lightweight and light heavyweight categories respectively.

Crowds gather at the first Olympic village in Los Angeles, purpose built to accommodate the male competitors during the Olympiad. © Schirner/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Crowds gather at the first Olympic village in Los Angeles, purpose built to accommodate the male competitors during the Olympiad. © Schirner/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1932
Berlin

Berlin

Egypt end Europe's domination by heading the medals table with two gold medals. Anwar Mesbah shares the top of the lightweight podium with Austria's Robert Fein, while Khadr El Touni wins the middleweight crown.

The Opening Ceremony of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. © Keystone/Getty Images
The Opening Ceremony of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. © Keystone/Getty Images
1936
London

London

The bantamweight division is added, marking the first change to the Olympic programme since 1920. The United States' Joseph De Pietro claims the inaugural crown, while compatriots Frank Spellman, Stanley Stanczyk and John Davis win the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight gold medals respectively. Egypt win the two other titles available.

The three winners of the 1948 Olympic Light Heavyweight Weightlifting take their places on the podium in Earl's Court, London. The winner is Stanley Stanczyk of USA, in second place is Harold Sakata of USA and in third place came Klas Gosta Magnusson of Sweden. © PNA Rota/Getty Images.
The three winners of the 1948 Olympic Light Heavyweight Weightlifting take their places on the podium in Earl's Court, London. The winner is Stanley Stanczyk of USA, in second place is Harold Sakata of USA and in third place came Klas Gosta Magnusson of Sweden. © PNA Rota/Getty Images.
1948
Helsinki

Helsinki

The middle-heavyweight division is added, moving the heavyweight class up from 82.5 kilograms to 90kg. Victory for Norbert Schemansky in the newly-created category is one of four for the United States, who top the medals table once more, this time ahead of the Soviet Union.

Soviet weightlifter Yevgeny Lopatin, American weightlifter Tommy Kono and Australian lightweight weightlifter Vern Barberis after winning in the Lightweight final at the 1952 Summer Olympics, Messuhalli (Töölö Sports Hall), Helsinki, Finland, 27th July 1952. © Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Soviet weightlifter Yevgeny Lopatin, American weightlifter Tommy Kono and Australian lightweight weightlifter Vern Barberis after winning in the Lightweight final at the 1952 Summer Olympics, Messuhalli (Töölö Sports Hall), Helsinki, Finland, 27th July 1952. © Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1952
Melbourne

Melbourne

Another triumph for the United States with gold medals being won by bantamweight Charles Vinci, featherweight Isaac Berger, light heavyweight Tommy Kono and heavyweight Paul Anderson. The Soviet Union have to settle for the runners-up spot again with three golds.

American weightlifter Tommy Kono in action during the Middleweight Class Event at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Kono also won Gold in the 1956 Olympic Games. © Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
American weightlifter Tommy Kono in action during the Middleweight Class Event at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Kono also won Gold in the 1956 Olympic Games. © Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1956
Rome

Rome

The Soviet Union get the better of the United States on this occasion, winning five gold medals and three directly at the expense of their rivals. Featherweight Yevgeny Minayev, middleweight Aleksandr Kurynov and heavyweight Yury Vlasov all beat American opposition in their respective finals.

British weightlifter Louis Martin competing in the Middle Heavyweight event at the Rome Olympics, 12th September 1960. Martin eventually won the bronze medal. © Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
British weightlifter Louis Martin competing in the Middle Heavyweight event at the Rome Olympics, 12th September 1960. Martin eventually won the bronze medal. © Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1960
Tokyo

Tokyo

The Soviet Union prevail for a second successive Games, winning four gold medals through bantamweight Aleksey Vakhonin, light heavyweight Rudolf Plyukfelder, middle-heavyweight Vladimir Golovanov and heavyweight Leonid Zhabotinsky.

Soviet weightlifter Leonid Zhabotinsky in 1965. Zhabotinsky won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games. © Reg Lancaster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Soviet weightlifter Leonid Zhabotinsky in 1965. Zhabotinsky won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games. © Reg Lancaster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
1964
Mexico City

Mexico City

Leonid Zhabotinsky successfully defends his heavyweight crown as the Soviet Union finish top of the medals table for the third consecutive Games with three golds. Viktor Kurentsov and Boris Selitsky claim the middleweight and light heavyweight titles respectively.

Hungarian weightlifter Imre Foldi in action at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. He set a new bantam weight world record of 367.5 kgs to win a silver medal. © Keystone/Getty Images.
Hungarian weightlifter Imre Foldi in action at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. He set a new bantam weight world record of 367.5 kgs to win a silver medal. © Keystone/Getty Images.
1968
Munich

Munich

The flyweight and super heavyweight classes are introduced, marking the first changes to the Olympic programme since 1952. It is also the last year that the clean and press features as one of the lifts due to difficulties in judging proper technique. Bulgaria end the Soviet Union's supremacy, topping the medals table with three golds and three silvers.

The opening ceremony at the West German Olympics in Munich. © Keystone/Getty Images.
The opening ceremony at the West German Olympics in Munich. © Keystone/Getty Images.
1972
Montreal

Montreal

The Soviet Union bounce back in emphatic fashion, claiming seven gold medals. Two of their gold medals are originally won by other lifters, but they are disqualified after testing positive for anabolic steroids. Pyotr Korol replaced Poland's Zbigniew Kaczmarek as the lightweight champion, while heavyweight Yuri Zaitsev benefitted from the expulsion of Bulgaria's Valentin Hristov.

Vasily Alexeyev of the Soviet Union successfully lifts the bar bell above his head during the Super- Heavyweight Weightlifting event at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. Alexeyev won the gold medal with a lift of 440 kilograms. © Allsport UK /Allsport
Vasily Alexeyev of the Soviet Union successfully lifts the bar bell above his head during the Super- Heavyweight Weightlifting event at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. Alexeyev won the gold medal with a lift of 440 kilograms. © Allsport UK /Allsport
1976
Moscow

Moscow

The men's heavyweight division is divided into two - under 100kg and under 110kg - increasing the number of categories to 10. Light heavyweight Yurik Vardanyan and heavyweight Leonid Taranenko both set world records to secure two of the Soviet Union's unrivalled total of five gold medals.

Hungarian Olympic winner Peter Baczako on his way to the gold medal during the final of 90kgs category. © LASZLO PETROVITS/AFP via Getty Images.
Hungarian Olympic winner Peter Baczako on his way to the gold medal during the final of 90kgs category. © LASZLO PETROVITS/AFP via Getty Images.
1980
Los Angeles

Los Angeles

The Eastern Bloc boycott of the Games means that the most dominant forces in weightlifting at the time, the Soviet Union and Bulgaria, did not take part. China emerge as a powerhouse of the sport, winning gold medals through flyweight Zeng Guoqiang, bantamweight Wu Shude, featherweight Chen Weiqiang and lightweight Yao Jingyuan.

Dean Lukin of Australia on his way to winning gold in the Mens Weightlifting during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. © Getty Images.
Dean Lukin of Australia on his way to winning gold in the Mens Weightlifting during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. © Getty Images.
1984
Seoul

Seoul

The Soviet Union return to Olympic weightlifting action to devastating effect, topping the medals table with six gold medals. Bulgaria's Mitko Grabnev and Angel Guenchev originally win the bantamweight and lightweight classes but are both disqualified after testing positive for Furosemide.

Naim Suleymanogu of Turkey crouches in preparation before lifting a 60kg weight and setting a new world record in the 1988 Seoul Olympic games, South Korea. © Pascal Rondeau/ALLSPORT.
Naim Suleymanogu of Turkey crouches in preparation before lifting a 60kg weight and setting a new world record in the 1988 Seoul Olympic games, South Korea. © Pascal Rondeau/ALLSPORT.
1988
Barcelona

Barcelona

The Unified Team, who replaced the Soviet Union following the break-up of the Eastern Bloc, finish top the medal standings with five gold medals. Light heavyweight bronze medallist Ibragim Samadov is disqualified after he throws his medal onto the podium and walks out of the medal ceremony. The International Olympic Committee decides not to award the medal to fourth-place finisher Chon Chol Ho of North Korea as Samadov's offence had not been committed in the context of the competition. Ho becomes angry with officials for not handing the medal to him, abusing and attempting to attack them before being restrained by security. Samadov is banned for life.

Cuban weightlifter Pablo Lafa won the silver medal with a total weight of 357.5kg. © D.MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images.
Cuban weightlifter Pablo Lafa won the silver medal with a total weight of 357.5kg. © D.MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images.
1992
Atlanta

Atlanta

The range of each weight class is adjusted by one kilogram to 4 kg for these Games, marking the first redefinition since they were introduced in 1920. Greece, China, Russia and Turkey all win two gold medals each. Greece's three silvers see them come out on top, however.

Weightlifting gold medallist Pyrros Dimas of Greece is lifted by M. Huster of Germany, silver, left, and A. Cofalik of Poland, bronze at the Georgia World Congress Centre at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Weightlifting gold medallist Pyrros Dimas of Greece is lifted by M. Huster of Germany, silver, left, and A. Cofalik of Poland, bronze at the Georgia World Congress Centre at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
1996
Sydney

Sydney

Competition at these Games sees the introduction of women's weightlifting across seven weight categories, and a reduction in the men's classes to eight. China win four of the women's titles and add another gold medal in the men's middleweight division, through Zhan Xugang, to top the standings with five. Bulgaria's team are stripped of three gold medals and sent home in shame for doping violations.

Ioanna Chatziioannou of Greece in action during the Women's 63Kg Weightlifting event of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games held in the Sydney Convention Center on the 23rd September 2000. © Adam Pretty/Getty Images.
Ioanna Chatziioannou of Greece in action during the Women's 63Kg Weightlifting event of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games held in the Sydney Convention Center on the 23rd September 2000. © Adam Pretty/Getty Images.
2000
Athens

Athens

China top the medals table for a second successive Olympics, with two golds in men's competition and three in women's. Shi Zhiyong beats Le Maosheng in an all-Chinese men's featherweight final.

Zhiyong Shi of China competes in the men's 62 kg category weightlifting competition on August 16, 2004 during the Summer Olympic Games at Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall in Athens, Greece. © Chris McGrath/Getty Images.
Zhiyong Shi of China competes in the men's 62 kg category weightlifting competition on August 16, 2004 during the Summer Olympic Games at Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall in Athens, Greece. © Chris McGrath/Getty Images.
2004
Beijing

Beijing

Chen Yanqing and Liu Chunhong successfully defend their women's lightweight and light heavyweight titles respectively as hosts China come out on top once more with eight gold medals.

Silver medallist Marina Shainova of Russia, Gold medalist Chen Yanqing of China and Bronze medalist O Jong Ae of North Korea pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's 58kg group A weightlifting event at the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008 in Beijing, China. © Stu Forster/Getty Images.
Silver medallist Marina Shainova of Russia, Gold medalist Chen Yanqing of China and Bronze medalist O Jong Ae of North Korea pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's 58kg group A weightlifting event at the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008 in Beijing, China. © Stu Forster/Getty Images.
2008
London

London

Kazakhstan push China close with four gold medals, but end up one behind in the final standings. Lightweight Lin Qingfeng and middleweight Lü Xiaojun both win men's gold for China, while flyweight Wang Mingjuan, lightweight Li Xueying and super heavyweight Zhou Lulu take top honours in women's competition.

Qingfeng Lin of China competes during the Men's 69kg Weightlifting Final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on July 31, 2012 in London, England. © Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.
Qingfeng Lin of China competes during the Men's 69kg Weightlifting Final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on July 31, 2012 in London, England. © Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.
2012
Rio

Rio

China dominate the medal standings, winning five golds and two silvers in their haul of seven. Thailand and Iran both win two gold medals each. North Korea, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Georgia and Uzbekistan each claim one gold apiece, with 21 countries making it onto the podium in all.

China's gold medallist Long Qingquan poses with his medal on the podium after the men's 56kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. © GOH CHAI HIN/AFP via Getty Images.
China's gold medallist Long Qingquan poses with his medal on the podium after the men's 56kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. © GOH CHAI HIN/AFP via Getty Images.
2016