Gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, then at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 at 64 kg, Quebecer Maude Charron had to change weight category in preparation for the World Weightlifting Championships since the underweight category 64 kg is no longer on the program for the next Olympic Games.
Charron has chosen to move towards the -59 kg and we have to admit that this transition went well, she who leaves Bogota, Colombia with the bronze medal in the general classification.
After missing his first attempt at the snatch, the athlete from Saint Lucia recovered on his second chance by managing to lift his weight of 100 kg. She improved her result on the third try by lifting 103 kg.
Charron therefore got his hands on the silver medal in the snatch. The gold medalist, the Chinese Xiaomin Luo managed the same weight as the Quebecer, but climbs on the top step of the podium as she was the first to lift the load.
The 29-year-old continued his clean and jerk momentum with his first attempt at 123 kg. Charron missed her second attempt at 127kg, but rebounded quickly landing a 128kg clean and jerk on her last chance to move into fourth in the specialty.
Her total of 231 kg was enough to put her on the third step of the podium. Colombian Yenny Fernanda Alvarez Caicedo (234 kg) and Kuo Hsing-Chun (232 kg) were the only two to edge Charron in the overall standings.
Success quickly in its new category
In preparation for the World Championships, Charron competed at the North American Open Series in Calgary, Alberta. In her first competition in the -59 kg category, Charron won gold by lowering three Canadian records in the process: 95 kg in the snatch, 122 kg in the clean and jerk and 217 kg in total.
Regarding the qualification process for the Paris Olympic Games, five competitions have been targeted by the International Weightlifting Federation, including the World Championships. The best result of each athlete will be retained for the Paris Games where 10 athletes will be in action in each weight category.
The Bogota World Championships continue until December 16. Quebecers Samuel Guertin (-81 kg), Nicolas Vachon (-81 kg), Alex Bellemarre (-89 kg), Pierre-Alexandre Bessette (-102 kg), Kristel Ngarlem (-81 kg), Rosalie Dumas (-81 kg ) and Emma Friesen (+87 kg) will all be in action by then.