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Chinese weightlifter Lu Xiaojun is looking to add a fourth Olympic medal to his collection in Paris 2024. Xiaojun has been one of the most successful weightlifters in history, with five World Championships and three medals at regional Asian competitions and will be one of the potential contestants to take home the gold in France. “I’m not getting any younger, so I want to win another Olympic gold before I retire,” said Lu. “It’s going to be a tough competition, but I’m up for the challenge.” Lu is currently training hard in preparation for the 2024 Games. He says he is “more motivated than ever” and that his current form gives him a “real chance” of taking the title.
With 2 gold and 1 silver medal already under his belt, Lu Xiaojun is certainly one of the favorites to take home the top prize in 2024. Let’s look at Lu’s Olympic career and what to expect.
Who is Lu Xiaojun?
As one of China’s star athletes, weightlifter Lu Xiaojun is no stranger to the Olympic spotlight. The 37-year-old (turning 38 on July 27th) has won three Olympic medals in his career and is now aiming for a fourth one at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Born in the Chinese province of Hubei, Lu began weightlifting at the age of 15. He quickly rose through the ranks of the sport, winning his first national championship in 2003. From there, he went on to compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he finished fifth in the 77kg weight class.
Lu really made his mark on the international stage at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he won China’s first gold medal of the Games in the 77kg weight class. He followed that up with another gold medal in the 77kg weight class at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Lu again competed in the 77kg weight class. Although he did not win a medal, he did set an Olympic record with a snatch of 170kg and Clean & Jerk of 204kg totalling 374kg. Later in 2020, Lu won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 81kg category.
Looking ahead to 2024, Lu has his sights set on winning another gold. Lu is certainly one of China’s best hopes for more medal glory in Paris.
To many people, weightlifting is a sport that is all about brute strength. But China’s Lu Xiaojun is proof that there’s more to the discipline than meets the eye.
While Lu may be getting older, there’s no doubt that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. In fact, he says he’s feeling better than ever heading into Paris 2024.
“My training is going well,” he said. “I’m in good shape and I’m confident that I can do well at the Olympics.”
What are the 2024 Games?
In July 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 2024 Summer Olympics to the city of Paris. The games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Paris will become the second city to host the Summer Olympics three times, right after London.
The bid was announced by IOC President Thomas Bach on September 13, 2013, at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires. The other finalists were Los Angeles and Budapest. On June 24, 2015, in a unanimous vote of 95–0 with five abstentions, the IOC selected Paris as its choice for the 2024 Games.
Paris’ bid was based on a promise to make the 2024 games “the first climate-neutral Olympiad.” The bid included a commitment to using only electric vehicles in official Olympic transportation, using only renewable energy to power competition and non-competition venues, and planting three million trees across France.
The cost of hosting the 2024 Games is estimated at €6.8 billion. This includes €1.5 billion for security measures – double the amount of the previous estimate.
Who will Lu compete with?
Lu’s main competition at the 2024 Games is expected to come from fellow countryman Shi Zhiyong, who is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Lu is certainly an incredible athlete and we are excited to see how he does in Paris 2024. Weighlifting is a challenging sport and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful. We wish Lu the best of luck in his upcoming competitions!
