Chen win's China's 3rd gold in weightlifting

BEIJING (AP) Chen Yanqing easily defended her title in the women's 58-kilogram category Monday, winning China's third weightlifting gold medal and breaking two Olympic records.

Maria Shainova of Russia was a distant second, and North Korea's O Jong Ae sneaked into third place with her final lift in a close race for the other medals.

Chen - the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals in weightlifting - lifted a total of 244 kilograms (537.9 pounds) shattering her previous Olympic record from four years ago by 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds).

She lifted 106 kilograms (233.7 pounds) in the snatch and 138 kilograms (304.2 pounds) in the clean jerk - another Olympic high score.

"In 2004, I won the gold medal for myself. Today, I won it for all my supporters and fans," the 29-year-old said, revealing that she almost quit the sport three times.

The Olympic host nation is off to a perfect start in the weightlifting competition, with three gold medals in three attempts.

Chen Xiexia won the women's 53-kilogram competition on Saturday and 17-year-old Long Qingquan followed up with a second gold Sunday in the men's 56-kilogram category.

Chen Yanqing's win was the most one-sided yet.

She barely broke a sweat in her three attempts in the snatch, finishing with what looked like an effortless 106-kg (233.7 pound) lift.

In the clean and jerk she equaled the record of 130 kgs (286.6 pounds) in her first attempt, added 2 kgs (4.4 pounds) for her second lift and set off loud cheers in the crowd by lifting 138 kgs (304.2 pounds) in the third.

Had she added more weight in the snatch, Chen might have had a shot at breaking her own world record total of 251 kgs (553.35 pounds).

"Winning the gold medal is more important than breaking the world record," she said.

Thailand's Wandee Kameaim was edged out of silver position by Shainova and then lost the bronze to O, who pulled off a 131 kg (288.8 pound) clean and jerk in her final attempt.

Shainova's total was 227 kgs (500.4 pounds) - 1 kg (2.2 pounds) more than O and Kameaim. The North Korean got the bronze because of a lower body weight.

Still, the North Korean was disappointed with third place calling it an "underperformance."

"I was very sad and disappointed with my score," she said. "I wanted to bring joy to the North Korean people. However, I failed to do so, so I am very sad and sorry."

China doesn't have any competitors in the women's 63-kg competition on Tuesday, but Liu Chunhong is looking to repeat Chen's Olympic double on Wednesday when she seeks to defend the 69-kg gold medal she won in Athens.

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