Eko Yuli Irawan

Eko Yuli Irawan was born on July 24th, 1989, and he’s a legendary Indonesian weightlifter known for extraordinary achievements in the sport. He competed in the men’s 62 kg and later in the 61 kg categories. He has won 4 Olympic medals, 8 World Championship medals, and 3 Asian Games medals, including a gold one in 2018. He’s the first Indonesian athlete to compete in five consecutive Olympic Games. His journey from humble beginnings to international success is an inspiration for many.

His journey in weightlifting started in 2000 and it was inspired by his hardworking parents; his father was a paddle rickshaw driver and his mother sold vegetables. At the age of 11, he started lifting weights and by 2006, he won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in the 56 kg category. He lifted a total of 269 kg, and this kicked off the beginning of his remarkable career. 

In 2007, he won the gold medal at the Junior World Championships and secured a bronze medal at the World Championships. His consistent performance earned him gold medals at the 2007 SEA Games and the 2018 Asian Games. 

Eko has an impressive record at the Olympics. He won a bronze medal in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and silver in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, which made him Indonesia’s most decorated Olympian. His biggest achievement came at the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where he became the world champion in the 61 kg category and set world records in the clean and jerk (174 kg) and total lift (317 kg).

The path to success hasn’t been easy – training is tough and balancing personal life with a rigorous routine is challenging. Bue his passion for lifting kept him going. He trains multiple times a day and focuses on technique, strength, and endurance. Apart from his training, he says that his support system has been another big factor in his success.