Men’s 71 kg – 2025 IWF World Championships: Precision, Pressure, and a Clash of Champions in Førde

A Historic Stage for the Middleweights

The 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde, Norway, have already delivered unforgettable moments – from record-breaking lifts to emotional comebacks. On October 5th, the men’s 71 kg category took the spotlight inside the buzzing Fordehuset arena. It was a session that blended power, precision, and passion – and by the end, the roar of the crowd matched the crack of barbells on the platform.

The Context of the 71 kg Category

The men’s 71 kg division – one of the newer bodyweight categories introduced after Olympic restructuring – has rapidly become one of the most talent-dense events in modern weightlifting. With lifters moving up from 67 kg and down from 73 kg, the field combines the speed of lighter classes with the raw strength of the middleweights.

This class was expected to explode – and it did. The world standards stood at 156 kg in the snatch, 191 kg in the clean & jerk, and 340 kg in total coming into the competition. By the end of the night,  all of them were rewritten.

Meet the Athletes

WICHUMA Weeraphon (THA) – Thailand’s powerhouse and Olympic medalist, Wichuma is renowned for his explosive clean & jerk. Known for fiery energy and crowd-pleasing performances, he came into Førde hungry to avenge his near-miss at the Paris 2024 Olympics. His aggressive technique and rhythmic pull make him one of Asia’s top lifters.

MIYAMOTO Masanori (JPN) – A two-time Olympian and technical perfectionist. Miyamoto, Japan’s leading men’s lifter, is known for textbook precision and unflinching discipline. After his performances at the 2024 Olympics (6th place) and 2024 World Cup(4th place), he was among the top medal favorites here.

HE Yueji (CHN) – Representing China’s next wave, He Yueji carried both expectation and legacy. Known for his lightning-fast turnover and steady temperament, he entered as one of the cleanest technicians in the field – and a dark horse for the podium.

GENC Yusuf Fehmi (TUR) – The reigning European Champion (2024) and a junior world champion before that, Yusuf Fehmi Genc has long been hailed as Turkey’s next great technician. Famous for his quick snatch turnover and impeccable balance, he also owns the European record in the clean & jerk for 73 kg.

RUSTAMOV Isa (AZE) – Azerbaijan’s most consistent middleweight in recent years. A tactical lifter with refined pulling mechanics, Rustamov often hovers just outside medal range but always delivers clean, efficient lifting.

KAHRIMAN Kaan (TUR) – Bronze medalist in the snatch at the 2024 World Championships, Kaan Kahriman stepped up to 71 kg with his trademark bar speed and calm precision, aiming to challenge the world’s best once again.

SAHAKYAN Gor (ARM) – A two-time European Champion (2022 and 2023) and crowd favorite, Sahakyan is a compact powerhouse with world-class front-squat strength. Famous for his dramatic saves and deep squats, he looked ready for a medal-challenging performance.

OLIVARES PAEZ Sebastián (COL) – The Pan American Champion and former world-record holder in the clean & jerk, Olivares Paez arrived in Norway with momentum from a 191 kg record lift earlier in the season. Colombia’s rising star had hopes of another record-breaking night.

The Snatch

The snatch segment opened under enormous tension. 

Rustamov Isa opened confidently with 143 kg, showing crisp precision and excellent balance. He failed 147 kg on his second attempt but followed up successfully with 148 kg on third, matching his personal best and setting a solid early benchmark for the rest of the field.

Kahriman Kaan joined the action soon after, nailing 148 kg on his first attempt – the kind of smooth, low-catch snatch that Turkish lifters are famous for. 

Meanwhile, the Thai fans erupted as Wichuma Weeraphon stepped up. His opener at 148 kg was clean; his second at 152 kg set him in contention. On his third, 156 kg, he fought the bar overhead but lost balance – no lift. Still, his 152 kg kept him in striking distance.

GENC Yusuf Fehmi followed close behind, successfully lifting 151 kg on his third attempt – a strong comeback after earlier misses, showing trademark Turkish determination and control in the bottom position.

Miyamoto Masanori then took 148 kg with his characteristic control, securing a flawless first attempt that drew applause from the Japanese delegation. He later increased to 152 kg but missed 156 kg on his final attempt – still enough to get a bronze medal.

Sahakyan Gor delivered a confident series, lifting 150 kg and then 154 kg with his signature deep receiving position and steady composure. The third lift earned him the silver medal in the snatch, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most technically sound athletes in the field.

One of the evening’s heartbreaks came early: Sebastián Olivares Paez suffered an apparent elbow injury attempting 149 kg – the bar drifted back, forcing him out of the competition. The crowd fell silent as medical staff assisted him offstage.

The technical standout was He Yueji – calm, fast, and ruthlessly precise. He started with 153 kg good lift on first attempt. After securing 157 kg on his second attempt to set a new world record in the snatch, he returned to the platform with composure for 160 kg, extending his own record just minutes later.

The barbell seemed to float as he locked it overhead – a flawless, history-making lift that brought the arena to its feet. He Yueji closed the snatch session as the undisputed leader heading into the clean & jerk.

Snatch Medalists

🥇He Yueji (CHN) – 160 kg (World Record)
🥈Sahakyan Gor (ARM) – 154 kg
🥉Miyamoto Masanori (JPN) – 152 kg

Clean & Jerk

Rustamov Isa and Kahriman Kaan battled closely through the clean & jerk, each successfully lifting 180 kg to secure identical 328 kg totals. Sahakyan Gor (ARM), despite his strong snatch performance, missed all three attempts at 182 kg and bombed out of the clean & jerk.

He Yueji, following his brilliant snatch, showed control and precision in the clean & jerk with 181 kg and 184 kg good lifts, but missed his final attempt at 188 kg. Even so, his performance set world records in the total at 341 kg and later 344 kg, though the marks were short-lived as the fierce battle for gold pushed the records even higher.

Genc Yusuf Fehmi turned the clean & jerk into a record-breaking duel. His 190 kg lift gave him a 341 kg world record total, and he followed with 192 kg to set new world records in both the clean & jerk and total (343 kg). His lead, however, was short-lived as Wichuma Weeraphon’s 194 kg attempt reclaimed both marks moments later.

Miyamoto Masanori kept pace with a masterclass in precision – 186 kg opener, then 193 kg for a world record, but unfortunately a failed 195 kg final attempt. His 345 kg total also set a new world record in total, though the mark was short-lived as the final lifters soon pushed the standard even higher.

Wichuma Weeraphon opened not too smoothly, failed his first attempt, but then made a good lift  at 190 kg – the same number that had earned him Olympic silver the previous year. With 194 kg on his third attempthe powered overhead to set a new world record in the clean & jerk. That monumental lift also brought his total to 346 kg in total established a new world record overall. 

What a session. The top five lifters were separated by just one kilo between their places.

Three Group B athletes delivered standout performances that allowed them to get into the overall TOP 10 with strong totals.

Clean & Jerk Medalists

🥇 WICHUMA Weeraphon (THA) – 194 kg (World Record)
🥈 Miyamoto Masanori (JPN) – 193 kg (World Record)
🥉 Genc Yusuf Fehmi (TUR) – 192 kg (World Record)

Total Results and Medal Recap

Records and Highlights

New World Records: The Men’s 71 kg session in Førde became a breathtaking chain of world records – one of the most explosive in modern IWF history.

He Yueji ignited the storm in the snatch, hitting 157 kg for a world record, then raising it to 160 kg with impeccable speed and control. He also set total world records at 341 kg and 344 kg, starting a record race that gripped the arena.

Genc Yusuf Fehmi answered with power and precision – a 193 kg clean & jerk world record and total world records at 341 kg and 343 kg, briefly taking command.

Miyamoto Masanori followed with his own 193 kg world record clean & jerk and a 345 kg total world record, while Ri Won Ju joined the frenzy with a 342 kg total world record.

Finally, Wichuma Weeraphon brought the night to a thunderous close. His 194 kg clean & jerk not only set another world record, but his 342 kg total and then 346 kg final total cemented him as the ultimate world record holder and world champion, delivering Thailand’s first men’s world title in more than a decade.

Team Milestones: Thailand earned its first men’s world title since 2013; Japan its first men’s podium finish since 2019; China continued its consistent presence in the top three.

Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead

The Men’s 71 kg category in Førde proved why weightlifting remains a sport of heart and heritage. Old rivalries were rekindled, new stars emerged, and the standard of competition rose once again. Over the course of one unforgettable evening, lifters shattered an astonishing 13 world records, rewriting the history books lift by lift.

As the crowd stood for the Thai anthem, many felt they had witnessed not just a victory – but a turning point for the entire sport as it enters the next Olympic cycle.

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