Chapter 396: Unrecognized World Record

Chapter 396: The Unrecognized WR

On the display screen behind the weightlifting platform, Meng Fan's opening weight was changed, from 202 kilograms to 203 kilograms, shifting from matching the national record to breaking it with his very first lift!

Whoa!

When it was confirmed that Meng Fan's opening attempt aimed to break the national record, many coaches, athletes, and officials present stood up. It was impossible not to feel excited—anticipation mixed with worry.

The men's heavyweight categories had long been a weak spot. The Weightlifting, Wrestling, and Judo departments had repeatedly called for a major breakthrough in the heavier classes, but the results fell short of any real leap. After decades of effort, the only breakthrough so far was Yang Zhe in the 109 kg category, who won the snatch gold and broke the world record at the 2018 World Championships—yet he was still held back by his clean and jerk performance. Replicating that world championship form at the Olympics would be extremely difficult.

As for the heaviest category, 109+ kg, it was almost embarrassing to mention. There was a slight breakthrough in 2017, but it came from a veteran, and competing in events above the continental level was already a challenge, let alone the Olympics.

Now, out of nowhere, here was Meng Fan, aiming to break a record with his very first lift. How could they not be excited?

As for the spectators, many understood that the weight had been changed, and some recognized the symbol next to the kilogram mark—if the lift succeeded, it would be a new national record.

Of course, most people were simply waiting for Meng Fan to appear.

After the weight change, the announcer called his name. Wearing his weightlifting singlet and belt, Meng Fan finally walked out from backstage. The moment he appeared, even before stepping onto the platform, applause and cheers erupted—the crowd had been holding back for a long time. Not only them, but many athletes and coaches also joined in the applause.

One reason was Meng Fan's courage to aim for a national record on his opening lift. The other reason? His looks!

It had to be admitted that Meng Fan's style was vastly different from the previous competitors.

As everyone knew, heavyweight athletes didn't fit the general aesthetic. How to put it? They were bulky and stout—especially the heaviest class, where most had prominent bellies, so much so that some competitors' belts were hidden beneath their stomachs.

The seven lifters before him were all the same—massive in build, to put it bluntly, just very stout fat men, both domestically and internationally.

Meng Fan was different. He might not have a perfectly chiseled physique, but at least he had no belly. Overall, he looked strong, not fat.

Of course, if you went back two months, when Meng Fan had just run hundreds of kilometers, he looked just like those seven. And before his rebirth, he was all fat, no strength.

But physique aside, the key was his face and charisma!

After fully slimming down—meaning his body fat dropped below 18%, into the normal range—Meng Fan's features had fully emerged from the "surface." He wasn't drop-dead gorgeous, but he was certainly handsome. Add to that his charisma, and for many female fans, the "god" in "Iron God" might as well mean "heartthrob god"!

Without exaggeration, Meng Fan was undoubtedly the best-looking guy across all three sports of weightlifting, wrestling, and judo!

"He really does have charisma!"

"He looks even more charming than in photos and videos!"

"No wonder so many people like him. He's got skill and charm!"

"Old Zhou, you have to admit, setting aside this competition, Meng Fan is truly our center's big treasure!"

Two leaders from the Weightlifting, Wrestling, and Judo Center, watching from the sidelines, started chatting. The one called Old Zhou, seeing Meng Fan in person for the first time, suddenly had his eyes light up. He said to the other, "Old Xiong, if he really qualifies for the Olympics in all three events—weightlifting, wrestling, and judo—I have a bold idea that might actually come true!"

Old Xiong asked curiously, "What?"

Old Zhou extended his hands in front of his chest, loosely clenched into fists, one higher than the other.

Old Xiong's eyes also lit up, and he gave a thumbs-up: "Only you, Old Zhou, have such a sharp mind! And honestly, Meng Fan has the height, the looks, and the strength. This is really worth a try! If it works, our weightlifting, wrestling, and judo department will really shine!"

"Hope he succeeds this time! As long as he breaks the record, plus his results in wrestling and judo, I'll argue with anyone who disagrees!"

Leaving aside the two leaders lost in their glorious visions, let's return to Meng Fan. Amid applause and cheers, he stood outside the platform, bowed to the audience, and stepped onto it.

He tightened his belt, walked up to the barbell, and positioned himself. Bending down, he gripped the bar with both hands, thumbs facing each other. With a soft exhale, he pulled upward. The barbell lifted effortlessly off the ground, then shot up, stopping above his head. Throughout the motion, his arms remained straight, his body perfectly steady. The barbell, once in position, showed no sign of wobbling or spinning.

The entire movement was fluid and seamless, a pleasure to watch.

Ding.

All three judges pressed the white button. The lift was valid.

A new national record!

The announcer's voice came through: "Meng Fan, opening attempt 203 kilograms, lift valid. New national record in snatch."

The entire venue erupted in applause and cheers, including the members of the jury panel.

"Yes!"

Dean Zhan, waiting offstage, clenched his fist hard, then quickly regained his calm expression. He ignored the glances from other coaches and officials, as if Meng Fan had just made an ordinary lift. When Meng Fan came down, he casually draped a jacket over him, patted his shoulder to relax him, and said calmly, "Not bad."

Those nearby rolled their eyes. Old Zhan, you're really getting cocky!

Between consecutive attempts, there was a two-minute rest period as per regulations. Dean Zhan quickly came out from backstage and submitted Meng Fan's second attempt weight.

The jury panel's eyes widened when they saw it. After input, it appeared on the screen—217 KG!

Whoa!

Many coaches and athletes stood up again, as if their seats had springs triggered by the screen's flash.

That weight!

A jump of 14 kilograms!

And that weight was exactly the world record!

Was he going from just breaking the national record to tying the world record?

—Why skip the Asian record? Because the Asian record was the same as the world record, set by Georgian lifter Lasha Talakhadze.

Yes, Georgia was not only dominant in the heavyweight categories of wrestling and judo but also in weightlifting!

Former Soviet countries generally excelled in all three sports.

Just before the announcement, Dean Zhan came out again, and the screen flashed once more. Coaches and athletes were "launched" to their feet again.

Another weight change!

218 kilograms!

This was aiming to break the world record!

This time, those who stood didn't sit back down. They all remained standing, waiting for Meng Fan to appear.

The announcer called his name. Meng Fan came out.

He bowed and stepped onto the platform.

This time, everyone could clearly sense that Meng Fan had tightened his belt a bit more, bent lower, gripped the bar tighter, and his exhale was longer and heavier.

Ha!

With a soft shout from Meng Fan, the barbell was quickly pulled up and then stopped above his head.

The barbell held steady, not tilted.

His arms locked, not bent.

His waist straightened, not swaying.

His feet planted, not moving.

Ding.

Three white lights. The lift was valid!

Roar!

Ah!

Applause surged like a tidal wave, screams like a hundred firecrackers going off at once.

"Awesome!"

This time, Dean Zhan couldn't hold it in anymore, and the word "badass" actually slipped out.

On the other side, Leader Zhou waved his hands wildly before his chest, utterly exhilarated, his voice trembling with excitement: "Old Xiong, hit me!"

Leader Xiong was equally thrilled, and without a second thought, he slapped him—hard. Having been a weightlifter himself, his strength was naturally immense, leaving Leader Zhou wincing, but he didn't mind at all, just laughing: "Now that's a real breakthrough in the heavy class!"

Leader Xiong chuckled too: "That thing's solid now!"

Those coaches and athletes who had previously thought Meng Fan was messing around by joining the weightlifting competition were now truly convinced. Even when he broke the national record, some still didn't think Meng Fan was in the right, because compared to his wrestling and judo achievements, the national weightlifting record meant little—it was a record that held no value in international competition.

But now it was different; he had directly shattered the world record!

No!

Strictly speaking, this was a result that surpassed the world record, not one that broke it, because most domestic competition results cannot count as international achievements, and naturally cannot be certified as world records.

To achieve a world record, certification by a specialized body is required. For domestic events, procedures like application and verification are needed, and most domestic competitions don't even qualify to apply.

Let alone a single-event domestic selection trial like this—even the National Games.

Generally, world records broken or results exceeding world records at the National Games are not recognized by international organizations.

Of course, it's not absolute. Swimming, for instance, can be recognized under certain conditions, such as having international-level referees present, and after going through application and review.

As for weightlifting, it will never be recognized; it must be at a continental-level competition or above.

In other words, Meng Fan's result now surpasses the world record, but it's not a new world record. No amount of application will change that.

Of course, the Chinese national record has definitely become 218 kilograms.

A national record higher than the world record—this is both an honor and a helplessness!

233!

When that number appeared on the display, it snapped everyone back to reality. Meng Fan had only just completed his second lift; his third hadn't even been attempted yet!

And 233 kilograms was the weight Meng Fan had declared!

"My god! Just surpassed the world record and now he adds another 15 kilograms! Is he insane?!"

Every single person in the venue felt like they were going mad. This number was terrifying—this wasn't a snatch weight; it was practically a clean and jerk weight!

Huh?

Suddenly, the screen flickered again.

Adding more?

Eh, no!

What appeared wasn't a weight change, but Meng Fan forfeiting the lift!

According to the rules, Meng Fan could indeed skip it, but... what the hell! Is he messing with us?

(The chapter ends)