Bulgarian Weightlifter Wins Olympic Bronze for Azerbaijan

The Olympic medalists in the clean and jerk weightlifting, from left to right – Wu Jingbiao, China (silver), Om Yun Chol, North Korea (gold) and Bulgarian, Valentin Hristov for Azerbaijan (bronze). Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgarian weightlifter, Valentin Hristov, who is competing for Azerbaijan, won Olympic silver in the clean and jerk (56-kg weight class) event.

Hristov, 18, coached by former Bulgarian World and European Champion, Zlatan Vanev, won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics with 286 kg combined total across the two styles (127 and 159 kg, respectively).

The Bulgarian-born weightlifter took the floor while Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, was watching from the stands.

North Korea's Om Yun Chol surprised spectators by winning Olympic gold after matching the world record and defeating Chinese world champion Wu Jingbiao who entered the tournament as the favorite but left with silver.

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