Liti regains superheavyweight weightlifting crown

David Liti, who proudly carried the New Zealand flag in the opening ceremony, showed the heart of a champion in winning the 110+kg weightlifting gold medal.

Liti, 30, was the gold medallist in this category on the Gold Coast at the 2018 Games, but lost his title in 2022, when Pakistani Nooh Butt edged him out.

In Glasgow it seemed for much of the contest as if he might play second fiddle again, this time to the Indian lifter Lovepreet Singh.

The Aucklander lifted 156kg, then 166kg in the snatch, but missed at 176kg. Singh entered the contest at 168kg, which was a concern to New Zealand supporters, and then proceeded to lift 173kg and 176kg.

Going into the clean and jerk Singh seemed to have a virtually unassailable lead of 10kg. He was first to lift and succeeded with 205kg. Liti responded with 207kg. Singh went up to 212kg and got it. Now his lead was 15kg.

Liti elected not to re-enter the contest yet, and Singh went at 217kg, but missed it. Now Liti knew what he had to do to win the gold. He nominated 223kg, an extra 16kg. It seemed impossible but it was what he needed to get past Singh by a solitary kilogram. He strained and strove and he got that bar above his head on willpower and brawn. Litl finished with a toial of 389kg and Singh 388kg.

The auditorium erupted. It was a real champion's performance. There was a beaming smile, fist pumping, hugs all-around, joy personified.

Liti, Big Bear to some of his team-mates, was still bubbling well after the contest. 'Man, he said, 'I was so pumped. And the crowd was so crazy. It was such a good feeling. I was carried along by the crowd. I thought the crowd on the Gold Coast was good, but this one was really crazy. It helped me. It gave me a lot of confidence and the adrenalin to get that last lift.'