Olympics 2016: Weightlifters have the best celebrations - video
Forget the Mobot and Lightning Bolt, the strongmen and women of the Rio Games have all the moves
Weightlifting may not be the most high-profile sport at the Rio Olympics, but it has produced some of the most memorable celebrations of the Games.
Spectators at the stadium have had to make do with the Mo Farah's Mobot and Usain Bolt's Lightning Bolt, but fans at the weightlifting arena have been treated to a variety of different dance moves, signature sign-offs and displays of fist-pumping that would leave Andy Murray in pieces.
Here are some of the best:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
David Katoatau - Kiribati:
Pacific Islander Katoatau proved he remains light on his feet no matter how heavy the weights on the bar, dancing after each lift. But The Atlantic says, his cheerful celebration has a serious side and is designed to raise awareness of the rising sea levels threatening his low-lying island nation.
"What’s remarkable about his dancing is that Katoatau didn’t win anything," says the website. "The weightlifter from the Pacific island nation of Kiribati finished sixth in the men’s 105kg Group B final. He’s dancing because he’s not sure what else he can do at this point to help his sinking, storm-battered country."
Aurimas Didzbalis - Lithuania:
Weightlifters may be strong, but they are also nimble, as Didzbalis proved upon winning bronze in the men's 94kg category.
After nailing his lift, he executed an impressive backflip – a move he later confessed he would not have done had he not won a medal.
Lidia Valentin - Spain:
While weightlifting may not seem a very feminine sport, Valentin of Spain managed to bring a touch of glamour to the stage with her trademark celebration, which was on show after she claimed bronze in the 75kg division. Her admirers were left dazzled - and a tiny bit terrified.
Oscar Figueroa - Colombia:
One of the most moving celebrations came from Figueroa, who took gold in the men's 62kg event and promptly retired in floods of tears, symbolically removing his shoes and leaving them on the stage after what would be the final lift of his career.
Sarah Robles – US:
The US may be top of the medal table in Rio, but it is fair to say weightlifting is not their strong suit. So Robles was pretty chuffed to win the country's first weightlifting medal of any colour since 2000 as she claimed bronze in the 75kg and over category.
She dedicated her win to "women of size", and a look at her Instagram account proves that she is something of a character.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can AI tools be used to Hollywood's advantage?
Talking Points It makes some aspects of the industry faster and cheaper. It will also put many people in the entertainment world out of work
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Paraguay has found itself in a key position'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Meet Youngmi Mayer, the renegade comedian whose frank new memoir is a blitzkrieg to the genre
The Week Recommends 'I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying' details a biracial life on the margins, with humor as salving grace
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Russia World Cup could be under threat over doping claims
In Depth Fifa urged to act over allegations 2014 squad may have been guilty of drugs offences
By The Week Staff Published
-
Michael Phelps: I never raced against a clean field in international events
Speed Read Olympic swimming hero calls on US to do more to improve anti-doping measures in sport
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farah hits back after more claims against coach Salazar
In Depth British Olympic champion insists he's clean and attacks Sunday Times, but he should learn from Bradley Wiggins
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rio's Olympic stadiums left in disrepair
In Depth Iconic Maracana football stadium abandoned and vandalised, while murky water fills the aquatics centre
By The Week Staff Published
-
Team GB sprinters 'lucky to be alive' after motorbike crash
Speed Read The careers of James Ellington and Nigel Levine could be over after the pair were badly hurt in Tenerife
By The Week Staff Published
-
2016: The sports stars who were famous for 15 minutes – in pictures
Speed Read These game types flirted with fame in 2016, but you may not remember them this time next year
By The Week Staff Published
-
2016: An unforgettable year for sport - in pictures
In Depth Team GB excelled at the Olympics and Leicester won the Premier League – but maybe we'd rather forget England's trouncing by Iceland?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Can anyone beat odds-on favourite Andy Murray to SPOTY?
In Depth The shortlist of 16 is dominated by stars of Team GB after this summers Olympics and Paralympics, with Murray clear favourite
By The Week Staff Published