Tian Tao (Chinese: 田涛; pinyin: Tián Tāo; born 8 April 1994) is a Chinese weightlifter, Olympian, World Champion, Asian Champion and Asian Games Champion competing in the 85 kg division until 2018 and 96 kg starting in 2018 after the International Weightlifting Federation reorganized the categories.[3]

Tian Tao
Tian at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
NationalityChinese
Born (1994-04-08) 8 April 1994 (age 30)
Hubei, China
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) [citation needed]
Weight89 kg (196 lb)
Sport
CountryChina
SportWeightlifting
Event–89 kg
ClubHubei Province
Coached byYu Jie[1]
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Snatch: 181 kg (2018)
  • Clean and jerk: 231 kg (2019 CWR[2])
  • Total: 410 kg (2019)
Medal record
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro –85 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Pattaya –96 kg
Silver medal – second place 2018 Ashgabat –96 kg
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon –85 kg
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou –96 kg
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Ningbo –96 kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tashkent –96 kg
Silver medal – second place 2023 Jinju –89 kg
National Games of China
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tianjin –85 kg
Gold medal – first place 2021 Shaanxi –96 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Liaoning –85 kg

Career edit

Tao took up weightlifting in Changyang at ten years of age.[1] He first rose to national prominence after winning the 77 kg category of the Chinese Intercity Games in October 2011 at the age of 17.[4] Although not recognized for not being an international event, his lifts far exceeded the official Youth World Records (by 6/23/35 kg respectively),[5] the jerk of 205 kg even beating the Junior World Record by 3 kg.[6]

Tian's next competition was the April 2012 National Championships where he attempted to qualify for the London Olympic Games. With his total of 365 kg he was however beaten by Lu Haojie and Lu Xiaojun to third place and didn't make the national team.[citation needed] During his second attempt in the jerk with 211 kg he also injured his right elbow and had to rehab for the rest of the year.[7]

In 2013, he moved up to the 85 kg class and competed in January at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, winning the bronze medal.[8] In the March National Championships he won the snatch with 165 kg but had to retire early again due to injury after only one successful jerk, not placing on the overall podium.[9] Later this year in September at the domestically prestigious Chinese National Games he placed third with only two good attempts.[10] He was nevertheless chosen to represent China at the 2013 World Championships, where he was forced to drop out after the snatch part of the competition.[11]

Major results edit

Year Venue Weight Snatch (kg) Clean & Jerk (kg) Total Rank
1 2 3 Rank 1 2 3 Rank
Olympic Games
2016   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 85 kg 173 178 178 2 210 210 217 OR 2 395  
World Championships
2013   Wrocław, Poland 85 kg 160 165 165 9
2014   Almaty, Kazakhstan 85 kg 165 170 175 6 205 211 219 5 375 6
2015   Houston, United States 85 kg 173 178 178   211 211 211
2018   Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 96 kg 175 181 181   215 226 WR 236   407  
2019   Pattaya, Thailand 96 kg 175 175 180   218 225 230   410  
2022   Bogotá, Colombia 89 kg
2023   Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 89 kg 168 173 176 7 209 212 214
Asian Games
2014   Incheon, South Korea 85 kg 163 168 168 5 205 211 218 1 381  
2023   Hangzhou, China 96 kg 170 175 180 1 210 210 216 2 390  
Asian Championships
2019   Ningbo, China 96 kg 175 181 183   220 231 231   401  
2020   Tashkent, Uzbekistan 96 kg 170 175 180   210 211   386  
2023   Jinju, South Korea 89 kg 165 172 172   210 222 222 CWR   387  
IWF World Cup
2024   Phuket, Thailand 89 kg 171 176 177 4 215 226 226

References edit

  1. ^ a b "IWF Biography".
  2. ^ PDF Results from Tokyo Test Event
  3. ^ PDF listing of 2018 Group A world championship entrants in 96 kg
  4. ^ 城运会男子举重武汉田涛超世青纪录__红色英雄城绿色七城. News.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved on 14 August 2016.
  5. ^ World records | International Weightlifting Federation. Iwf.net. Retrieved on 14 August 2016.
  6. ^ World records | International Weightlifting Federation. Iwf.net. Retrieved on 14 August 2016.
  7. ^ 奥运选拔赛:湖北举重选手田涛受伤_新华网湖北频道. Hb.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved on 14 August 2016.
  8. ^ http://results.amo-sport.com/%28S%28eeuorgbujlykipy3r1ja4tde%29%29/Results.aspx?EventID=1346&SDID=27,0 [dead link]
  9. ^ 男举依然世界最强:廖辉找回霸气 杨哲有望超崔文华_综合体育_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网. Sports.sina.com.cn (30 March 2013). Retrieved on 14 August 2016.
  10. ^ 全运男举85公斤级广东老将摘金 08奥运冠军无成绩_综合体育_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网. Sports.sina.com.cn. Retrieved on 14 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Results by Event: 2013 IWF World Championships". IWF.net. International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 14 August 2016.

External links edit