Olympics

GAMES FACE

Rio 2016: Olympic weight-lifting turns out to be very heavy on the face-pulling

Forget the clean and jerk...if they gave out medals for gurning this event is what it would all be about

geoff sweet

Published: 16:39, 15 Aug 2016
Updated: 18:56, 15 Aug 2016

THEY call it weight-lifting...but should this Olympic sport really be known as gurning?

Forget the clean and jerk, this contest looked to be all about who could pull the strangest facial expression.

China's Men Suping pulled face - and won Olympic gold — China's Men Suping pulled a face - and won Olympic goldCredit: Reuters

Kuk Hyang Kim (PRK) of North Korea — Kim Kuk Hyan of North Korea landed the silver medalCredit: Reuters

Andreea Aanei (ROU) of Romania — Andreea Aanei of Romania in actionCredit: Reuters

It was actually the women's over 75kg competition, won by China's Meng Suping.

Kim Kuk Hyang, of North Korea clinched silver and the bronze medal went to United States competitor Sarah Robles.

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They gave their all - and came up with the goods as Suping was victorious with 307kg, while Hyang lifted 306kg and Robles 286kg.

But what an effort.

Bronze medallist Sarah Robles fels the strain — Bronze medallist Sarah Robles feels the strainCredit: Reuters

Son Young-Hee (KOR) of South Korea — Another contorted face, this time from Korea's Son Young-HeeCredit: Reuters

Their facial contortions were a sight to behold as the girls lived the Olympic dream.

The weight-lifters-cum-face-pullers gave everything and they all deserved their moment of glory on the world stage.

The men take their turn later on Monday - and we would't be surprised to see them pull a few funny faces of their own.

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