Prapawadee's Profile:
Born: 29 May 1984
Height: 1.57 m / 5'2"
Weight: 54 kg / 119 lbs
Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon, a native of Nakhon Sawan, managed to lift 95 kg in the Snatch, and set a new Olympic Record for Clean and Jerk at 126 kg, which was easily completed. She claimed the top spot with a total lift of 221 kg. She attempted to break the world record of 129kg held by China's Li Ping, but failed. Although she failed to raise her record with her third attempt, her stellar performance won a standing ovation from all the spectators in the stadium. Chinese weightlifters were not present in this division. Thailand's Udomporn Polsak was the champion of this weight class four years ago at the Athens Olympics.
Prapawadee told reporters that she dedicates her gold medal to all the mothers, as Mother's Day is approaching on August 12, 2008. "August 12 is Mother's Day in Thailand, I will say 'Happy Mother's Day' to my mom, and 'Happy Mother's Day' to all the mothers in the world," she added.
She attributed her victory to changing her name for good luck before the Games. "The fortune teller told me, 'If you change your name you will win the gold',"Jaroenrattanatarakoon, who changed her name from Chanpim Kantatian last year for good luck, told reporters through an interpreter.
"Some people believe in fortunetellers and I am one of them, so I followed her advice," she added. The 24 year old claimed the gold medal in the women's 53kg class, defeating South Korean Yoon Jin-Hee and Nastassia Novikava of Belarus. South Korean Yoon Jinhee beat Belarus Nastassia Novikava on body difference for the silver medal as both made the two-lift total of 213 kg.
Thailand aims to win four medals in weightlifting in Beijing. However, two of the country's top medal hopes failed to finish in the top three at the games on Friday.
Premsiri Bunpithak and Pensiri Laosirikul, who were tipped to win Thailand's first medal, failed to finish in the top three at the Beijing Olympics. Pensiri only finished fifth, while Premsiri failed to make a single success in three attempts in the Snatch category and was eliminated in the 48kg division.
The Thai female weightlifting squad claimed two gold and two bronze medals in weightlifting at the 2004 Games. Athens bronze medalist Wandee Kamaeim is the only female lifter remaining from the 2004 Olympics. She will take part in the 58kg division in Beijing on Monday.
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