Bulgarian Karlos Nassar won the world title in the men's 89 kg class at the IWF World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, with two world records: 183 kg in the snatch and an overall lift of 405 kg. He also tried to improve his world record in the clean and jerk but failed at 225 kg.
Nassar claimed the title after setting a world record in the snatch with a lift of 183 kg. In the clean and jerk, the 20-year-old weightlifter came close to surpassing his own record of 224 kg but was unable to lift 225 kg on his final attempt. Nonetheless, his total of 405 kg (183+222) was enough to improve his previous world record by 1 kg.
The Bulgarian talent was flawless in the snatch, successfully lifting 170, 176, and 183 kg. It became clear after his second attempt that the athlete, born in Cherven Bryag, would secure the gold in this discipline, and with his third attempt, he successfully broke the world record held by Colombia’s Jaison Lopez (182 kg). Nassar left his closest competitor, Marin Robu from Moldova, 10 kg behind, almost guaranteeing his overall victory.
In the clean and jerk, Nassar initially declared 205 kg but, after observing his competitors' attempts, increased the weight to 210 kg, which he lifted with ease. His direct rival in this discipline, Kwon Ryol Ro from North Korea, successfully lifted all three of his attempts, with his final lift being 218 kg. This prompted Nassar to increase his attempt to 222 kg, which he managed effortlessly. Unfortunately, he was unable to hold the barbell overhead on his final attempt at 225 kg.
In the final standings, Ro finished in second place with a total of 380 kg (162+218), while Robu came third with 379 kg (173+206).
The victory on December 11 makes Nassar the first Bulgarian weightlifter to have won a European, a world and an Olympic title in one calendar year. He also won a world title in the 81 kg class at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent.