Men’s 73 Kg Division Recap – IWF European Weightlifting Championships 2024

The fourth day of the European Championships was full of exciting moments and impressive lifts. There were lost of insane and emotional lifts as the stakes were increasing in the peak of   

The competition between the powerhouses of the category.

As we already mentioned in the previous reviews, Americans also compete in this tournament as a guest country. So, the US team presented two athletes who would get the essential points for qualification to the Olympic Games.

Keep your eyes out for the great performance of the male lifters in the Olympic 73-kg weight division where only the strongest and most motivated athletes will stand out and try to get  their tickets to Paris.

Bozhidar Andreev Becomes Absolute Savage Setting a New European Record in C&Jv

11 top-notch representatives of the 73-kg weight category were performing this evening in Sofia, with the most powerful and promising athletes on the board leading the group. These are the most prominent lifters in the division who have already gained popularity and reputation within the weightlifting community:

Top Athletes Review

Ritvars Suharevs, a Latvian weightlifter, and Junior World Champion competing in the 77 kg category until 2018, a gold medalist at the 2023 European Championships, a two-time bronze medalist at the 2019 and 2021 European Junior Championships.

Calja Briken, an Albanian weightlifter, Olympian, and European Champion who was competing in the 69 kg category until 2018. He’s a silver medalist at the 2021 World Championships, and also a gold and two-time silver medalist at the European Championships.

Andreev Bozhidar, a Bulgarian weightlifter, a European Champion competing in the 77 kg category, a two-time gold and two-time bronze medalist at the European Championships. He also won bronze at the 2019 World Championships.

Snatch

The performance in the Snatch exercise started from 138 kg.

10: KUDLASZYK Piotr – 138 kg
9: KINGUE MATAM Bernardin – 142 kg
8: GENC Yusuf Fehmi – 144 kg
7: LANG Max – 147  kg
6: CALJA Briken – 148 kg
5: OZBEK Muhammed Furkan – 150 kg
4: JAVADOV Omar – 152 kg

On this contest day, 67 % of all attempts were successful which is an above-average rate.

Top 3 Leaders’ Results

Now let’s analyze the Top 3 lifters’ performance:

🥉ZANNI Mirko – 153 kg
🥈SUHAREVS Ritvars – 154 kg
🥇ANDREEV Bozhidar – 155 kg

The third place moved to a lifter from Italy Mirko Zanni who lifted 150 kg on the first attempt. The second try was of 153 kg that he failed, while the last try of the same weight resulted in success.

The silver medalist in the category was Ritvars Suharevs from Latvia: he did 150 kg on the first try, 154 kg finished unsuccessful on the second attempt, and then he repeated 154 kg on the third attempt and resulted in a good lift.

The winner of the weight division became Bozhidar Andreev from Bulgaria. He performed 150 kg on the first attempt unsuccessfully, then did the same lift of 150 kg on the second try well, and finished with 155 kg on the last attempt with success.

Speaking about the American team: two weightlifters from the USA, GRIMSLAND Ryan and CAHOY Caden were also performing today. But they won’t be ranked for medals and their totals will count for Olympic qualification. 

Ryan Grimsland performed the following lifts: 142 kg with success, 147 kg – no-lift, and the same 147 kg resulted in red lights. 

Clean & Jerk

The contest in the Clean & Jerk discipline started with a weight of 175 kg.

7: SUHAREVS Ritvars – 177 kg
6: LANG Max – 180 kg5: CALJA Briken – 180 kg
4: KINGUE MATAM Bernardin – 182 kg

Top 3 Leaders’ Results

Let’s describe the performance of the Top 3 lifters:

🥉GENC Yusuf Fehmi – 184 kg
🥈OZBEK Muhammed Furkan – 186 kg
🥇 ANDREEV Bozhidar – 193 kg

The third place moved to a lifter from Turkey Genc Yusuf Fehmi who lifted 180 kg on the first attempt. The second try was 186 kg resulted in no lift, while the last try of the same 186 kg resulted in no lift.

The silver medalist in the category was Ozbek Muhammed Furkan from Turkey: he failed to lift 180 kg on the first try, also didn’t lift 184 kg on the second attempt, and then he ordered 186 kg on the third attempt that resulted in the silver medal.

The winner of the weight division became ANDREEV Bozhidar from Bulgaria. He performed all three attempts well: 181kg on the first attempt, then he did 185 kg on the second try, and finished with 193 kg on the last attempt. He succeeded in setting a new European Record in Clean & Jerk.

Concerning the US lifters, Ryan Grimsland did the following lifts: 182 kg with success, failed to lift 187 kg, and the third attempt of 192 kg resulted in no-lift.

Total Results

1: ANDREEV Bozhidar – 348 kg
2: OZBEK Muhammed Furkan – 336 kg
3: SUHAREVS Ritvars – 331 kg
4: CALJA Briken – 328 kg
5: GENC Yusuf Fehmi – 328 kg
6: LANG Max – 327 kg
7: KINGUE MATAM Bernardin – 324 kg

The bronze medal went to the lifter from Latvia Suharevs Ritvars: he succeeded in lifting 331 kg in total. 

The silver medalist was Ozbek Muhammed Furkan from Turkey with 336 kg in the sum of two exercises. The difference between him and his opponent from the third spot was 5 kilos.

Bozhidar Andreev from Bulgaria took the gold medal by lifting 348 kg overall by surpassing his opponent from the second place by 12 kilos. He succeeded in shattering a new record in total.

Keep track of our upcoming reviews of the most profound Olympic weight categories to know the athletes who will lead the division and become closer to their Olympic dream. Thumb up the video and share it on your social media to make weightlifting unite more sports devotees.