Heavyweight I (≤99 kilograms), Men

This class had been contested since the 1980 Olympics with a weight limit of ≤100 kg, but the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) changed the limit to 99 kg, in their “cleansing” of the world record lists that had been so affected by doping in 80s and 90s. When women were added to the Olympic weightlifting program in 2000, the men were cut back to eight classes, and this was the last time this class was held at the Olympics. The favorite was Akakios Kakiasvili, a Georgian-born Greek who had won the middle-heavyweight class in 1992 when representing the Unified Team. Kazakh lifter Anatoly Khrapaty had been the middle-heavy gold medalist in 1988 for the Soviet Union, but had not medalled internationally since 1990. He was back in Atlanta, also moving up to the heavyweight I division. Ukraine’s Tymur Taimazov had been the silver medalist in 1992 but he also moved up in weight in Atlanta, competing as a heavyweight II.

Khrapaty took the lead in the snatch with 187.5 kg, tied with Ukrainian Denys Hotfrid, as Kakiasvili trailed with 185.0 kg. However, Kakiasvili dropped everyone with a world record 235.0 kg in the clean & jerk and won the gold medal with a 10 kg margin over Khrapaty as Hotfrid won the bronze medal. Kakiasvilli would win his third consecutive gold medal in 2000, but again as a middle-heavyweight.