Guangxi weightlifter Wei Yinting took three gold medals for the snatch (162 kg), the clean and jerk (189 kg), and total weight (351 kg) in the men's 73-kg division of the 2019 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Fuzhou, Fujian province on Feb 24.

For the snatch, Wei was able to lift all three weights – which were 155 kg, 160 kg, and 162 kg, respectively. For the clean and jerk, he successfully lifted the 183 kg and 189 kg weights but failed to lift the 196 kg weight – the world record set by Chinese weightlifter Shi Zhiyong.

Wei Yinting competes in the 2019 IWF World Cup in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province. [Photo by Wei Peiquan/news.cn]

Born in Laibin in 1998, Wei was discovered by Zhou Yayuan, vice president of Xiangshan County Amateur Sports School, in 2008 and began lifting weights at the age of 10. As a rising star, he won three gold medals at the Chinese National Youth Weightlifting Tournament and National Men's Weightlifting Youth Championship in 2018. He was drafted onto the national weightlifting team the same year.

This was the first year the 21-year-old took part in the IWF World Cup. In an interview after the match, Wei was modest about his achievements and said his next goal is to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Wei Yinting celebrates after winning the snatch, the clean and jerk, and total weight in the men's 73-kg division of the 2019 IWF World Cup. [Photo by Wei Peiquan/news.cn]