De Araujo advances in historic East Timor debut

Sydney: Weightlifter Martinho de Araujo made history on Saturday by becoming the first East Timorese to compete as an independent athlete at the Olympic Games.

De Araujo, one of four East Timorese competitors in Sydney, was the first lifter to take the platform in the first session of the men's 56 kg weight class.

He failed to lift 65 kg with his first two attempts at the snatch but upped the weight to 67.5 kg for his third and final attempt and succeeded.

De Araujo then lifted 90 kg with his second attempt in the clean-and-jerk for a total score of 157.5 kg.

All four East Timorese are competing at Sydney as Independent Olympic Athletes.



(c) Reuters Limited.