Yousefi, who first shot to global prominence two years ago when he recorded an extraordinary 262 kg clean and jerk at the World Championships, had since been sidelined by a serious injury. After nearly two years away from competition, he returned to the platform in India under the guidance of coach Behdad Salimi — and wasted no time reminding the world of his class.
His snatch performance was modest by his own exceptional standards, a result that appeared to reflect the lingering effects of his long rehabilitation. He successfully lifted 177 kg and 184 kg in his first two attempts, but failed on his third attempt at 189 kg, ultimately settling for the bronze medal in that discipline.
But it was in the clean and jerk where the young man from Iran’s northern city of Qaemshahr truly announced his return. After securing 248 kg on his first attempt, he failed his second attempt at 261 kg — only to come back and conquer it on his third and final try. That lift was enough to win gold in the clean and jerk and, crucially, to set a new world record in the division.
Following last year's overhaul of weightlifting weight categories, the International Weightlifting Federation established a standard world record of 260 kg in the clean and jerk for the super-heavyweight (+110 kg) class. Yousefi's successful lift of 261 kg surpassed that mark, making him the world record holder in the discipline and giving Iran its first entry in that record book in years.
It is worth noting that Yousefi himself had previously lifted heavier weights before his injury, and Georgian legend Lasha Talakhadze had, at his peak, lifted as much as 265 kg. Nevertheless, to return from such a prolonged absence and immediately reclaim a world record is a remarkable achievement — and a clear signal of what this athlete is still capable of.
Should Yousefi continue on this trajectory and improve his snatch, observers believe he has the potential to reign as the king of super-heavyweight weightlifting for years to come.
In the overall standings, Yousefi totaled 446 kg to claim the silver medal, ending the competition with a bronze in the snatch, gold in the clean and jerk, and silver overall — an impressive return to the platform by any measure, and a powerful reminder that Iran continues to produce world-class talent capable of competing at the very highest level.