Varazdat Lalayan world champion: The final day of the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships

On October 11, in the Norwegian city of Førde, the final, tenth competition day of the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships took place. On this day, medals were contested in the men’s over 110 kg and women’s over 86 kg weight categories.

Among women, the victory was claimed by South Korea’s Olympic silver medalist Pak Hye-jeong, who achieved a clear advantage over Marifelix Sarría from Cuba. The bronze medal went to Mary Theisen-Lappen from the USA.

Varazdat Lalayan became a two-time world champion, winning the overall gold as well as two small gold medals in the snatch and clean & jerk. The 26-year-old athlete achieved a confident victory with a total of 461 kg (211+250). In his final attempt, Lalayan tried to set a new world record in the clean & jerk at 261 kg, but failed to fix the bar overhead — although he was very close to success.

Thus, Varazdat Lalayan became a two-time world champion, and Team Armenia concluded the World Championships in Norway with one “big” gold and four “small” medals — two gold, one silver, and one bronze.

Second place went to another representative of the Armenian weightlifting school — Gor Minasyan, competing for Bahrain, with a total of 447 kg.

Armenia’s main rivals, Ali Davoudi and Ayat Sharifi of Iran, failed to register a total: one was unsuccessful in the snatch, and the other in the clean & jerk. As a result, the bronze medal went to Son Yeong-hwan of South Korea with 410 kg.

Results of the 10th Day of the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships (October 11)

Men’s +110 kg – Total (Top 8)

1. Varazdat Lalayan (Armenia) — 461 kg (211 + 250)

2. Gor Minasyan (Bahrain) — 447 kg (205 + 242)

3. Son Yeong-hwan (South Korea) — 410 kg (175 + 235)

4. Lee Yang-jae (South Korea) — 405 kg (180 + 225)

5. Vladyslav Prylipko (Ukraine) — 392 kg (171 + 221)

6. Ragna Holme (Norway) — 388 kg (178 + 210)

7. Kamil Kučera (Czech Republic) — 383 kg (166 + 217)

8. Lovepreet Singh (India) — 369 kg (168 + 201)
   Ayat Sharifi and Ali Davoudi (Iran) — no total.

Snatch:

1. Varazdat Lalayan (Armenia) — 211 kg

2. Gor Minasyan (Bahrain) — 205 kg

3. Ali Davoudi (Iran) — 196 kg

Clean & Jerk:

1. Varazdat Lalayan (Armenia) — 250 kg

2. Gor Minasyan (Bahrain) — 242 kg

3. Son Yeong-hwan (South Korea) — 235 kg

Women’s +86 kg – Total (Top 10)

1. Pak Hye-jeong (South Korea) — 125 + 158 = 283 kg

2. Marifelix Sarría Ruiz (Cuba) — 118 + 157 = 275 kg

3. Mary Theisen-Lappen (USA) — 115 + 154 = 269 kg

4. Emily Jade Campbell (Great Britain) — 115 + 153 = 268 kg

5. Zhu Linhan (China) — 116 + 140 = 256 kg

6. Wang Ling-chen (Chinese Taipei) — 111 + 138 = 249 kg

7. Tayane de Lima (Brazil) — 108 + 140 = 248 kg

8. Pavez Miranda Arantzazu (Chile) — 110 + 137 = 247 kg

9. Fatmagül Cevik (Turkey) — 110 + 136 = 246 kg

10. Kristina Borodina (Ukraine) — 106 + 136 = 242 kg

Snatch:

1. Pak Hye-jeong (South Korea) — 125 kg

2. Marifelix Sarría Ruiz (Cuba) — 118 kg

3. Zhu Linhan (China) — 116 kg

Clean & Jerk:

1. Pak Hye-jeong (South Korea) — 158 kg

2. Marifelix Sarría Ruiz (Cuba) — 157 kg

3. Mary Theisen-Lappen (USA) — 154 kg