Maude Charron smashes Canadian weightlifting mark to earn World Cup bronze
Olympic champion moved down in weight class following Tokyo 2020 title
Canada's Maude Charron is feeling strong with the Olympics approaching quickly.
The Rimouski, Que., native smashed her Canadian record on Wednesday, lifting a total of 236 kilograms (106kg snatch and 130kg clean and jerk) to win bronze in the women's 59kg category at a World Cup event in Phuket, Thailand.
China's Luo Shifang won gold with a world-record total of 248kg (108kg snatch and 140 clean and jerk), while North Korea's Kim Il Gyong scored silver at 240kg (103 snatch and 132 clean and jerk).
Charron, 30, is one of just two Canadians to ever win Olympic weightlifting gold, taking her title in the 64kg category at Tokyo 2020.
Canadian Record Alert! 🤩<br><br>Maude Charron lifted a total of 236kg (106kg snatch + 130kg clean and jerk) to win bronze in the women's 59kg event at the 2024 IWF World Cup in Thailand. 🥉🏋️♂️<br><br>She's looking strong on the road to Paris 2024! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamCanada?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/ICLeqxK2hf">pic.twitter.com/ICLeqxK2hf</a>
—@TeamCanadaShe moved down a weight class in advance of the Paris Olympics with the 64kg category removed from competition.
Charron's previous Canadian record was set with a bronze medal at the 2022 world championships, before she skipped last year's edition with a knee injury. The Canadian has also won consecutive Commonwealth Games titles and is the reigning Pan Am champion.