Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Iranian strongest man at London Olympics

Updated at 9:58 am on 8 August 2012

Iran's Behdad Salimikordasiabi has won gold in the headline event of the London weightlifting competition to claim the title of strongest man at the Olympics.

The 22-year-old, known as "Salimi", lifted a total of 455kg in the over-105 kilogram weight category, comprising a 208kg snatch lift and a 247kg clean and jerk, Reuters reports.

That put him 6kg ahead of silver medallist and fellow countryman Sajjad Anoushiravani Hamlabad, who joined him on the platform at the end of the competition to hoist an Iranian flag in front of a raucous crowd.

Iran are twelfth on the medal table, with four golds and seven medals in total.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand