Powering his way into history, Mutlu joined other weightlifting greats Naim Suleymanoglu of Turkey, Pyrros Dimas and Akakios Kakiasvili of Greece in the exclusive club of three gold medals.

    The bronze went to Mutlu's teammate Sedat Artuc with a total of 280, beating Vitali Dzerbianiou of Belarus and Oscar Albeiro Figueroa of Colombia on bodyweight. Figueroa earlier in the day was first in the 56kg Group B event.

    "It's very nice for me to be an athlete who has won his third successive gold medal at the Olympic Games," Mutlu told reporters,adding "it's a great pleasure for me every time I win a gold medal."

    "I am always happy when I win. But I don't feel anything special," he said.