Andrei Aramnau of Belarus tries a lift during men's 105 kg group A match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Weightlifting event in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. Andrei Aramnau set the new world record of the men's 105 kg with a total of 436 kg and won the gold in the event.(Xinhua/Yang Lei) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Andrei Aramnau of Belarus broke three world records to claim title in men's 105kg category on Monday, winning the first gold for Europe in weightlifting at Beijing Olympics.

    "I said openly that I came to win and break the records. It's not just empty talk, I did it," said the gold medalist.

    "I am very thankful to those who told me I could not do it," he said.

    Aramnau, 2007 world champion, snatched 200kg, bettering previous world record created by Polish lifter Marcin Dolega, by one kilo. He jerked 236kg, breaking the clean and jerk, as well as the total world records, which were both created nine years ago in 1999.

    Russian strongman Dmitriy Klokov, who cleared 423kg, got the silver and the bronze went to another Russian Dmitry Lapikov, 2005 world champion, with 420kg.

    It seemed pre-game hot favorite Marcin Dolega was Aramnau's strongest rival in the snatch section, as Dolega lifted 195kg in his first attempt and ordered 200kg in the second, trying to break his own snatch world record of 199, but failed. It was achieved one minute later by Aramnau in his third attempt.

    Dolega tried 201kg, but failed again. However, he still had a chance as he finished second place in snatch, if he didn't fail two attempts again in clean and jerk.

    The 2006 world champion jerked 225kg in his first attempt, totaling 420kg. He was edged out from the third place by Lapikov due to bodyweight difference.

    Aramnau, 20, didn't miss a single attempt in clean and jerk and finally claimed the title with new world records.

    "If I had made any mistakes I would not have won the gold," he said.

    Klokov also managed to accomplish all six attempts and he thought it's the most important factor for him to get a silver, which he was quite satisfied with.

    The 25-year-old said he began to coach himself in 2004 and he thought it worked well.

    "My main task was to overcome Dmitry Lapikov. His coach used to be my coach," he said.

    He dedicated the medal to his wife.

    "I was not successful at times, but she was always supporting me and that helped me a lot," he said, adding that today is exactly three years since they met.