On Friday, Aug. 9, 20-year-old weightlifter Karlos Nasar culminated one of the most impressive runs in the sport with his performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.

During the Men’s 89-kilogram event, Nasar shocked audiences in the South Paris Arena when he won the gold medal and set multiple new world records in the process. Widely regarded as the most talented rising men’s weightlifter in the world, Nasar did more than win gold at his first Olympics.

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Bulgaria, once considered the world’s most dominant weightlifting coalition, hasn’t had an Olympic Champion in the sport in 20 years. In many ways, Nasar’s performance may herald new era for a country with a storied, if complicated, history in weightlifting.

Karlos Nasar 2024 Olympics

When the qualification period began in 2022, Nasar was considered an outside shot. But over a series of impressive international performances while still a teenager — Nasar set six Senior weightlifting world records leading up to Paris — it became increasing clear that Nasar would run the room in Paris.

And run the room he did. Here’s a breakdown of his historic performance in the Men’s 89-kilogram event:

Snatch: 173, 177, 180

Clean & Jerk: 213, 224

Total: 404

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Nasar set new 89-kilogram Olympic records in the clean & jerk and Total, as well as world records in both as well.

Nasar appeared on stage for the first time to thunderous cheers, thanks to both his reputation as a gutsy, record-setting competitor and on-stage showmanship. He entered the arena in Paris as the defending European Champion and victor at the last-chance qualifying event, the IWF World Cup in April.

Weightlifting Gold for Bulgaria: Are They Back?

Nasar’s performance in Paris represents the best of Team Bulgaria’s weightlifters at this summer’s Games. Two other men competed for Bulgaria in weightlifting at this Olympics:

Ivan Dimov failed to rank in the Men’s 61-kilogram event on Aug. 7.

Bozhidar Andreev won the bronze medal in the Men’s 73-kilogram on Aug. 8.

[Check In: 2024 Olympics Complete Weightlifting Results]

Despite Nasar’s triumph, Bulgaria’s generational reputation in weightlifting remains stained. Various scandals have plagued their lifting industry stretching back decades, stemming predominantly from rampant abuse of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancers.

Bulgarian weightlifters were banned outright from the Olympics in 2016. Three Bulgarian weightlifters are currently serving provisional suspensions or have been sanctioned by the International Testing Agency.

Nasar has not been personally implicated in any performance enhancing drug-related infractions.

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Featured Image: @thebulgarianlegends1 / Instagram

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