by John Crean
ATHENS, Aug 14 (AFP) - Weightlifter Nurcan Taylan cried tears of joy on the podium after becoming the first Turkish woman to win an Olympic gold medal on Saturday.
The 20-year-old student broke three world records on her way to a stunning victory over Asian champion and favourite Li Zhuo of China in the 48kg division of women`s weightlifting.
Taylan`s joy contrasted with the anguish of Li who had banked on setting China on their way to repeating their haul of four gold medals at the Sydney Olympics.
"It makes me very happy to be the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal for Turkey," said an overjoyed Taylan. "I am very satisfied with my performance - it is the first Olympic victory for a Turkish woman and I dedicate it to the Turkish nation.
"I had a slight leg injury but I was sure of success at 112.5kg (which gave her the win). I have to thank my trainers who were giving me the right instructions."
Taylan put Li under pressure by establishing a new world mark of 97.5kg in the snatch to take a 5kg lead into the clean and jerk section.
She maintained that lead by lifting 112.5 kg to set a new world record total of 210kg. Li, chosen for the Olympics ahead of Chinese world champion Wang Mingjuan, had two chances at 120kg in the clean and jerk to pip Taylan for the gold but failed in both attempts. She took the silver with 205kg.
"I did my best," said an ashen-faced Li. "I have lifted well in practice and thought I could succeed (with 120kg to clinch victory)."
Aree Wiratthaworn of Thailand, runner up in last year`s World Championships, was third with a total of 200kg.
Taylan was third in the 48kg class at the 2003 World Championships before going up to 53kg for this year`s European Championships which she won. The decision to come back down and challenge Li paid off handsomely.
Taylan and Li went toe to toe like prize fighters, the Chinese arriving at the podium in a dressing gown which her coaches swept dramatically from her shoulders.
Taylan laid down the challenge to gold medal favourite Li by twice beating the Chinese`s snatch world record of 93.5kg set last September.
She lifted 95kg followed by a mighty 97.5kg with Li failing at 95kg after successfully lifting 92.5kg.
The power-packed performances of Taylan and Li left defending champion Tara Cunningham of the United States trailing well behind.
Cunningham, who was awarded the gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics after Izabela Dragneva of Bulgaria failed a drugs test, had major surgery to repair a badly torn abdomen and could not challenge the new generation.
The American finished 11th with Dragneva, lifting again after serving her dope ban, coming in sixth.
Enga Mohamed of Egypt created a little bit of history by becoming the first woman from the Arab world to appear in an Olympic weightlifting event.