Karlos Nasar smashes 3 world records at 2024 Weightlifting Worlds in Ningbo
Synopsis
Karlos Nasar didn't just win the 95kg title at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo — he rewrote the record books. All three world records fell in a single session, and with the Ningbo meet doubling as the first LA 2028 Olympic qualifier, the 21-year-old Bulgarian just served notice to the entire field.
Key Takeaways
Karlos Nasar broke all three men's 95kg world records at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China on 4 November 2026 .
His combined total of 415kg (snatch 185kg + clean and jerk 230kg ) eclipsed the previous combined record of 398kg .
Nasar, 21 , claimed his fourth world title , finishing 16kg ahead of silver medallist Nurgissa Adiletuly of Kazakhstan.
DPR Korea's Song Kuk Hyang also swept all three women's 69kg world records with a 275kg combined total on Tuesday.
The Ningbo championships serve as the opening event of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification pathway.
Bulgaria's Karlos Nasar demolished all three world records in the men's 95kg category to claim his fourth world title at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China, on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The reigning 2024 Olympic champion, stepping up from the 89kg division, finished a commanding 16kg ahead of his nearest rival.
Record-Breaking Lifts
The 21-year-old Bulgarian completed a flawless six-from-six performance, lifting 175kg, 180kg, and 185kg in the snatch before clearing 213kg, 220kg, and 230kg in the clean and jerk. His snatch of 185kg and clean and jerk of 230kg each set new world standards, contributing to a combined total of 415kg — also a world record. His final clean and jerk surpassed the previous world mark of 220kg, while the combined total eclipsed the 398kg record set by Iran's Ali Alipour in September.
Podium and Key Rivals
Kazakhstan's Nurgissa Adiletuly claimed silver with a total of 399kg. Alipour, the 2024 Asian Games champion, took bronze with 396kg, while China's Qian Feixiang finished fourth with 385kg. The margin of victory underscored Nasar's dominance in his new weight class.
What Nasar Said
'This is normal for me,' Nasar said after the event. 'I feel good. I'm here only for the gold medal.' After the medal ceremony, the Bulgarian was surrounded by fans seeking photographs. 'This is love. I like this. This is my motivation,' he added.
Women's 69kg Records Also Fall
Earlier on Tuesday, DPR Korea's Song Kuk Hyang swept all three world records in the women's 69kg category. The 25-year-old lifted 122kg in the snatch and 153kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 275kg, improving on the three world records she had set at the Asian Games in September by one, one, and two kilograms respectively. Her compatriot Ri Suk took silver with 259kg, while Colombia's Julieth Rodriguez claimed bronze with 245kg. Song declared her ambition to win gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after her performance.
LA 2028 Qualification Begins
The Ningbo championships mark the opening event of the official qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, making every result here carry additional significance for athletes plotting their Olympic campaigns. With Nasar and Song both signalling dominant form, the road to Los Angeles already has two frontrunners in sharper focus.
Point of View
In a heavier weight class, with six-from-six attempts — is not routine sporting achievement; it is a generational marker. The fact that this coincides with the opening of LA 2028 qualification only amplifies its significance. What mainstream coverage underplays is the competitive pressure now on host-nation China: Qian Feixiang finished fourth, and with home Games pride on the line in four years, that gap is a storyline in itself. Meanwhile, Song Kuk Hyang's parallel sweep in the women's 69kg adds a DPR Korea dimension that geopolitical optics will make hard to ignore in Los Angeles.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many world records did Karlos Nasar break at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships?
Karlos Nasar broke all three world records in the men's 95kg category — snatch (185kg), clean and jerk (230kg), and combined total (415kg) — at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China on 4 November 2026.
What is Karlos Nasar's combined total at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships?
Nasar lifted a combined total of 415kg, comprising a snatch of 185kg and a clean and jerk of 230kg. This eclipsed the previous world record of 398kg set by Iran's Ali Alipour in September.
Who won silver and bronze in the men's 95kg at Ningbo 2026?
Kazakhstan's Nurgissa Adiletuly took silver with a total of 399kg, while Iran's Ali Alipour, the 2024 Asian Games champion, claimed bronze with 396kg. China's Qian Feixiang finished fourth with 385kg.
What records did Song Kuk Hyang set at the World Weightlifting Championships?
DPR Korea's Song Kuk Hyang broke all three women's 69kg world records on Tuesday, lifting 122kg in the snatch and 153kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 275kg. She improved on the three world records she had set at the Asian Games in September by one, one, and two kilograms respectively.
Why are the Ningbo World Weightlifting Championships significant for the 2028 Olympics?
The Ningbo championships mark the opening event of the official qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, meaning results here directly influence which athletes earn berths at the Games.
