Olympic gold medallist Tara Nott has won the gold medal in the women's 48-kilogram weightlifting category at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. Nott bettered the competition by seven-and-one half kilograms.
Tara Nott lifted a total of 175 kilograms in the women's 48-kilogram category. She hoisted 77.5 kilograms in the snatch and 97.5 in the clean and jerk.
The tiny American won the gold ahead of local favorite Guillermina Candelorio, who had the crowd on their feet every time she lifted. Venezuela's Remigia Arcila took the bronze medal.
For Nott, the 2000 Olympic gold medallist, it is too early to think about next year's Games. "I am really focusing on November, the World Championships," she says. "I just got married about a month ago so I have had a lot of change so I need to settle in a start focusing on the worlds and after that the Olympic trials. And once I make the team, then I will look to 2004."
November's world championships are an Olympic qualifier which will help determine how many places the U.S. women will have in Athens.