Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Double weightlifting success for China as Li Fabin and Hou Zhihui seal gold, break records
It was a day to celebrate for China in the weightlifting events at Paris 2024 as Li Fabin and Hou Zhihui both retained their titles in the men’s 61kg and women’s 49kg events, respectively. Both broke Olympic records, with Li lifting 143kg in the snatch and Hou lifting 117kg in the clean and jerk. Hampton Morris became the first man from the USA to win an Olympic weightlifting medal in 40 years.
It was a double success for China in Wednesday’s weightlifting competition with gold in the men’s 61kg and women’s 49kg events at Paris 2024.
Li Fabin and Hou Zhihui both retained their titles at Paris Expo to mark a memorable day for China.
Li’s lift of 143kg set a new Olympic snatch record in the men’s 61kg event with his third attempt, just 3kg short of his own world record.
The three-time world champion triumphed with a score of 310 following a lift of 167kg in the clean and jerk.
“I’m really happy that I’m competing at this Olympic Games. The atmosphere is really great, and I really enjoyed the competition,” said Li.
“I’m getting older and older, so this might be the last time I compete, but I’m still looking forward for maybe the next time. I would like to have one more gold medal for my country.
“I don’t have any concrete idea right now. I just want to enjoy the moment. I won the gold medal today.”
Thailand’s Theerapong Silachai earned a surprise silver medal with a lift of 171kg in the clean and jerk to accumulate a score of 303.
Hampton Morris, with a score of 298, won bronze to become the first man from the USA to win an Olympic weightlifting medal in four decades.
Hou proves too strong
In the women’s 49kg final, Hou Zhihui also celebrated back-to-back victories, lifting a total of 206kg.
Hou had been tracked all the way by Romania’s Mihaela Cambei but succeeded at the third time in clean and jerk to set an Olympic record with a lift of 117kg, beating her rival by 1kg.
Cambei took the silver and Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao sealed bronze.
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The Forester enters 2025 with a fresh exterior design and a moderately updated chassis. It still offers all-wheel drive as standard, and its powertrain is virtually the same as the one employed by the outgoing Forester—although a Forester hybrid, reviewed separately, also joins the lineup for 2025. There’s a new electric power-steering rack onboard, which Subaru says shares components with the feisty WRX performance sedan, and a new foot-activated hands-free power tailgate joins the options list. The new Forester goes on sale in spring 2024.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2025 Subaru Forester starts at $31,415 and goes up to $41,715 depending on the trim and options.
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Engine, Transmission, and Performance
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0–60-MPH Times
At our test track, the Forester Sport we sampled dragged itself to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, its flat-four engine groaning along the way. Around town, acceleration feels more than adequate though, and under light throttle, the engine’s gruff demeanor isn’t as noticeable.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2025 Forester land at 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, with the exception of the Sport and Touring trims, which give up 1 mpg in each measure. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, the Sport trim we tested managed 31 mpg. For more information about the Forester’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The two-row Forester is a politely comfortable affair. Starting with mid-level trims on up, its interior offers a good mix of materials, including a leather-wrapped gear selector and heated and ventilated front seats. A spacious back seat offers plenty of head, hip, and leg room for adults, while the rear cargo space, even while that second row is in use, is spacious. The rear seats split 60/40 and, when folded flat, open up 75 cubic feet of cargo space. Subaru claims the new-generation Forester has more sound dampening than before, which should result in a quieter cabin. Every Forester also comes with roof rails. A hands-free powered tailgate has been added as an available feature.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Inside, a large 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard on all but base models. The system comes standard with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. The system also includes a wireless smartphone charging pad. The base model gets a dual 7.0-inch display similar to what was on the previous-generation Forester, which incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well.
