The 2017 85 kg World Weightlifting champion Arley Mendez has returned to training after a disappointing performance at the 2018 WWC. At the 2017 WWC Arley was in phenomenal shape, defeating the Olympic Champion with a sensational 175 kg snatch and even an attempt at a new world record clean and jerk of 221 kg which he narrowly missed. As he headed towards the 2018 WWC Arley was certainly the favourite even over the return of the Russian world champion Artem Okulov. Having snatched 170 kg and clean and jerked 210 kg or more many times in the build up it was a great disappointment when Arley announced just a week before competition that he was injured and had been unable to successfully complete the preparation period of training.
It has been over 4 months since we last saw Arley snatch 170 kg or more but finally he is back!
Below is Arley snatching 170 kg, the best snatch for him from the week.
He also hit 140 kg x 3, 150 kg x 3, and a phenomenal 160 kg x 2 hang snatch from a few days ago. I feel pretty confident in saying that my money is back on Arley for the 2019 World Championships in Thailand at the end of September.
Arley Mendez (born 31 December 1993) is a Chilean Weightlifter. Arley is the 2017 World Weightlifting Champion in the 85 kg class where he successfully defeated the somewhat injured Olympic Champion Kianosh Rostami with a 175 kg snatch, a 203 kg clean and jerk, a 378 kg total and a very close attempt at a new world record 221 kg clean and jerk on his 3rd attempt.
At the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships an injured Arley Mendez competed in the heavier and new 89 kg class where he placed a disappointing 5th with a 169 kg snatch, a 200 kg clean and jerk, and a 369 kg total.