Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar reaffirmed his dominance in world weightlifting by clinching his third world championship title in the men’s 94 kg category at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway.
The 21-year-old powerhouse lifted a combined total of 395 kg to secure the gold medal, highlighted by a world record-breaking clean and jerk of 222 kg.
The competition began on a tense note for Nasar. In the snatch event, he opened strong with a successful lift at 173 kg but faltered on his next two attempts. His misses at 178 kg and 182 kg — the latter a near world-record attempt — left him in fourth place after the first round.
Iran’s Alireza Moeini Sedeh led the snatch with a new world record of 182 kg, followed closely by fellow Iranian Ali Alipour with 176 kg. Colombia’s Jokser Albornoz, competing from Group B, surprisingly took third with 175 kg.
However, the clean and jerk portion marked Nasar’s dramatic comeback. Opening confidently with 210 kg, he quickly found his rhythm. His next lift of 219 kg propelled him to the top of the standings. Then, on his final attempt, Nasar raised the bar to an astonishing 222 kg — setting a new world record and sealing his victory.
With a total of 395 kg, Nasar finished ahead of Moeini Sedeh, who earned silver with 391 kg, and Albornoz, who claimed bronze with 390 kg. The win not only reestablished Nasar’s supremacy but also added another chapter to Bulgaria’s rich weightlifting legacy.
Nasar’s third world title places him among Bulgaria’s most decorated lifters. He joins an elite group of twelve Bulgarian champions who have achieved the same milestone, including legends such as Asen Zlatev, Blagoy Blagoev, and Yoto Yotov.
The national record still belongs to Yanko Rusev, who captured five world titles, while the global benchmark remains Soviet great Vasily Alekseyev with eight.
For Nasar, the victory is a testament to his resilience after past injuries and setbacks. His ability to recover from early missteps in the competition and deliver under immense pressure once again underscores his reputation as one of weightlifting’s most fearless competitors.
As Bulgaria celebrates his triumph, Nasar’s focus now turns to future challenges — including the upcoming Olympic cycle — where he aims to extend his dominance and continue rewriting weightlifting history.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members