At just 21 years old, the world watched as Rizki Juniansyah etched his name in history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, claiming the gold medal and breaking the world record in weightlifting. His victory was not easily handed to him; it was the culmination of an extraordinarily arduous journey filled with sacrifices, setbacks, and a thousand silent, disciplined steps.
By The Time Place Magazine
You might have seen it on TV or across social media, a moment replayed a million times, immortalised in the collective memory of an entire nation. Indeed, the world was watching as Rizki Juniansyah turned his ambitions into reality, carving his name in Olympic history.
There was an undeniable electric magic in the atmosphere of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a feeling that something extraordinary was about to unfold. Every eye in the South Paris Arena was fixed on a 21-year-old weightlifter from Indonesia as he stood before the barbell, hands tight, fingers curling with purpose.
For a brief moment seemingly meant only for him, he was alone with that weight, alone in the silent space that demanded the highest level of focus. He remembered that he had one goal: to win an Olympic medal. He was not even thinking about winning gold—just winning any medal would have been a meaningful accomplishment.
He bent at the knees, coiling his body like a spring. Then, with a powerful thrust, he pulled, the 199kg weight rising above him, trembling against the forces of gravity, protesting this phenomenal display of human will, and the crowd of spectators held their breaths in unison. He recalled his nervousness turning into pride on that Olympic stage. “It did not even feel like I was carrying 199kg.”
Time stretched, freezing for a split second, and although his muscles burned, his grip remained ironclad. With his arms locked and the barbell held high overhead, Rizki Juniansyah successfully broke a world record in the 73kg category, and recorded a total lift of 354 kg after lifting 155 kg in the snatch and 199 kg in the clean and jerk, earning an Olympic gold medal—the very first in weightlifting for Indonesia—and just like that, the stadium erupted in applause.
It was a moment too big to fully grasp. He dropped the bar, his knees buckling beneath him as he collapsed to the ground in a flurry of emotions: disbelief, relief, and above all, gratitude. For a brief second, the roaring crowd faded into the background, leaving him alone with the weight of what he had just achieved. He thought, “This was my first Olympics, and it was beyond anything I could ever imagine.”
With the gold medal resting against his chest, Rizki thought about what it truly meant to him. “Perhaps the recognition from it comes second, but the journey—oh, the journey—has been extraordinary.” With it, Rizki understood that his victory was not simply won on the podium, but rather it started 15 years ago when he decided he would sacrifice for his sport, long before the crowd cheered.
The real victory started at Bulldog Gym, a training space in Serang, Banten that his father owned and operated. “The gym stood right across from my house, just a few steps away. It felt like an extension of my home,” Rizki recalled. “My first training session was there too. And although the facilities and equipment at the time were far from ideal, my father was determined to produce world champions.”
Rizki’s father himself was a weightlifter, as was his mother, and his brother-in-law, Triyatno, who won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Although Rizki grew up in a family of weightlifters, he was never pushed into the sport; instead, he naturally gravitated toward it. Even as a kindergartener, he would playfully lift 5-kilo bars, doing 10 reps just to see if he could. By fourth grade, he began training seriously with his father, who provided him with structured programmes. By middle school, Rizki had fully committed to weightlifting, leaving other activities behind to focus on the sport he loved.
Having known weightlifting for more than half his life, it is no surprise that Rizki’s relationship with the sport has come with its fair share of struggles. Oftentimes, he humorously compared himself to a water buffalo. “Like the mammal, everything in my training is closely monitored,” he says with a wry smile. “The schedule is so strict that it becomes physically and mentally demanding in ways most people can’t imagine. You sleep, you eat, and you train, all under strict discipline. Day after day, it’s always the same—lifting weights,” he shared heartily.
But world records don’t break themselves, and Rizki knows this better than most. Even when the routine feels monotonous, he will show up the next day—earphones in, DJ tracks blasting—lost in the steady rhythm of the weights hitting the floor. “Maybe it’s in my blood. Maybe it’s just what I’ve always known. Or maybe it’s because I’ve committed to it, so I need to make it work.”
Even when the grind of training gets as intense as it does, Rizki’s love for the sport does not waver. It was, however, truly tested when he faced an unexpected setback in September 2023 when his appendix ruptured. Doctors had to remove it through a 12-centimetre incision, leaving him without it altogether. The recovery time was anywhere from six months to a year, and he was told he could not continue his training—the most devastating news for any athlete. “I thought my Olympic dream was over. I genuinely thought about quitting. All I wanted was to be healthy,” he confessed.
However, Rizki remembered that it is not the easy days that define an athlete, yet the relentless pursuit through those days when quitting seemed easier than pushing through. He found himself asking, “What do I want to become?” And with clarity, he asserted firmly, “I want to be a champion and make my parents proud.” Just three days after his surgery, still recovering with stitches and staples, Rizki flew to Saudi Arabia alone, determined to secure attendance points in the championship to qualify for the Olympic Games.
By mid-December 2023, the urge to train became impossible to ignore. “I couldn’t stay away. I wanted to be in the gym, seeing the junior athletes train. I couldn’t wait to lift again, so I started slowly, even though the doctor warned me not to,” he smiled sheepishly. Fortunately, Rizki’s hard work turned fleeting seconds into immortal glory. With a junior world record at a championship in Uzbekistan and, later, surpassing his senior teammate at a competition in Phuket, Thailand, he earned enough points to qualify for the Olympic Games. “It was tough, I cried almost every day,” he let out a quiet laugh. “However, seeing all my efforts culminate in such incredible results makes it all worthwhile. Most of all, I am so grateful to have so many people supporting me, and that kept me going.”
One of the most supportive figures in Rizki’s life, without a doubt, was his father, Muhammad Yasin. From Rizki’s first-ever lift at home to the thunderous applause at the Olympics, his father was always there—always proud. “He has always been incredibly patient with me,” Rizki reminisced. “He would train me every single day, and watch over me late into the night. He’d wake me up for early morning training, take me to school, pick me up, and stay by my side for lunch breaks, rest times, and evening sessions. Even when I slept, he was there, making sure I stayed on track. No matter how much I veered off course, he was always there with guidance and advice,” Rizki fondly recounted.
When Rizki’s father tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident in October 2024—just two months after Rizki’s monumental Olympic win—he was left lost under the weight of his grief. “My father built me into the person I am today, which is why losing him was devastating,” he shared with deep sadness. “I have so many memories with him. Truly, all the best things in my life are because of him.” Despite grappling with the loss of the man who had been his father, coach, mentor, and most steadfast supporter, Rizki chose to hold on to hope. “My mother is still here with me, and I am determined to care for her and make her proud.”
Remembering the gym his father built and the countless hours they spent training there together, Rizki makes it a priority to travel every weekend from Jakarta to Banten, ensuring Bulldog Gym receives the care it deserves. “The first time I earned money for myself, I spent it on equipment for the gym,” he shared. Piece by piece, he invested in weights, platforms, rubber mats, and repairs—everything needed to improve the space his father had cherished. “Now, thankfully, the platforms are comfortable, the space is better, and the athletes can train in a much more supportive environment.”
When asked about what comes next after his Olympic victory, Rizki revealed that he remains focused on his training, driven by a new goal: to compete in three Olympics and defend his gold medal. “When it comes to the Olympic Games, it’s no longer just about being the strongest—it’s about consistency, effort, and perseverance,” he says. “Right now, I need to stay fit, healthy, and strong so I can earn the points I need to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.”
While the gold medals he strives for represent a tangible goal, Rizki knows that the true reward lies in the person he becomes in the pursuit of them. Through his dedication to weightlifting, Rizki grew from an athlete with dreams to a champion who could proudly dedicate his victory to his country. “Not just for me, not just for my family, but the gold is for Indonesia. I will guard this medal with all I have, and hopefully, I’ll have the honour of dedicating another one at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.” With championships lined up for December 2024 and early 2025, Rizki Juniansyah is ready to keep moving upward, one mighty lift at a time.
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