East Timorese Man Makes History

Martinho de Araujo made history by becoming the first East Timorese to compete as an independent athlete at the Olympic Games.

De Araujo, one of four East Timorese competitors in Sydney, was the first lifter to take the platform in the first session of the men’s 56 kilogram weight class.

He failed to lift 65 kilograms with his first two attempts at the snatch but upped the weight to 67.5 kilograms for his third and final attempt and succeeded.