Rostami, Kianoush

NOC Iran   
GenderMen
Born23 Jul 1991 in Kermanshah, IRI
Height1.77 m
Weight 94 kg
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? He initially took part in gymnastics, but he also started weight training with his brother who encouraged him to switch sports. "My brother trained in weightlifting with me and told me, 'You're coming weightlifting instead'."
Further Personal Information
Residence Kermanshah, IRI
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Kourosh Rstami [personal, brother], IRI
When and where did you begin this sport? He began weightlifting at age 10.
Further Personal Information
Languages English, Persian
Occupation Athlete
General Interest
Ambitions To win a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (barbend.com, 21 Aug 2018)
Awards and honours He was named 2016 Male Lifter of the Year by the International Weightlifting Federation [IWF]. (barbend.com, 07 Feb 2017)
Other information AUCTION
In November 2017 he announced he would auction the gold medal he won in the 85kg category at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and use the proceeds to help people affected by an earthquake that month in Islamic Republic of Iran. "I consider it my duty to take a step, however small, to help my beloved fellow countrymen who have suffered as a result of the quake. I am returning the gold medal, which is theirs by right, to my people." (Instagram profile, 14 Nov 2017; edition.cnn.com, 14 Nov 2017)

DROPPED
In early 2017 he was dropped by coach Sajjad Anoushiravani from the national team for the 2017 Asian Championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, for not participating in training. Rostami said he did not compete in the events because he was resting for a year following the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I don't have any problems with the Iran Weightlifting Federation but my training programme, the way I use my time, is different to all others, it's my own." He rejoined the national team ahead of the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, CA, United States of America. (floelite.com, 15 Nov 2017; insidethegames.biz, 05 Nov 2017; barbend.com, 06 Feb 2017)

WEIGHT CHANGE
In July 2018 he decided to change from the 85kg weight class up to 94kg in preparation for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. "I wanted a new challenge. For eight years, I was the best athlete in the 85kg category and I would like to show myself that I can succeed at another weight." In 2019 he then switched to the newly established 96kg category. (tehrantimes.com, 04 Mar 2019; alef.ir, 01 Jul 2018)
Further Personal Information
Family Son Kianoush
General Interest
Injuries He was troubled by a knee injury at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, CA, United States of America. (iwf.net, 04 Dec 2017)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2016 1 85kg   Rio de Janeiro
2012 2 85kg   London
World Championships
2022 4 89kg   Bogotá
2022 2 89kg - Snatch   Bogotá
2022 5 89kg - Clean & Jerk   Bogotá
2019   96kg   Pattaya
2019   96kg - Snatch   Pattaya
2019   96kg - Clean & Jerk   Pattaya
2017   85kg   Anaheim, CA
2017 2 85kg - Snatch   Anaheim, CA
2017   85kg - Clean & Jerk   Anaheim, CA
2015 2 85kg   Houston, TX
2015 3 85kg - Snatch   Houston, TX
2015 2 85kg - Clean & Jerk   Houston, TX
2014 1 85kg   Almaty
2014 2 85kg - Snatch   Almaty
2014 1 85kg - Clean & Jerk   Almaty
2011 1 85kg   Paris
2011 3 85kg - Snatch   Paris
2011 1 85kg - Clean & Jerk   Paris
2010 4 77kg   Antalya
2010 3 77kg - Snatch   Antalya
2010 5 77kg - Clean & Jerk   Antalya
Asian Championships
2023 8 89kg   Jinju
2023 4 89kg - Snatch   Jinju
2023 11 89kg - Clean & Jerk   Jinju
2020 1 89kg   Tashkent
2020 2 89kg - Snatch   Tashkent
2020 2 89kg - Clean & Jerk   Tashkent
2012 2 85kg   Pyeongtaek
2012 1 85kg - Snatch   Pyeongtaek
2012 2 85kg - Clean & Jerk   Pyeongtaek
2011 2 85kg   Tongling
2011 2 85kg - Snatch   Tongling
2011 2 85kg - Clean & Jerk   Tongling
2008   69kg   Kanazawa
2008 10 69kg - Snatch   Kanazawa
2008   69kg - Clean & Jerk   Kanazawa
Asian Games
2018   94kg   Jakarta
2014 2 85kg   Incheon
2010 6 85kg   Guangzhou
IWF Grand Prix
2016 1 85kg   Tehran
2016 1 85kg - Snatch   Tehran
2016 1 85kg - Clean & Jerk   Tehran