site.btaOlympic Weightlifting Champion Karlos Nasar Feels His Limit Is Still Very Far

Bulgaria's Olympic weightlifting champion from the Paris Games, Karlos Nasar, says he does not remember anything from the competition itself but knows that he is still very far from his potential.

The 20-year-old grabbed the Olympic gold at 89 kg in a very impressive way, setting world records of 404 kg in the total and 224 kg in the clean and jerk. He thus kept his public promise to become an Olympic champion.

Coming home, he was welcomed at Sofia Airport by his family and hundreds of others who wanted to thank him for his achievement.

"This is a dream welcome," were Nasar's first words back in Sofia. He thanked those who welcomed him back and those who watched his participation in the Olympics. "This is great support for me," he said, wishing everyone to follow their dreams. "My hands are full, and so is my heart. It is easier to get the attention of others when you are a champion, but I was prepared," said Nasar, whose title is one of three Olympic golds for Bulgaria from Paris.

He went on to say: "Knowing that the whole nation was behind me, giving up was no option. It was very hard to fall asleep ahead of the competition. Afterwards I slept like a baby. The Olympic title cost me a lot of energy, a lot of effort, no social life, much sweat and blood. But the important thing is that I reached the goal, and now I am an Olympic champion. I am living my childhood dream."

"I have no memories from the competition itself, because my adrenaline shot sky high. Basically, I have this ability to switch off from everything around me when I step on the podium. So, I did not think about my mom, who was there in the audience. I am oblivious to what I am doing when I lift the bar," Nasar said.

In the days before the Olympic competition, he had to overcome many hurdles. "I am glad that it looked easy on the outside," he said.

Nasar did not miss the chance to thank the man who first discovered his weightlifting talent, his late coach Iliyan Iliev. "My coach Iliyan was always my hero. Even now that he is gone, I imagine him advising me about everything."

Nasar's next goal is the title at the World Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain, December 4-14. "I will take a short rest, and then I will resume training. I like what I do, so it is not hard for me. I lift more while training than in competition, so my limit is still very far," the Olympic champion said.

"Right now, I feel like a hero, a proud Bulgarian. It is great to be able to inspire young and old," Nasar said.