Chen Xiexia Lifts China First Gold Medal at Beijing Olympics

China's Chen Xiexia won the women's 48kg weightlifting title on Saturday, the first gold medal for the host country at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Chen Xiexia snatched 95kilograms and jerked 117kilograms for a winning total of 212, a new Olympic record. It's also the country's first Olympic gold in this category.

The Chinese weightlifter looked excited when she realized that she had become the first Chinese champion of the Beijing Olympics.

"I didn't know I got the first gold for China. Someone told me after I finished my match. I was really surprised."

Despite competing on home soil, Chen says she did not feel a lot of pressure.

The 25-year-old said she did not think too much before the event and that she just wanted to do her best.

"I didn't care about the result. I didn't care whether I could get the gold or not. I just came here to compete with all the others and achieve as much as I could."

Chen Xiexia, a gold medalist at the 2007 world championships, was in good form in Saturday's competition. She shouted "Hey! Go!" to psych herself up before the six successful attempts she made.

All home fans roared and applauded to cheer her on during the competitions.