Strongman Rae wins gold for Australia

MELBOURNE, Mar 23 (Reuters) Australia's Chris Rae laid claim to being the strongest man at the Commonwealth Games when he won the super heavyweight +105 kilogram weightlifting division today.

Rae took gold with an aggregate total of 388kgs, including a Games record snatch of 172kgs. His total just edged out team mate Damon Kelly (385kgs), who had the consolation of breaking the Games clean and jerk record with an effort of 217kgs.

''I've been to the last two Commonwealth Games but haven't been able to make the gold because of injury,'' said Rae, who as won four Commonwealth medals since 1998 without striking gold.

''It's a relief for me mainly, this is probably the sweetest moment I've had in weightlifting.'' The tiny south Pacific island of Nauru won their second medal of the Games, and second in weightlifting, when Itte Detenamo took the bronze with a total of 360kgs.

The win edged Australia ahead in the weightlifting medals table, with four golds and 10 in total ahead of India with three golds and nine overall.

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