"I'm lucky that China didn't send a lifter in this category," Jaroenrattanatarakoon said. "Then I would have had to be more careful."

Her total was 8 kgs (17.6 pounds) better than Yoon and Novikava. Yoon got the silver because of a lower body weight.

Novikava, silver medalist in the 2007 World Championships, had expected to do better than third place, and couldn't hold back the tears were as she stepped onto the podium.

"I am satisfied, but of course I wanted to get more than bronze," she told reporters. "At training sessions I lifted more than I lifted at today's competition."

Melanie Roach of the United States set an American record with 193 kgs (424.6 pounds), finishing in sixth place.

Jaroenrattanatarakoon's last name didn't fit on the digital scoreboard at the Beijing weightlifting gym, so it was simply abbreviated as "J."

The first name roughly translates to "good girl," while the surname means "prosperous," said Boosaba Yodbangtoey, the president of the Thai weightlifting federation.

On Saturday, Chen Xiexia won China's first gold medal of the Beijing Games in the women's 48-kg category. Another dominant Chinese lifter, Chen Yangqing, is expected to defend her 2004 Olympic title in the women's 58 kg on Monday.