Weeraphon "Wave" Wichuma of Thailand made history by securing the silver medal in the men's 73kg weightlifting category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

At just 19 years old, Wichuma became the youngest athlete ever to achieve this feat, showcasing exceptional talent and dedication.

Born on August 10, 2004, in Surin, Thailand, Wichuma's journey in weightlifting began early. Despite his youth, he has already amassed an impressive array of accolades. He first gained international recognition with a gold medal at the Junior World Championships in 2022. That year, he also earned silver at the Asian Games and bronze at the World Championships.

In 2023, Wichuma continued his impressive performance with a silver medal at the Asian Championships and a gold at the World Championships, where he set a new junior world record with a 195kg clean and jerk lift.

At the Paris Olympics, Wichuma lifted a total of 346kg, with a clean and jerk lift of 198kg, setting a new world junior record. His performance earned him the silver medal, falling short of gold by 8kg, which was claimed by Indonesia's Rizki Juniansyah. Despite this, Wichuma's achievement significantly contributed to Thailand's medal tally, bringing it to six: one gold, three silvers, and two bronzes.

Reflecting on his journey, Wichuma credits his transformation from a stubborn youth to a disciplined athlete to his commitment to weightlifting, highlighting the importance of training, nutrition, rest, and self-confidence.

Lykkers, Weeraphon Wichuma's remarkable success at such a young age is an inspiration and a proud moment for Thailand's sporting community.