KUALA LUMPUR: The work, or the weight in this case, is all cut out for Aniq Kasdan.
The weightlifter knows how much he will have to lift to finish on the podium at the Paris Olympics from July 26-August 11.
Looking at the performances of the medallists at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the World Cup in Phuket, earlier this month, Aniq needs to clear over 300kg to be a medal contender.
The 21-year-old currently holds the national record of 296kg — 126kg in the snatch and 170kg in the clean and jerk — in the 61kg category,
At the Tokyo Olympics, China's Li Fabin won the gold (313kg), Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan, silver (302kg) and Kazakhstan's Igor Son, bronze (294kg).
At last month's World Cup, Fabin won the gold (312kg) while American Hampton Morris took the silver (303kg).
North Korea's Pak Myong Jin settled for bronze (301kg). Aniq finished eighth with 290kg.
The Segamat lifter, who will be making his Olympic debut, said: "Based on the results from the last Olympics and the World Cup, I need to lift more than 300kg.
"I would be lying if I said I'm not nervous as this is the biggest stage for me, but it's better for me to aim higher.
"Mentally, I'm prepared to break my record as I can lift 300kg in training, but the situation in competition is different. It's about how I cope with things."
Aniq will undergo a month-long training camp in Rompin, Pahang, before continuing his training in Turkiye to acclimatise to the European weather before the Olympics.