Weightlifter Li Wenwen on Sunday won China's 40th gold at the Paris Olympics, finishing first in the women’s +81kg category.

Li lifted a combined 309kg at the South Paris Arena, 10kg more than South Korea’s Park Hye-jeong in second place and 21kg more than American Emily Campbell, who took bronze.

The Chinese weightlifter checked off with 136kg in the snatch, 5kg more than Park.

Li then raised 173kg overhead with relative ease in the clean and jerk.

Having already won the race, she ditched the third lift and instead picked up her coach to celebrate on stage.

Li, a two-time world champion, topped the podium in Tokyo three years ago in the women’s +87kg class.

The 24-year-old holds the world and Olympic records for the women’s highest weightlifting category.