Being slim has become a fashion for most young girls. Nevertheless, the rising bodyweight brought Chinese Cao Lei, nicknamed "weightlifting beauty" gold medals in the worlds and the ongoing Asiad, instead of burdens.

Cao Lei, 23, overcame seven rivals to win convincingly in the women's 75kg category with a total of 272kg here on Tuesday, two months after she had been crowned in the 2006 world championships in Santo Domingo in October.

Upgraded from 69kg division to the heavier 75kg category in January, Cao began to take the limelight in the competitions since then with a string of gold medals in the national championships, the worlds and the Asiad.

"I was afraid that I would be ugly if I became heavier, so I had ever refused to shift to 75kg category in the past," Cao told Xinhua after the competition.

Cao, 1.67 meters tall, finished eighth in women's 63kg in the national championships in 1999 when she was only 15 years old. She also took the gold medal in 69kg category in 2003 world junior championships in Mexico.

"I never expected to be in 75kg. It is too heavy and I don't want to look fat," she said.

However, Cao had to be heavier to have a better future in women's weightlifting. Her teammate, Olympic champion Liu Chunhong was unbeatable in 69kg class and Cao even had no chance to win over her.

"I thought it over and over, and decided to change into the 75kg. Everything is going smoothly now." said Cao, weighed 73.23kg so far.

"The only thing which makes me upset is that I can't wear the clothes I bought last year. They are too tight for me now."

"One day I met a friend in the street, and we haven't seen each other for almost one year. He told me that I looked unchanged though I was heavier now. I am quite happy with his comment," she added.

"I never expected I could win gold medals in the worlds and the Asiad before. These awards give me confidence to work harder."

"If I have the opportunity to attend the Beijing Olympics, I will not disappoint my supporters," she said.