Rahimov lifted 214kg, four more than the previous record set by Russia’s Oleg Perepetchenov in 2001, to add to his snatch score of 165kg and make a combined total of 379kg.

His total was the same as Lyu’s but the Kazakh won by virtue of being lighter - he weighs 76.19kg, Lyu 76.83kg.

Lyu had earlier broken the snatch world record with a lift of 177kg, but could only manage 202kg in the clean and jerk.

Rahimov's incredible lift came with an attempt to spare and after defending champion Lyu had finished all of his, meaning there was no room for recovery. 

His victory ensured Kazakhstan’s first gold medal of Rio 2016 and in a sport that at one stage the country looked as though it could be barred from.

The Central Asian nation were one of the countries to produce three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis of samples from 2008 and 2012 Olympics in Beijing and London respectively.

With the International Olympic Committee, however, not confirming the cases before the Games begun, they were free to compete.

"It is the most amazing feeling," said Rahimov.

"There was a chance Kazakhstan would not be allowed to compete in these Olympic Games

"I have been practicing for two years.

"I have been practicing in Azerbaijan and when I returned to Kazakhstan I continued to practice."

Egypt’s Mohamed Mahmoud came away with the bronze medal after posting 165kg in the snatch and 196kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 361kg.

Armenia’s Andranik Karapetyan found himself in second place after the snatch with 174kg, but he suffered an elbow injury on his second clean and jerk attempt at 195kg and had to pull out of the competition. 

Earlier in the day, Yanmei Xiang helped add to China's weightlifting success at Rio 2016 with a gold medal in the women's 69kg category.

Xiang registered a total of 261kg, courtesy of 116kg in the snatch and 145kg in the clean and jerk, to give her country its fourth weightlifting title of the Games. 

Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Zhapparkul took the silver medal with 259kg after managing 115kg in the snatch and 144kg in the clean and jerk.

Egypt’s Sara Ahmed completed the podium to become the first woman from her country to stand on an Olympic podium.

Ahmed totalled 255kg with 112kg in the snatch and 143kg in the clean and jerk.

Rio 2016 weightlifting action is due to resume on Friday (August 12) with the men's 85kg and women's 75kg competitions scheduled to take place.