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Obituary: Philippe Hedrich, Canadian official

Twice Olympic Technical Official and indispensable at major weightlifting events organized in Canada, Philippe Hedrich died on 15 December.
As informed by his lifetime friend, Philippe Saint-Cyr, Mr. Hedrich came from France to Canada in the early 60s. He first started to lift weights in France and he got involved quickly with weightlifting in Quebec. He was the President of the Quebec Federation for a few years. He was Assistant Director of Weightlifting at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Was a referee in many World , Pan-American and other events, including two Olympic Games: LA in 1984 and Seoul in 1988. He coached and managed a successfully a weightlifting club called Les Géants in Montreal.

Philippe Hedrich (on the right) with his lifetime friend Philippe Saint-Cyr

Here is a statement from Geoff Platt which reflects what type of person Philippe was: “Philippe was a giant of a man and a giant of our sport. I first met him when we were both selected to officiate at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. He was a very kind, supportive, gentle man and we came to work closely together when London and Quebec competed twice a year at the London Open and the Quebec Open. I am sure that he will be missed by his family, by the international weightlifting family and by the world in general.”

The IWF, with President Dr. Tamás Aján and staff mourns this kind and wonderful man.