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Mohammed Jalood was re-elected as the IWF President for the period 2025-2029, after receiving 168 votes from the delegates present at the IWF Electoral Congress, taking place this weekend in Riyadh (KSA). First elected at the helm of our International Federation in June 2022, Mr Jalood couldn’t hide his emotion after receiving such an outstanding level of support from the National Federations’ representatives present in the Saudi capital and a few others also attending the Congress online.

“I am of course immensely happy and honoured with the confidence and trust the Congress awarded me, but, most importantly, this result demonstrates the unity in the weightlifting family and the satisfaction for the immense work we have done in recent years,” declared Mr Jalood, a former athlete, coach and administrator from Iraq.

IWF President Mohammed Jalood after the announcement of his victory

After the successful presidential election, the remaining composition of the 2025-2029 Executive Board was also defined by the vote of the participating delegates. For the two next major positions, Mr José Quiñones (PER), President of the Pan-American Weightlifting Federation was elected the new IWF General Secretary, while Ms Ursula Papandrea (USA) was reconducted as the IWF First Vice-President.

The two new IWF Vice-Presidents are Mr Mohammed Al-Harbi, from Saudi Arabia and former member of the Board, and Mr Chengliang Liu (CHN), a new entry in this body.

The 2025-2029 IWF Executive Board

The list of the remaining 12 members of the 2025-2029 IWF Executive Board comprises:

Ms Wen Hsin Chang (TPE)
Mr Matthew Curtain (GBR)
Mr Pyrros Dimas (GRE)
Ms Gardencia Du Plooy (RSA)
Ms Yassiny Esquivel (CRC)
Ms Karolina Lundahl (FIN)
Mr Shakhrillo Makhmudov (UZB)
Mr Florian Sperl (GER)
Ms Sirilak Thatman (THA)
Mr Boukar Tikire (CMR)
Mr Jerry Wallwork (SAM)
Mr Luis Zambrano (ECU)

Besides the 17 members elected at today’s Congress, the IWF EB also includes five additional Vice-Presidents, each of them leading their respective continental federation, and three members of the IWF Athletes Commission (including its Chair). 

IWF Ordinary Congress

The IWF Ordinary Congress, taking place earlier in the day, was officially opened by HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Vice-President of Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, who welcomed all delegates to Riyadh and highlighted the commitment of the Saudi sport authorities to promote weightlifting in the country.

IWF President Mohammed Jalood with HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud

The IWF President and IWF General Secretary then addressed the audience about the work of the 2022-2025 Executive Board and the positive consequence it brought for the permanence of our sport in the Olympic programme. “We are presently a respected Sport, abiding by the highest standards in terms of good governance and fight against doping, just to name the main two areas that caused us many problems in the past,” considered Mr Jalood.

The outgoing General Secretary Antonio Urso also spoke about the great improvements made by the IWF in recent years. “This was done in a spirit of unity and great passion for our Sport. I will keep this wonderful weightlifting family forever in my heart,” confessed Mr Urso.

In a video message sent to the Congress, the IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed that weightlifting was of “significant importance” for the overall success of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. “You can be proud of the achievements of your athletes,” declared Mr Bach, who is soon leaving the IOC presidency. “I hope you can maintain the same level of co-operation with my successor, IOC President-Elect Ms Kirsty Coventry. From my side, I will now enjoy watching your sport as a big fan of it,” concluded Mr Bach.

Stian Grimseth presenting the 2025 IWF World Championships

The Congress then approved the independent audit of the 2024 Financial Statements, and the lifting of the suspension status for the National Federations of Gambia, Liberia, Maldives, Mauritania and Senegal, and the approval of membership for the National Federation of Equatorial Guinea.

The delegates were also briefed on the latest stage of preparation for the 2025 IWF World Championships, to be staged in October in Forde (NOR). Moreover, interesting presentations were delivered by SBD, IWF Official Partner and Supplier, Eleiko, IWF Official Supplier and ZKC, IWF Official Supplier.

In recognition of the Saudi authorities’ continuous support to weightlifting, the IWF awarded its Gold Collar to HH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Sports Minister and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and to HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

José Quiñones and Antonio Urso receiving their Hall of Fame Certificate

Finally, for their long, valuable and tireless services within the IWF and the weightlifting family in general, Antonio Urso and José Quiñones, President of the Pan-American Weightlifting Federation, were inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame.

IWF Communications