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IAF gathers over 400 athlete representatives in Lausanne

More than 400 athlete representatives gathered for two days in Lausanne (SUI) for the 12th edition of the International Athletes Forum (IAF), hosted by the International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission. Forrester Osei, Chair of the IWF Athletes Commission was also in the Olympic capital to discuss many important topics related to the protagonists of the sports movement. Forrester Osei (IWF Athletes Commission Chair) between IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry and IOC President Thomas Bach Items on the agenda included the Olympic Solidarity development programmes in the five continents, the support through the Worldwide Olympic Partners (TOP), the Athlete365 programme (reaching now over 200’000 Olympians, Paralympians, and respective entourage members), the career transition strategies put in place to ensure a smooth retirement from the competition, the focus on clean sport and athlete safeguarding, the mental health challenges, the athletes' representation throughout the sports movement (namely within International Federations and National Olympic Committees), the power of communication and the digital possibilities related to the use of social media channels, and the discussions around the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration. Forrester Osei promoting clean sport with Cyrille Tchatchet II (IWF Athletes Commission and WADA Athletes Council Member) “It was a great Forum, allowing a lot of interaction and sharing of experiences around very important topics. It was also unexpectedly amazing to see that despite the differences among all our sports, we all face the same issues and challenges. Having this gathering, we can find solutions among ourselves,” considered Mr Osei. “I was also quite happy to see our younger generation of lifters so involved and so well represented in this Forum. By leading this kind of initiative, the IOC clearly makes our young athletes feel they are important in driving the future of our sports,” added the IWF Athletes Commission Chair. From left to right: Kady Kanouté Tounkara (WADA Education Committee Member), Pau Gasol (IOC Athletes Commission Member), Emma Terho (IOC Athletes Commission Chair), and Forrester Osei The 2025 IAF (the Forum is organised every two years) was opened by the IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry. “We see a world which is becoming more and more divided within societies and among societies. Sport is about unifying, is about solidarity. And solidarity means more than respect: it means that you not only respect each other but help each other. We are standing against hate, divisions, and growing inequalities. We are about solidarity, peace, and helping each other. This is why we have to be even more determined, outspoken, and also to be extremely consistent in what we are doing,” said Mr Bach. Forrester Osei with legendary five-time Olympic champion from Cuba Mijain Lopez (wrestling) Less than two weeks before the end of his presidency, attendees at the Forum paid an emotional tribute to the IOC President, who was in 1981 one of the founding members of the first-ever IOC Athletes Commission. The words of Ms Coventry were also inspirational: “We play an important role, whether it is on the global stage or at home in our community. As athletes, we are all ambassadors. We are all role models. In order for us to continue to help inspire a younger generation, we need to ensure that we continue to make good decisions for our athletes, to ensure that we create an incredible platform which is the Olympic Games for all of our athletes to succeed, and to be able to leverage those Games for themselves and their communities and in their sports. As athletes, we need to focus on spreading the Olympic values of friendship, excellence, and respect. Those three values connect all of us.” From left to right: Richard Patterson (NZL, former Olympian in weightlifting), Ajah Lolo Pritchard (weightlifter, representing the National Olympic Committee of Vanuatu), Forrester Osei, and Cyrille Tchatchet II IOC Athletes Commission Chair Emma Terho summarised the outcome of the Forum: “This year’s main takeaways have been the importance of athlete support - on an individual level, at the athlete commission level, and in providing resources that help athletes use their platforms to champion social causes that matter to them.” Other IWF representatives in the Forum included Cyrille Tchatchet II, as WADA Athletes Council member (he is also member of the IWF Athletes Commission), and Timea Horvath, Development & Education manager. IWF Communications

IWF congratulates new ASOIF Council members

The International Weightlifting Federation warmly congratulates the four new members of the ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) Council, elected at its General Assembly on June 11, 2025. In Lausanne, the Olympic capital, Andreas Zagklis (International Basketball Federation), Nenad Lalovic (United World Wrestling), Jean-Christophe Rolland (World Rowing), and Ximena Restrepo (World Athletics), brilliantly got their place in the ASOIF Council, an election in which the IWF President Mohammed Jalood was also a candidate. “I warmly congratulate my colleagues who were elected and wish the best of luck for their duties in the ASOIF Council. I had the honour of also being, for the first time during my presidency, a candidate for this election, and despite the support towards the IWF, it was not enough. It was nevertheless a very constructive experience and on behalf of the entire weightlifting family I assure that I will continue giving my best to support ASOIF in its essential role of defending the interests of the International Federations within the Olympic Movement”, considered Mr Jalood. The IWF President's candidature for this position also aimed to fulfil a gap: to elect an IWF representative to the ASOIF Council for the first time ever. IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry speaking at ASOIF General Assembly The General Assembly was highlighted by introductory messages from the IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry.  Mr Bach thanked the Summer IFs for their important contributions over the last years in making the Olympic Games more modern, younger, and more sustainable, as highlighted at its best at Paris 2024. Ms Coventry stressed the importance of working closely with the IFs to deliver the best Olympic Games for the athletes and build a better world through sport. She explained how both priorities are closely connected with Olympic athletes inspiring the next generation. ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos chairing the General Assembly - Photo credit: ASOIF Chaired by ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos, the General Assembly was also the privileged opportunity to brief the members about the progression of the three upcoming editions of the summer Olympic Games: Dakar 2026 (Youth Olympic Games), Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Insightful presentation from the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Testing Agency were also delivered. “It was specially gratifying to see that all International Federations are genuinely engaged in making Sport a tool for a happier, healthier, and more peaceful world. ASOIF definitively got reinforced after this General Assembly in Lausanne, as it displayed a high level of unity and sense of togetherness among all its members,” concluded the IWF President.

IWF formally signs agreements with Eleiko and ZKC for 2025-2028

The IWF President Mohammed Jalood and the IWF General Secretary José Quiñones signed in Lausanne (SUI) the ‘IWF Official Barbell Supplier Agreement’ related with the partnership with manufacturers Eleiko and ZKC for the period 2025-2028. Under this contract, both companies will be entitled to have exclusive access to the following high-level events: Olympic Games & Youth Olympic Games; Qualification events to the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games; IWF World Championships, IWF Grand Prix and other IWF events. IWF General Secretary José Quiñones and IWF President Mohammed Jalood signing the Eleiko agreement As two of the most respected and renowned barbell manufacturers in the world, Eleiko (Sweden) and ZKC (China) have been associated with the IWF for many years: two recent examples include the 2024 World Championships for the Swedish company, and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games for the Chinese partner. The ‘Official Supplier’ is the highest possible (Tier 1) agreement a manufacturer can establish with the IWF, and its rights are valid worldwide and without territorial limitation.   Signing the ZKC partnership “We are very happy to establish these partnerships, with both Eleiko and ZKC. These two companies have a long and successful history in supporting our athletes and our Sport. Being in Tier 1, these manufacturers will benefit from an additional exposure and visibility, as they will be present in the most prestigious IWF events around the world. I thank Eleiko and ZKC for their support and engagement and I am sure our lifters will continue enjoying the high-quality of their barbell products,” considered the IWF President Mohammed Jalood. IWF Communications

IWF leadership celebrates 120th anniversary in Lausanne

The IWF leadership was today in Lausanne (SUI), the city hosting the IWF Headquarters, for the celebration of the 120th anniversary of our International Federation. The top officials present in the Olympic Capital included the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, the IWF General Secretary José Quiñones, and the IWF Athletes Commission Chair Forrester Osei. The former IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso also attended the celebration. From left to right: Forrester Osei (IWF Athletes Commission Chair), Mohammed Jalood (IWF President), José Quiñones (IWF General Secretary), and Antonio Urso (former IWF General Secretary) On June 10, 1905, in the German city of Duisburg, four founding members – Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands – created what would be the predecessor of the IWF. The first name of the world body in charge of governing weightlifting (and wrestling at the time) was “Amateur Athletic World Union”. Other nations slowly joined the new organisation, which had 16 members in 1913. In 1920, Weightlifting became the only sport governed by the Federation, and in 1972, the definitive name of ‘International Weightlifting Federation’ was adopted. Presently, the IWF has 195 Member National Federations in the five continents and organises world competitions in Olympic weightlifting. At the Games, our Sport was already present in the first edition in 1896 – in Sydney 2000, the programme was open to women’s participation.   Present in Lausanne also for the ASOIF General Assembly and the 12th International Athletes Forum, the IWF officials were able to blow the candles of the IWF’s celebratory cake, exactly 120 years to the day after the foundation of our organisation. MOHAMMED JALOOD, President: “As one of the oldest international federations and a founding sport of the modern Olympic Games, we are very proud of our rich and prestigious 120-year history. While this is a privileged opportunity to celebrate the feats of our athletes and the hard work of the administrators that preceded us, these 120 years should be a moment to reflect on the future, so that weightlifting can continue inspiring thousands of young athletes in the five continents!” JOSE QUINONES, General Secretary: “We are celebrating this anniversary in a pivotal moment for the history of the IWF. We recently held elections and the entire weightlifting family showed great unity around common goals! That’s the best proof that we remain faithful to the values of our ancestors and that we are now ready to write many other golden pages in the successful history book of our International Federation”. FORRESTER OSEI, Athletes Commission Chair: “I am very happy and honoured to join this celebration, on behalf of all our talented and devoted athletes! Much of our history is made by the achievements of our lifters during these 120 years - thousands of stories made of resilience, sacrifice, determination, hard training, and superb performances. IWF exists to serve the athletes and their support personnel – in return, they all give us, on a daily basis, the inspiration to continue building a bright future!”   IWF

IWF120y/120 – 1905-2025: Happy Birthday IWF!

Exactly 120 years ago, on June 10, 1905, the premises of the International Weightlifting Federation were laid down in the city of Duisburg (GER). The initiative for such a gathering came from the German national body two months earlier. The objective was to create a world union, with the following objectives. 1. To standardise the names, execution, and evaluation of exercises; 2. To hold competitions under standardised regulations; 3. To only accept the presence in these competitions of members affiliated to the world union; 4. To strictly observe the amateur rules; 5. To fix the value of prizes to be awarded; 6. To unify the rules related to records. Despite the invitation being sent to 11 countries, only four were present on that historic day in Duisburg: Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. They are the official four founding members of the IWF! The only two points on the agenda of that inaugural meeting were: 1. A resolution on founding an international union in weightlifting and wrestling, and a decision about its name; 2. The creation of a commission, with representatives of these four nations, in charge of elaborating the details of the exercises and the running of international competitions. The first name of the world body in charge of governing weightlifting (and wrestling at the time) was “Amateur Athletic World Union”. Other nations slowly joined the new organisation, which had 16 members in 1913. In 1920, Weightlifting became the only sport governed by the Federation, and in 1972, the definitive name of ‘International Weightlifting Federation’ was adopted. Happy Birthday

IWF120y/119 – 2016: 19-year-old Simon Martirosyan shines for Armenia

Simon Martirosyan is the only lifter representing Armenia with two Olympic medals so far. Born in 1997, he was still a junior athlete, when in Rio 2016 he won the silver medal in the 105kg category, lifting 190-227-417. Some months earlier, at the Europeans in Forde (NOR), he was third, and before that, in 2014, at 17, he won his category at the second edition of the Youth Olympic Games, in Nanjing (CHN). After the Brazilian achievement, Martirosyan (photo) continued to shine, namely by getting two world titles, in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics (in the 109kg), the Armenian ace is again very consistent, earning a second silver medal, this time in 195-228-423. Not qualified for the Paris 2024 Games, he shone again in 2025, finishing second at the European Championships. In 2023, despite his fifth place at the Worlds, he performed his best international result, with 200-250-450. As an independent country (since 1996 – before that, many Armenians also shone on the Olympic scene, but under the flag of the Soviet Union), Armenia has a total of 22 Olympic medals, including seven (five silver, two bronze) in weightlifting (the second most prolific sport, after wrestling, the only one with two Olympic champions). Other Armenian lifters with Olympic medals are Tigran Vardan Martirosyan (silver, 2008), Gor Minasyan (silver, 2016), Varazdat Lalayan (silver, 2024), Arsen Melikyan (bronze, 2000), and Gevorg Davtyan (bronze,