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USA officials visit at the IWF Headquarters

Ursula Papandrea USA WF President and Phil Andrews CEO paid a visit to IWF Headquarters to discuss future plans for USA Weightlifting and to further widen the spectrum of collaboration with International Weightlifting Federation. One of the most important topics was the preparation of the 2019 IWF Youth World Championships in Anaheim next March, besides talks about organizing other events in the upcoming years. USA Weightlifting will hold its’ Coaching Symposium in Chicago, 20-22 July 2018. As a result of the generous support from the IWF (Development Program), four nations from the Pan American Region got the opportunity to delegate one coach per country free of charge for the two-day event. The Women's Camp will take place in Las Vegas in August, where scholarships for one nation each from the 4 Continents and for four nations form the Pan American Continent will be provided. Many seminars will also be held on this occasion. Cooperation with IWF  in some fields such as development and coaching seminars were also brought up at the meeting, and there were discussions about the Women's Commission, which of Ms Papandrea holds the Chairwoman title besides the Presidency of the USA Weightlifting. — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

2018 Mediterranean Games LIVE coverage online

We only have a few days left until the XVIII Mediterranean Games kicks off in Tarragona, Spain on 22 June, and thanks to the Olympic Channel, you can follow all the competitions online and even on your mobile phone! During 10 days of competition, the XVIII Mediterranean Games Tarragona 2018 will feature 3,622 athletes competing across 33 sports disciplines. This year’s event will present a record number of athlete entries from 26 different countries with the highest delegations coming from Italy (419), host country Spain (396), Turkey (365) and France (310). Held in 16 municipalities in and around the territory of Tarragona, the 2018 Mediterranean Games are also expected to host more than 1,000 international judges, 1,000 journalists, 3,500 volunteers and 150,000 spectators. The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport competition usually held every four years that is organized within the Olympic movement, with the recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “We are thrilled to work with Tarragona 2018 to provide coverage of the Mediterranean Games to viewers around the world,” said Mark Parkman, general manager of the IOC’s Olympic Channel. “Live streaming coverage on our global platform will enrich the viewer’s experience and provide additional exposure to these growing sports as well as introduce new sports to a youthful audience.” You can live steam here starting on 23 June! — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

IWF delegates state great progress in Ashgabat’s 2018 WWC preparations

As it is known, the Turkmenistan Weightlifting Federation received the right to carry out the IWF's 2018 flagship event, the IWF World Championships, at relatively short notice. Nevertheless, Ashgabat's undertaking seemed feasible to realize even at allocation time, based on the state-of-the-art facilities built for and used at the 2017 AIMAG. IWF delegates just having concluded the second Technical Visit can confirm that since the Executive Board's decision and the signing of the WWC Agreement preparations had progressed very promisingly for hosting the 2018 IWF WWC. Key in operations starting to roll was the Presidential Decree ordering all related Ministries and the TKM Federation to unite forces and sources in realizing the World Championships in Turkmenistan's capital. The delegation consisting of Aniko Nemeth-Mora, Director of International Relations, Matyas Lencser, Competition Manager and Angelique Mottet, Operations Manager, at their follow-up visit, met with the responsible area managers, inspected the competition facilities, accommodation and catering and touched upon key issues. "We have seen significant progress in the preparations and we managed to cover all the important areas of the World Championships organisation", Aniko Nemeth-Mora confirmed. "Since practically all nations are required to have a visa to enter Turkmenistan, the hosts undertake to provide free of charge visa on arrival to all participants submitting the required data in time. We were also privileged to be received, once again, by Turkmenistan's Minister of Youth and Sport, Dayanch Gurgeldiyev. His direct involvement in the Organising Committee is a guarantee that Turkmenistan will stage a high-class event." Competition dates have been fixed for 1-10 November 2018 with the exact program of course waiting for the definition of the new bodyweight categories. The delegation was joined by the IWF's partner Lagardere Sports represented by its Senior Vice President and Director of Media, that enabled timely and very conclusive discussions with Turkmenistan's State Television regarding the broadcasting of the 2018 IWF WWC.

Morghan King and Oscar Figueroa are the Athlete Role Models for the 2018 YOG

The International Olympic Committee, along with the International Weightlifting Federation, appointed Morghan KING (USA) and Oscar Albeiro FIGUEROA MOSQUERA (COL) as Athlete Role Models at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires, ARG. In creating the Youth Olympic Games, the IOC has developed a mission of building an event that educates, engages and empowers aspiring young people around the world to play a positive and active role in their communities. The IWF is delighted that these two exceptional athletes will be joining the Olympic Family in Buenos Aires for the fifth edition of the Youth Olympic Games and contribute to the Learn & Share activities put in place by the IOC and the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee. As Role Models, both will serve as an example for the young Olympians who will be competing. The support they will be able to provide during the Youth Olympic Games will focus on knowledge through educational activities and workshops. Morghan KING (USA) An Olympian herself, King understands the difficulty and dedication required to make an Olympic Team and then perform on the world stage. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, King set an American Record in the 48kg weight category with an 83kg snatch. “I am so honored to be an Athlete Role Model at the Youth Olympic Games,” King told USA Weightlifting. “As a kid, the Olympic Games were always such a magical, inspiring event.” “I look forward to speaking with the kids of what it means to continue to work hard they can achieve anything they put their minds to,” she said. “The lessons that we learn through sport helps us grow and become a positive influence in our community. I hope that I can become a great ambassador for sport and inspire these youths to continue to pursue their dreams,” King said. “The road to the Olympics is never an easy path but we are here to support and encourage each other no matter what age you are, that’s what being a part of the Olympic community is all about.” “To compete at the Youth Olympic Games is an incredible achievement and I’m excited to celebrate the top young athletes across the globe,” King said. “I cannot wait to see what the future generation is going to bring to this world,” King said. Oscar Albeiro FIGUEROA MOSQUERA (COL) Oscar Figueroa started weightlifting when he was 10 years old, and became a much respected and successful athlete in his country. He is the only male Olympic champion in weightlifting in Columbia. He competed at four Olympic Games and won a Silver Medal in London 2012 in the 62 kg bodyweight category and a Gold Medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics. When asked about being an ARM in Buenos Aires, Oscar Figueroa said: "Being the ARM for the next generation is in all respects a great satisfaction for me. Knowing that you’re not only making history in your own sport, but inspiring others to make their dreams come true, build a brighter future for sports and for themselves is a great satisfaction." "The possibility to show the way and inspire others proves to me that my path has been right, and it was worth the hard effort to be the best every day." As an advice, Oscar Figueroa added the following:"Discipline, persistence and hard work will always lead to success, it doesn’t matter how far are you in your progress, the most important thing is determination." "Get up every day determined to finish your training and studies, no matter how tired you are, and you will take pleasure in

Farewell to Chuck Vinci, two time Olympic Champion

The American weightlifter and two-time Olympic Champion, Charles Thomas Vinci, Jr. died at the age 85. [caption id="attachment_22614" align="alignleft" width="228"] Chuck Vinci standing on the top of the podium[/caption] Mr. Vinci was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1933 and was one of the greatest athletes in the city's history. He was the United States Senior National Champion from 1954 to 1956 and then from 1958 to 1961. He won silver medals at the 1955 and 1958 World Championships. At the Pan American Games in 1955 and 1959, he won gold medals. He won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and set a world record with his three lifts (snatch, clean and jerk, overhead press), totaling 342.5 kilograms. At the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, he took the gold medal once more. During his career, he set 12 world records in the 56kg bodyweight category. After he retired from competitive weightlifting,  he remained a strong force in the sport, inspiring the new generation of athletes. Chuck Vinci was the father of 8 children. The International Weightlifting Federation wishes to express its deepest sympathy to his family and the USA Weightlifting.

Hsu Shu-Ching, two times Olympic champion announced her retirement

Hsu Shu-Ching, Chinese Taipei weightlifter and two times Olympic Champion officially announced to IWF her retirement from competitive weightlifting, dated from 5th June 2018. At a press conference, she said:  “I am still recovering from serious injuries sustained last year and cannot undergo training in full. After discussing the matter with my coach, my doctor, the Chinese Taipei Weightlifting Association and leaders in various organizations, I have decided to withdraw from training for the Asian Games in Jakarta and end my career as an athlete,” she said. “Because of the government’s financial support, I will stay in the National Sports Training Center and assist Coach Tsai Wen-yee (蔡溫義) and other coaches in training young weightlifters. I will learn to be a good coach to help train more top athletes for the nation,” she said. Hsu thanked her coach, the association, her sponsors and other parties for supporting her training so that she could do so well not only in the Olympics, but the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Government policy and support from others for weightlifting are crucial for athletes like her, Hsu said. Hsu won a gold in the 53kg category at the 2012 London Games and the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games. She is the first Chinese Taipei athlete to win two Olympic golds and was scheduled to compete in the same bodyweight category in Jakarta. She said she hoped the public would continue to support her and cheer for the nation’s weightlifters in Jakarta. Tsai, who won a bronze in the 60kg class in weightlifting at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, told the Central News Agency that Hsu’s retirement comes two years earlier than they had planned. He and Hsu had originally planned that she would compete in the Tokyo Games, but he would respect her decision even though it was against his wishes, Tsai said. Hsu tore two ligaments in her right arm during the world championships and underwent surgery after she returned to Taiwan. Told rehabilitation would take a year, her recovery has not gone as she had expected, Hsu has said previously. Source: