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The Pan-American Championships in Miami, USA

The Pan-American Championships in Miami, USA took place on 20-27 July, 2017. Prior to the Competitions the PAWF Executive Board Meeting and Congress were held where Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General representing the IWF President among others gave detailed information of the supports the IWF is providing to the Continental Federation and Member Federations under the IWF Development Program. A total of 230 competitors (Women: 111, Men: 119) from 23 countries participated. Neisi DAJOMES (ECU) set a new Junior Pan-American record with 110kg in the Snatch in the women’s 75kg bodyweight category. Fernando REIS (BRA) in +105kg category - competed as an extra athlete and lifted 1 kg more as the current Pan-American Snatch record and lifted 34 kg more in Total than the Gold Medal winner. However the most successful Brazilian athlete due to the internal conflicts in the Brazilian Member Federation  did not receive any medal. Right after the Pan-American Championships the USA Weightlifting Federation organized the American Open at the same venue with close to 800 athletes. You can view the video archives of the competition and the results of the competitions here. Congratulations to all of the

Rio 2016: Oscar Albeiro FIGUEROA MOSQUERA (COL) M62kg became Olympic Champion exactly 1 year ago!

“I am full of emotions after 22 years of lifting weights. It is true that I have been lifting all of the weight of Colombia, all of my country is happy.“ Have your heard that he is thinking about coming out of retirement to aim for a fifth Games appearance at Tokyo 2020? Live through the fantastic weightlifting competitions again: Men 62

Rio 2016: Sukanya SRISURAT (THA) W58kg became Olympic Champion exactly 1 year ago!

“I am very happy. I never thought I could do it. This is my first time at the Olympics, so I am very happy to win a gold medal and bring it back to Thailand.” Do you remember her Olympic Record with 110kg in Snatch? Live through the fantastic weightlifting competitions again: Women 58

Commonwealth Ranking Lists published

According to the Athlete Allocation System for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the Ranking Lists as of 17 July 2017 have been published. The lists include all eligible results achieved since 24 October 2016 at IWF Events and at National Championships of Great Britain, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories (English, Welsh, Scottish, British Championships) considering 1 athlete per country per bodyweight category. Special credit is given to Mr. Michael Noonan, CWF Statistician for his valuable contribution to prepare the Ranking Lists, especially regarding the results from the Home Nations' Championships. Further updates will be published before the end of the qualification period (31 October

Rio 2016: Shu-Ching HSU (TPE) W53kg became Olympic Champion exactly 1 year ago!

“I am very happy and very excited as we have been waiting for this gold medal. I want to dedicate it to my family, my coach and everyone who supports me.” Live through the fantastic weightlifting competitions again: Women

Men 56 kg bodyweight category is celebrating its seventy years!

In 1947 - exactly 70 years ago - the men's 56 kg bodyweight category was introduced in weightlifting. Until then there had been 5 different categories from 60 kg up to 82,5 kg where men could compete. At the birth of weightlifting around the turn of the 19th century athletes competed without any bodyweight categories.  In the program there were only two events present: the One-hand and the Two-hands Clean and Jerk. Moving on, in the 1920s the Total results of five exercises determined the ranking: the One-hand Snatch, the One-hand Clean and Jerk, the Two-hands Press, the Two-hands Snatch and the Two-hands Clean and Jerk.  In the 1930s the one-hand exercises were withdrawn and that was the time when the "Triathlon" started to rise, including the Two-hands Press, the Two-hands Snatch and the Two-hands Clean and Jerk. This system survived for a very long time until 1972 when the Triathlon was reduced to the Total of 2 Lifts, by eliminating the Press from the competitions and leaving the Snatch and Clean & Jerk. This 'Biathlon' - also called the 'Olympic Total' is still prevalent in the official IWF events in our days. Between 1920-1936 there were five, in 1948 six, between 1952-1968 seven, between 1972-1976 nine and from 1980 ten bodyweight categories. A new set of categories was introduced for both men and women in 1998: 8 for men - from 56kg to +105kg -  and 7 for women - from 48kg to +75kg. However, in order to reach gender equality, the IWF approved an 8th women's category (+90kg) as of 1st January 2017.