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Tokyo 2020 Technical Visit

After a successful Junior World Championships in Tokyo, Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President and Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General extended their stay to have further discussions with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. Different functional areas headed by Koji Murofushi, Tokyo 2020 Sport Director paid a visit to the JWC to gain better understanding of weightlifting and the competition before presenting the outcome to the IWF delegation. The most significant parts of the discussions were the operational challenges faced by the Tokyo International Forum (TIF) – the venue for the weightlifting competitions.  Although the venue is centrally located in the heart of Tokyo, being a prestigious and iconic building, the theater style floor-plan represents a challenge for sport specific requirements. For that particular reason, the Organizing Committee proceeded with a visibility study in the hall to test the stage, scoreboard and ensure a maximum spectator experience to be ready for games time. Considering that the Olympic competitions will take place on the 3rd floor, the construction company of the TIF, built the exact same floor in a test lab where a special shock test was conducted. The floor, stage and platform were successfully tested with a specially designed “guillotine” bearing weights up to 300kg provided by UESAKA barbell company. The next step will be to make similar tests at the Tokyo International Forum. For more pictures and videos check out our Social Media

Tommy Kono would be 87 today

The iconic lifter Tommy Kono who passed away last year was born 87 years ago on 27 June 1930. Born in Sacramento under the name Tamio Kono’s family was of Japanese descent. They were relocated to Tuke Lake internment camp during World War II. It was there that he was introduced to weightlifting. Kono had outstanding results in three bodyweight categories being 67,5 kg, 75 kg and 82,5 kg. He was Olympic Champion twice, once Silver Medallist and besides his one Silver and one Bronze medal obtained at World Championships he won six Gold between 1953 and 1962. He won the Pan-American Games three times (1955, 1959, 1963). His greatest achievements were of course his Olympic medals: Gold in 1952 Helsinki (67,5kg bodyweight category), Gold in 1956 Melbourne (82,5kg bodyweight category) and Silver in 1960 Rome (75kg bodyweight category). Kono had a brilliant technique that helped him achieve 26 World Records in 4 different bodyweight categories. He also had a successful career as coach in Mexico, Germany and the USA. In addition to his weightlifting career, Kono also excelled in the realm of bodybuilding, winning the title of “Mr. World” in 1954 and “Mr. Universe” in 1955, 1957 and 1961. He was the boyhood idol and inspiration of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was inducted into the International Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 1993 and also is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame and the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen Hall of Fame. In 2005, Tommy Kono received the title of “Lifter of the Century” from the

South American Weightlifting Confederation Magazine is out

The second issue of the South American Weightlifting Confederation Magazine is out and available online. It contains information about the latest competitions held in South America as well as the 2017 IWF Youth World Championships. An Olympic overview also highlights the South American athletes' participation while a summary about the modification of the IWF Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations is also included. The magazine is available in Spanish language. Check it out to read

Poland to host compact World University Championships in 2018

An inspection visit for the 2018 FISU World University Championships that took place over the weekend in Biala Podlaska, Poland, promises very compact and convenient Championships for the academic student weightlifters next year. FISU Technical Delegate for Weightlifting, Anikó Németh-Móra confirmed: "For a city of merely 58,000 inhabitants, of which minimum of 4,000 students, Biala Podlaska in Eastern Poland can offer ideal conditions for the upcoming 6th edition of the World University Weightlifting Championships in next September. The campus and the facilities at the University of Physical Education have everything necessary at a few paces from each other: the dormitories for accommodation, the sports hall for the competition and a to-be-fully refurbished weightlifting hall for training. All stakeholders in this event, i.e. the Polish University Sports Association, the highly experienced Polish Weightlifting Federation under the conduct of President Mariusz Jedra, the local University, the University Sports Club, the City Mayor and last but not least the IWF are ready to cooperate and work together to make the Championships the biggest and most successful." The FISU TD added: "The hosts are confident that they will be able to attract a large turnout to a facility that can offer more than just the Championships, e.g. a fully equipped scientific and research background and professional assistance. Update reports will be supplied to the IWF membership at the upcoming Universiade and subsequent IWF

Be a Real Champion and Lift CLEAN! and Jerk – Olympians at the IWF- JADA Anti-Doping Outreach

Be a Real Champion! Lift CLEAN! and Jerk – These are the mottos of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for the Anti-Doping Outreach which was established for Athletes and Officials during the IWF Junior World Championships. 193 participants (21 Countries) have signed the Fight against Doping Flag brought to the audience by JADA as a representation of the true values of the sport of weightlifting. Athletes and Officials had the chance to try their knowledge in the field of Anti-Doping with a special Anti-Doping quiz created by the IWF in 5 languages, such as English, Spanish, Russian, French and Japanese. The participants also had the opportunity to ask questions about Anti-Doping including ADAMS and Therapeutic Use Exemptions to the Anti-Doping Experts of JADA and IWF. It was a huge honour that two Olympians, Ms. Hiromi Miyake (Women 48kg - Bronze medalist in Rio Olympic Games 2016) and Ms. Namika Matsumoto (Women 63kg in Rio Olympic Games 2016) visited the Outreach. We were delighted to greet you all at the Outreach! See you soon, Real Champions! Let's Lift Clean! and Jerk again at

MARTIROSYAN Simon (ARM) won the last competition in Tokyo

W+90kg Making impressive jumps between her lifts, SUN Yongjie (CHN) had three good attempts -115kg-123kg-130kg. She took a 19kg advantage over AYOVI CABEZAS Lisseth Betzaida (ECU) ending second. The Thai lifter CHAIDEE Duangaksorn almost missed to register a Total since she could make her 110kg attempt a good lift in the Snatch only at her third attempt. She won the Bronze and got a 4kg advantage over 4th place KO A-Rang (KOR). SUN and CHAIDEE came out for their first Clean and Jerk attempts so high that all athletes already finished their competition when they were just about to start. CHAIDEE didn’t come out to take her first lift at 150kg, but she managed to lift it at her second attempt. Coming out for 153kg, the weight seemed to be too heavy. With only two good lifts she won the Silver Medal in the Total with 260kg. SUN with her only attempt had a Total of 281kg and had no point in taking her last two lifts. She was the ultimate winner of the last Women’s competition. AYOVI CABEZAS Lisseth Betzaida (ECU) got 3rd place with 246kg – way ahead of 4th place DALAYAN Arpine (ARM) registering 234kg. M+105kg First lift at 186kg seemed so easy for MARTIROSYAN Simon (ARM), but he couldn’t control the bar loaded at 190kg. He made it 191kg at his third attempt and made it a good lift. 2016 Youth World Champion DAVOUDI Ali (IRI) missed his last attempt in the Snatch and ended 4kg behind MARTIROSYAN. Junior World Champion in 2016 with 379kg CHKHEIDZE Giorgi (GEO) secured himself two third places (Snatch and Clean and Jerk) and while missing twice on 221kg, his Total of 406kg resulted in a Silver. He lost his title now attributed to Silver Medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Champion in 2014 MARTIROSYAN Simon (ARM). With 426kg, an impressive 20kg more than CHKHEIDZE, the Armenian champion won all three Gold Medals at this last competition of the 2017 IWF Junior World Championships Tokyo, JPN. The three good lifts of KAJDOSI Tamas (SRB) in the Snatch and his only successful lift in the Clean and Jerk (223kg) enabled him to take the third place in the Total with 403kg. This concludes the last competition day here in Tokyo! See you all at the 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA in