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Durres, Final Day: Egg producer helps Etta to put Canada on the podium again

For the third time in eight days a young Canadian was on the podium at the IWF World Youth Championships – a remarkable achievement for a nation that has never yet staged a national youth championship and never entered a youth athlete in an international competition until 2021. Turkey and Georgia had the last two winners of the Championships in Durres, Albania and Turkey finished top of the medals table. Etta Love’s second-place finish in the women’s +81kg took her nation up to eighth place in the final table. Last weekend Ivy Buzinhani Brustello became weightlifting’s youngest ever world champion when she won at 40kg and two days later her Montreal training partner and friend Emily Ibanez Guerrero finished third at 55kg to become the sport’s youngest ever international medallist at 12 years 3 months. Everybody has been talking about Canada here throughout the week. Mohammed Jalood, president of the IWF, said, “I’m surprised to see that Canada is one of the strongest teams here. For me, their performance has been special.” Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet, a Tokyo Olympian who managed the team in Durres, said, “We don’t have a lot of funding in Canada. Our old board didn’t really believe in sending youth teams. Now we are getting on the podium, making progress, maybe we will get more funding. “We thought we could win some medals but three golds for Ivy was a big surprise. The kids competed really well in their first time on the big stage.” Love, 15, had backing from an unusual source for the journey from her home in Saskatoon, about 3,000km away from Montreal and 8,400km from Durres. Her parents wrote to local companies and Saskatchewan Egg Producers said yes, we will sponsor you. “It makes sense because Etta does eat a lot of eggs!” said her mum Emma. She rewarded their support by making 95-130-225 for snatch bronze, clean and jerk gold and silver on total behind Tuana Suren (TUR) on 104-126-230. Thi Hien Tran (VIE) was third on 96-124-220. The Loves still had to spend several thousand dollars – as did the other Canadian team members - because Etta’s brothers Myles, five, and 10-year-old Tom came along to give  Emma their support. Love, who started weightlifting aged 10, is coached from afar by Aimee Everett, the American who coaches Mattie Rogers. “Touching the bar makes me feel alive. It was the place that made my mind most free when I started and it’s still the same now,” she said. In the men’s +102kg Irakli Vekua (GEO) made six from six to win on 141-179-320. Gagik Mkrtchyan (ARM) was second on 139-174-313 and Wang Yu Cheng (TPE) third on 138-172-310. The result made the numbers posted at 102kg on Friday by Nikita Abdrakhmanov (KAZ) all the more impressive. His total was 49kg higher than the super-heavyweight winner’s. By Brian Oliver, Inside the

Bariloche, Day 5: US men control operations in Argentina

Athletes from the United States won two out of three events at stake in the fifth day of the Pan-American Championships, currently being held in Bariloche (ARG). In the men’s field, Nathan Damron was the best in the 96kg category (with a total of 340kg), while his teammate Ryan Sester is also continental champion in the 102kg (372kg). Among women, the victory of the day went to Neisi Dajomes Barrera (ECU) in the 81kg, with a total of 256kg. Damron was first in the snatch (150kg), but had to content with silver in the clean and jerk (190kg), behind Jose Lopez Carrizo, from Mexico, also with 190kg. His teammate Jonathan Ramos Chaires was the overall silver medallist (337kg), after third-best performances in the snatch (147kg) and C&J (190kg). Finally, the remaining two medals in the event went to Wilmer Contreras Chamorro (ECU), second in snatch (148kg) and winner of the bronze in the total count (334kg). In the heavier men’s category, Sester was also first in the C&J (207kg), but was slightly worse (165kg) than Marco Gregorio Machado (BRA, 166kg) in the snatch. Machado was second both in C&J (194kg) and total (360kg). The bronze medals went to Luis Lamenza Lopez (PUR) in snatch (161kg) and total (348kg), and to Jhohan Sanguino Matamoros (VEN) in the C&J (189kg). Concerning Barrera, her overall title was the result of the best lift in the snatch (115kg) and the second best in the C&J (141kg), behind her teammate Tamara Salazar Arce (143kg). Ayamey Medina Roca (CUB) was also one of the protagonists in this event, with silver in snatch (113kg) and total (254kg), and a bronze in C&J (141kg). Arce was third in the snatch (110kg) and total (253kg).   Read more:Bariloche, Day 4: Favourites confirm credentials in Argentina – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Bariloche, Day 3: Local fans celebrate Ullua’s gold; double win for Venezuela – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport)   Bariloche, Day 2: Clear victories for Charron (CAN), Contreras (PER) and Morales (NCA) – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport)   Bariloche, Day 1: USA, Mexico and Venezuela start with gold – International Weightlifting Federation

Jet lag, some solitude, but still a medal!

After the successful organisation of the 2022 edition of the IWF World Youth Championships in Leon, it was expectable that Mexico could send a multi-athlete delegation to this year’s event, taking place in Durres (ALB). In the end, one single competitor was entered, Cristian Jesus Grijalva Bojorquez. He was in action today, competing in the men’s 102kg category. And despite this solitary presence, Cristian’s performance was fruitful, getting one bronze medal in the snatch, with a lift of 137kg. At home, less than one year ago, he was also third (but with 133kg), doing 161kg (fourth in C&J) and 294 (also fourth) in total. In Albania, he was slightly worse in the two-movement attempt (160kg) and finished with 297kg, also the first lifter outside the podium area. “Honestly, I had hopes I could have three medals, but the bronze came in snatch and I am of course happy with it. But I feel I could have done more. I arrived three days ago and I still feel jet-lagged. Tonight, I haven’t slept enough, so I believe all counted for this disappointing result for me,” confesses the 16-year-old talent, with his bronze medal around his neck. With a personal best of 140-168-308 (which would have given him a silver overall in Durres), the Mexican says that being alone and so far from home was a challenging element. “Of course, I came with my coach, but it’s true it was a bit difficult to keep focused these days. Fortunately, I was able to be constantly in contact with my friends and family in Mexico. I could relax a bit and take the pressure off my shoulders. Also, my coach gave me a lot of confidence”. Despite his relative deception, Cristian speaks with passion about the sport he chose at 10 years old, thanks to the influence of an uncle – a weightlifting coach. “Before that, I tried many sports and had many coaches, but when weightlifting came into my life, I simply loved it! To have that adrenaline which allows you to lift all this weight, and then more and more, I love that! Being able to also represent your country thanks to this sport, it’s quite encouraging for me,” he confesses. “Some years later, at around 13, when I started to train harder, and when the first results appeared, I understood that perhaps this was my future,” Cristian adds. After an appearance in the upcoming Nationals, he hopes to represent his country, in November, at the IWF World Junior Championships. “If everything goes according to the plans, I will be able to be in Guadalajara, Mexico. It would be a great joy for me to compete for my country again at home!” Celebrating his 17th anniversary next June 15, Cristian aims at an “Olympic medal in the future”. In the meantime, and between competitions, he normally trains twice a day, while on event mode, he switches to one daily session. With one year to go until entering university, the Mexican star is still undecided on what to choose, but believes it will be something “related to Administration”. On his stay in Albania, Cristian admits that “everyone is very nice, attentive to our needs, and always available to help. It has been a great experience. Also, having the hotel next to the beach is quite pleasant!” Mexico’s sole medal on this penultimate day of the event in Durres – together with the overall bronze of Poland in the same event – enlarged the number of nations in the medal chart to 30, largely more than half of the countries’ total (57) in this edition of the IWF World Youth Championships.    By Pedro Adrega, IWF

Durres, Day 7: Kazakhstan teenager wins world title by 64kg and says “I can do better”

A 16-year-old weightlifter from Kazakhstan marked himself out as one to watch in the sport  when he won a youth world title by a massive margin and said, “I can do better than that.” Nikita Abdrakhmanov was 27kg clear of his nearest rival after the snatch and 64kg clear on total in the men’s 102kg at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Youth Championships in Durres, Albania. In the other medal event of the day, the women’s 81kg, Shams Mohamed Ahmed (EGY) set a world record on total when she made 103-129-232. Ahmed and second-placed Mariam Murgvliani (GEO) both made six from six and third-placed Emma Poghosyan (ARM) failed only with her final attempt. Murgvliani made 102-127-229 and Poghosyan 98-123-221. “I am very happy with my performance,” said Ahmed, whose father was a weightlifter, before being interrupted by a call from her sports ministry. Her next competition is likely to be the Arab Championships in her homeland in four months’ time. Abdrakhmanov’s sweep of golds took Kazakhstan to the top of the medals table – which features 30 of the 57 nations competing here - with one day to go. Poland and Mexico were the latest medal winners. When he watched a master class display of weightlifting in his home city of Shakhtinsk eight years ago Abdrakhmanov was captivated. He asked his mother to take him to a club and soon knew that he had found not only his sport but his future career. “This is all I want to do, I love it,” he said. “Weightlifting is the best!” Asked who his favourite lifters were, Abdrakhmanov said, “Nobody really – I just focus on myself.” His 164-205-369 earned a second straight youth world title for Abdrakhmanov, who made 348kg last year and celebrated with a big meal - because he had been so nervous in the days before competing he lost his appetite. There was no sign of nerves in Durres as he made six from six in a performance worth 407 Sinclair points, the highest score of the week in the across-the-weights rating system. His total would place him 17th in the Olympic rankings, where Artyom Antropov is the best  Kazakhstan lifter at 102kg category, in seventh place with a 385kg total. “I can lift that much in training,” said Abdrakhmanov. Unlike the highest points scorer in the women’s events, Thanaporn Saetia (THA), Abdrakhmanov will not be heading to the senior Asian Championships next month. His next target is likely to be the Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Delhi in late July. Saba Adamia (GEO) had a sweep of silvers on 137-168-305, and Marcin Ziolkowski (POL) was third on total with 136-166-302. There was a snatch bronze for Cristian Grijalva (MEX) on 137kg and a clean and jerk bronze for So Ijun (KOR) on 167kg. By Brian Oliver, Inside the

Bariloche, Day 4: Favourites confirm credentials in Argentina

Three finals, three overall champions from different countries. The fourth day of the Pan-American Championships, taking place in Bariloche (ARG) consecrated Angie Palacios Dajome (ECU) in the women’s 71kg, Keydomar Vallenilla Sanchez (VEN) in the men’s 89kg, and Meredith Alwine (USA) in the women’s 76kg. The Ecuadorean star was the best in snatch, lifting 111kg and got the overall gold in 248kg, after getting the third-best performance in the clean and jerk (137kg). The silver medals in this event went to Katherine Nye (USA), with 110-138-248, while her teammate Olivia Reeves triumphed in the C&J (139kg) and got the bronze in snatch (108kg) and overall (247kg). Among men, the Venezuelan champion was the best all the way through, totalling 379kg (167+212). In clean and jerk and total, he was followed by Cuba’s Olfides Saez Vera (195kg and 355kg, respectively), while Alex Bellemarre (CAN) was the second-best in snatch (166kg) and bronze medallist in the overall count (354kg). Saez Vera was third in snatch (160kg) and Ivan Escudero Ordonez (ECU) completed the podium in the C&J (191kg). In the women’s 76kg, Alwine won the continental title in 238kg, thanks to a solid C&J successful attempt at 136kg (gold). In the snatch, she was not on the podium, with 102kg. The silver medals went to Bella Pardes Arreaga (ECU – 105-132-237), while teammate Kelin Jimenez Quinones was third with 105-130-235. Read more:Bariloche, Day 3: Local fans celebrate Ullua’s gold; double win for Venezuela – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Bariloche, Day 2: Clear victories for Charron (CAN), Contreras (PER) and Morales (NCA) – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport)   Bariloche, Day 1: USA, Mexico and Venezuela start with gold – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport)

IWF Executive Board meeting in Durres (ALB)

Under the leadership of the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, a hybrid IWF Executive Board meeting took place on March 30, 2023, with most of its members attending the IWF World Youth Championships in Durres (ALB).   The main decisions taken by the IWF Executive Board include:   - Approval of the IWF Development Programme for 2023, with a total of US$650,000 being distributed by National Federations across the five continents. Special attention was given to three members recently affected by natural disasters: Ecuador, Turkey, and Syria;   - Validation of the applications received for the constitution of an IWF Refugee Team – seven athletes (four women and three men) were accepted to be part of the programme. Moreover, six coaches have shown interest in being the technical responsible for the team;   - Acknowledgement of the excellent partnership with ITA (International Testing Agency), the independent body in charge of all anti-doping operations on behalf of the IWF. The Executive Board reiterates that this is a fundamental integrity topic and that a significant part of the IWF annual budget (around 35%) is allocated to the fight against cheating in our sport. Moreover, the IWF recognises that the number of cases was dramatically reduced, thus proving the efficiency and extent of the IWF/ITA cooperation;   - Following the recent IOC recommendation related to the eventual participation of Russia and Belarus at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Executive Board states:   “The IWF stands in solidarity with Ukraine and supports the continued IOC sanctions against Russia and Belarus.  We have taken note of the recommendation by the IOC Executive Board that sets out strict conditions under which athletes with Russian or Belorussian passports may be permitted to compete on an individual, neutral basis in competitions governed by International Federations. We will take time to review the guidance closely in order to determine whether and how it can be applied to weightlifting.  The IWF Executive Board will provide an update once the recommendation has been fully considered.  In the meantime, the protective measures introduced last year remain in place at this time.”   - Approval of a working group in charge of creating an “IWF Strategic Plan 2024-2032”;   - Appraisal of the commitment and valuable contribution of the IWF Athletes Commission (AC) for the development of the IF activities. The presence of three AC members on the Executive Board is deemed extremely useful, as it allows very direct and efficient communication between the IWF leadership and the IWF athletes;   - Discussion on the Constitution’s update, which must be formally approved by the IWF Congress next September with the occasion of the IWF World Championships. It was noted that no substantive changes are made – matters related to better readability and comprehension of the text are being revised by the IWF legal team;   - Approval of a rule establishing that Organisers of IWF events must do their utmost to make all financial transactions by wire transfer. Cash operations are only allowed in very exceptional circumstances and must be timely reported to the IWF, in the most detailed way possible;   - Approval of a “Sustainability Plan Report”, to be applied at the IWF events;   - Approval of a transgender policy and creation of a working group responsible for its implementation.   “We had a very fruitful meeting here in Durres and I take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues from the Executive Board for their valuable support to our activities and for their sense of unity and close cooperation. The IWF family is working together for the sake of our athletes, coaches and officials, and their respective National Member Federations. Many important topics were discussed and I am sure that progress will continue to be made in several areas: good governance, anti-doping policy, transparency and accountability, voice and representation of athletes, and organisation of IWF events,” stated the IWF President Mohammed Jalood at the end of the meeting.