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New World Records were set on the European Championships in Batumi

In addition to several continentals, world records were also set in Batumi at the European Championship held 6-13 April. The championship was held in the beautiful city of Batumi at the Black Sea, the capital of the Adjara region and Georgia's second-largest city. Once again, the Georgians did not disappoint. After delivering many successful Championships and important events such as a Lifter of the Year Award Gala in the past, the 2019 European Championships was organized in the most professional way under the leadership of Kakhi Kakhiashvili, President of the Weightlifting Federation of Georgia. In Europe, this was the first Gold Level Qualification event where the new 10-10 bodyweight categories debuted. World Records were set both in the men’s and women’s superheavyweight categories. Russian KASHIRINA Tatiana bested her own World Records in the Snatch (146kg) and Total in the women’s +87 bodyweight category. She added one kilogram to her previous record set in Ashgabat last November, which is now 331kg. Home favourite TALAKHADZE Lasha smashed three of his own World Records, setting the new bars at 218kg in the Snatch, 260kg in the Clean and Jerk and 478kg Total, which is a 4kg improvement compared to his previous best. Twenty-one countries shared all the medals and nations who had little success before surfaced. Israel won it’s first women’s medal in a major Championship (bronze), Italy won golds, Britain pocketed silvers and bronzes. Georgia topped the men’s team classification board with 639 points followed by closely followed by Belarus (634) and Armenia with 596 points. At the women, Russia (736), Turkey (575) and Romania (480) took the first three places and Britain did well too, ending up

IWF announces Rogue Fitness as Second-Tier Supplier

IWF announced a new partnership with Rogue Fitness, a leading American-based barbell and sports equipment manufacturer. Rogue Fitness has become a second-tier sports equipment supplier — a new level of partnership for the IWF. The partnership does not impact the long-term cooperation the IWF has with its five first-tier suppliers. As a second-tier supplier, Rogue Fitness can provide weightlifting equipment for the IWF Bronze Level Qualification Events and Other Events. William Henniger, representative of Rogue Fitness, who made his first presentation at the IWF Congress in Las Vegas said: "From the very beginning, Rogue’s goal has been to manufacture equipment that would meet the standard of the world’s finest strength athletes and organizations. Becoming an IWF certified equipment supplier is a great testament to those efforts, and we are honoured by the recognition. In the strength world, this is the equivalent of a restaurant getting its Michelin stars. This is also a tremendous motivator for the Rogue team to continue innovating and to stay on the cutting edge of the sport.” Dr. Tamás Aján, President of IWF said: "The IWF is very happy to partner with Rogue Fitness. This new level of partnership provides additional possibilities for the organizers hosting events in the IWF event portfolio which has recently been extended by the new qualification

Legends Live On – Mathias Steiner

The legacy of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, whose emotional gold medal win in 2008 inspired a career of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, is featured in an all new episode of the Olympic Channel original series Legends Live On. Beyond the spotlight of the Olympic Games where legends are made, the legacy of Olympians live on. In Legends Live On, Olympic heroes show how they are translating their success into careers and inspiring future generations. Steiner is best known for his emotional gold medal win at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 which came as a bittersweet victory following the tragic death of his wife just one year earlier. Digging deep within to deliver on a promise he had made to his late wife that he would one day win an Olympic medal, Steiner had just one try left to attempt his heaviest lift ever at 258kg. “There was nothing else in life, nothing more important. I was a free man right there and then - the happiest man in the world, especially then,” said Steiner upon reflecting on his winning lift in Beijing. Following his retirement from competitive weightlifting in 2013, Steiner, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 18, realised that living at a bodyweight of 150kg was not sustainable and embarked on a weight loss journey where he lost 45kg. Today, Steiner is an author, motivational speaker and advocate for diabetes education and a healthy lifestyle helping others to lead happier and healthy lives. “I'm in my 30s, and in great shape! I'm a fitness and nutrition coach, a singer and, quite simply, a happy dad.” Watch the video on the Olympic Channels

European Championships started in Batumi, GEO

325 athletes from 41 countries started to compete in Batumi, Georgia at the 2019 European Championships this weekend, which is the only Gold Level Qualification Event organised in the first qualification period in Europe. You can download the Start List HERE... Spectators and TV audience can see a novelty set up of the Warm-up area and a unique backdrop symbolising the mountains of the Kaukasus as innovative elements the Organising Committee, lead by Kakhi Kakhiasvilis and David Khipsidze applied for this year's Continental Championships. On the day before the competitions, the EWF Congress was held where the EWF's 50th Anniversary was celebrated. Mohamed Jaloud, General Secretary and Attila Adamfi, Director General presented the IWF's commemorative plaquette to EWF on behalf of Dr. Tamas Ajan, one of the founders of the EWF. Competitions and results can be followed

Ready Steady Tokyo – test event underway

Weightlifting Technical Delegates Nicu Vlad, IWF Vice President and Attila Adamfi, Director General conducted a successful technical visit in Tokyo, host of the 2020 Olympic Games. They visited the Organising Committee office (overlooking the Athletes Village) to receive update reports from the different Functional Areas. The Delegates also paid a visit to the Tokyo International Forum that will be the home for weightlifting during the Games together with Reiko Chinen, Weightlifting Manager for the 2020 Olympic Games, who is tirelessly working on making the weightlifting event at the Games unforgettable. The most important element of the visit was overlooking the preparations of the test event to be held in July this year, entitled "Ready Steady Tokyo". The overall message of the brand name is “We are ready for Tokyo 2020. Let's stay focused as we move forward to a successful Games.” The objective of the test event is to provide the management and operational staff hands-on experience of running the event to ensure a smooth operation of the Games. Besides world-class lifters of Japan, Korea and China, foreign athletes are also expected to participate at the Friendship Tournament in the Olympics weightlifting venue 6-7 July, which also serves as a Silver Qualification