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Weightlifters’ New Year’s Resolutions

We asked professional weightlifters from around the world what their 2019 New Year’s resolutions were. Here's what they said... [caption id="attachment_25735" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Mohamed Ehab (EGY) in Ashgabat 2018[/caption]   Mohamed Ehab (EGY), 81kg  "Achieve new world records and be the best weightlifter in the world."    Christine Girard (CAN), retired  "Get more involved in the anti-doping movement both domestically and internationally."    Jessica Lucero (USA), 59kg  "Go 6 for 6 in an international event and work on more consistency in my technique."    Rebeka Koha (LVA), 59kg  "When every year comes, I aim to improve my results. I want to do everything at the same level as 2018 or better and earn my way into the Olympics."    Ianne Ernesto Vergara Guinares (NZ), retired  "Grow weightlifting in the Netherlands."   [caption id="attachment_25737" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Fernando Reis (BRA)[/caption] Fernando Reis (BRA), +109kg  "Recover from my knee surgery for the first part of the year, then medal at the 2019 World Championships."   Mike Cerbus (USA), retired  "Continue to teach the Olympic lifts to as many people as possible."   Sarah Davies (GBR), 71kg  "Win medals at the European Senior Championships and continue to improve my rankings for Olympic qualification."   Anais Michel (FRA), 49kg  "Lift 82kg Snatch and 102 C&J at the next Euro or World Championship."    Yoichi Itokazu (JPN), 61kg  "Lift 300kg total."   Berny Bernardin (FRA), 69kg   "Have my wife and son join me in Paris, win the European Championships, podium at the Worlds and achieve my PRs: 147kg snatch and 182kg C&J."    Luz Acosta (MEX), retired   "Encourage boys and girls to start training into the sport, become closer with the IWF to start growing the sport in Mexico and improve the classification of national selection for a fair process in Mexico."    [caption id="attachment_25736" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Mattie Rogers (USA)[/caption] Mattie Rogers (USA), 71kg  "Train SMART and give my absolute best every day."   Hidilyn Diaz (PHI), 55kg  "Lift 100 Snatch and 120 C&J in my next competition."    Adam Beytin (USA),  77kg (old bodyweight category)  "Fully heal my back pain and surpass my old competition bests."   Rachelle Bazinet (CAN), 55kg  "Break the Canadian Snatch record at 55kg. Work on my mindset and listen closely to what my body needs to limit injuries."   Rosane Reis (BRA), 55kg  "Work on my technique."   Arkadiusz Michalski (POL), 109kg   "Get a Personal Best, especially in Snatch. I must correct my technique and build strength."     Carolina Valencia (MEX), 49kg  "Correct my technique in the Clean and Jerk and to arrive with good points for 2019 Pan-American games and get a gold medal for my country. Give a good competition at the IWF World Championships and lift 6x6."   Jared Fleming (USA), 94kg (old bodyweight category)  "Snatch and C&J what I’m capable of. Enjoy every training session and enjoy competing again."   Emily Godley (GBR), 69kg (old bodyweight category)  "Try and keep as healthy as possible and to keep my body in one piece throughout training and competitions in 2019."   Joanna Lochowska (POL), 55kg  "Improve my personal records in the 55kg category and exceed my limit of 200kg in total."   Loredana Toma (ROU), 64kg  "Get the necessary results for Tokyo qualification, focus on World Championships, European Championships and 2 QUP. My initial goal is 112/133, but I will adjust if necessary."   Jenny Arthur (USA), 82kg  "Win a World Championship. Snatch 115+ and Clean and Jerk 145+."   [caption id="attachment_25738" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Mart Seim (EST)[/caption] Mart Seim (EST), +109kg  "Get good PRs in every main exercise and get rid of my back injury and remain injury free; by doing these I hope to win a medal again at Worlds."   Gaelle Ketchanke (FRA), 76kg  "Work even more to improve my technique and performances to get back to my best level. Win the European Championships, stay in the top 8 in the World and qualify directly for Tokyo."   Sopita Tanasan (THA), 49kg  "Do my best in all competitions."   Chad Vaughn (USA), retired  "Get back onto the competition platform a little more (Masters level). Working to go to US National Masters and then potential Worlds. Trying out 1 or 2 new weight classes, as it’s been a long time since I competed at anything other than 77kg."   Jessien Bradley (USA), 69kg (old bodyweight category)  "Be intentional with every single training session, focus on every single lift and recovery."   Mönkhjantsangiin Ankhtsetseg (MNG), 69kg (old bodyweight category)  "Compete and get a medal at the 2019 IWF World Championships."     You can preview all the weightlifting events coming to you in 2019 here.    Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

IOC Olympic Solidarity – IWF coaching course in India

A 7-day complex coaching course was held in Patiala, India 6-12 December. The course expert appointed by IWF was Tamas Feher. Feher said: „We had a successful 7-day coaching course in Patalia, hosted by the biggest Indian Olympic Centre. “The 23 participants received 5 hours daily theoretical and practical sessions and concluded with a written exam.” “Some of the main subjects were: General training methodology, Training principles in Weightlifting, Applied exercises of the Weightlifting training, Technical teaching of the beginner weightlifters, Strength development in Weightlifting, Preparation of a top weightlifter, etc. "I would like to express my special appreciation to IWF, IOC Olympic Solidarity and Indian Weightlifting Federation.” — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

5th International Qatar Cup concluded

The last competition of 2018, the Fifth International Qatar Cup successfully concluded on 23 December in Doha, QAT. This was the second qualification event for Tokyo 2020 after the IWF World Championships in Ashgabat. Under the leadership of Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, President of Qatar, Arab and Asian Weightlifting Federations and Executive Board member of the IWF, the Qatar Cup highlighted the massive developments in the country and the capability to host major sporting events. Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President and IOC Honorary Member, praised the Organising Committee and Mohamed Yousef Al Mana for the professional, high-class organising.   Seventy-eight lifters from 26 countries stepped on the platform at the Intercontinental Hotel of Doha to collect the most points possible for the qualification for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Home favourite ELBAKH Fares Ibrahim E. H. and KUO Hsing-Chun (TPE) were declared the best of Qatar Cup. ELBAKH lifted his personal best, swiping the Men's 96kg bodyweight category whit a 397kg Total, which is also a Junior World Record, while KUO ruled the Women's 59kg bodyweight category, just after pocketing the Gold Medal on the World Championships a month earlier. Uzbekistan's  ERGASHEV Adkhamjon (Men's 67kg) and Chinese  HUANG Ting (Women's 64kg) also set new Junior World Records. Results can be found HERE and the updated Qualification Database HERE. Photo credit: Gregor Winter — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

TAWA 60th Anniversary

Thai Amateur Weightlifting Federation (TAWA) celebrated the 60th Anniversary of its 1958 foundation. A Gala was held 22 December 2018 at the Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel in Bangkok. Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, IOC Member participated at the event, who praised TAWA for its hard work to promote and develop Olympic Values among athletes. She also encouraged young athletes to join regional and international events. For the success of last decade, she highlighted Major General Intarat Yodbangtoey, IWF 1st Vice President and TAWA Honorary President, and Madam Boossaba Yodbangtoey, AWF General Secretary and TAWA President, who introduced a new age in Thai weightlifting with their leadership. Congratulations to TAWA for the wonderful journey of six decades of success!! — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Updated TCRR published

Upon proposal of the IWF Technical Committee, the IWF Executive Board approved modifications to the  IWF Technical and Competition Rules & Regulations in Ashgabat. Please find the updated TCRR document on this website under the following link. The new rules are in effect from 1 January

The success of the Oceania Talent Identification Program

[caption id="attachment_25647" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dr Tamas Ajan[/caption] The OTIP was first implemented in Apia, Samoa, in 2012 by Dr. Tamas Ajan, President of the IWF, whilst he attended the 2012 Oceania Championships and London Olympic Qualification. The OTIP has been successfully operating with the financial support of the IWF for the past six years. The idea of implementing this program was to create interest amongst the youth, particularly in the Pacific Island nations. To expose them to weightlifting. The exercise that OWF chose was the power Clean&Jerk, which is the easiest movement for youth to attempt and master. OTIP now has hundreds of youth who have taken on the sport in the last six years.  Some of them have successfully gone on to compete internationally. This enormous growth could not have been achieved without the support of the Federations who took part in the program and officials like Jerry Wallwork from Samoa, David Katoatau from Kiribati, Jenly Wini from the Solomon Islands, Dika Toua from PNG, Joe Vueti from Fiji,  Dominic Cain and Quincy Detenamo from Nauru,  Manuel Minginfel from Micronesia,  Logona Esau from Tuvalu,  Alan Tano and Narita Viliamu from Niue, Edgar Molinos from Guam. These individual leaders, assisted by top lifters from their respective countries, have contributed enormously to the growth of the sport in their nations. [caption id="attachment_25650" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Nauru[/caption] These top officials have been able to convince schools to allow their students to take part in the OTIP program under strict supervision.   Safety is paramount.  The students are in no way pushed to the extreme. The OTIP program does not look for records but to identify young students who have the potential to become weightlifters. [caption id="attachment_25648" align="alignright" width="231"] Fiji[/caption] The success of this program does not end at school. After two months of testing and recruiting students, the National Federations are asked to select one or two students to attend a special training camp at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in New Caledonia. Some of the greatest lifters from the Oceania region started their careers in the OTIP training camp. A number of these lifters have gone on to compete and win medals at the Oceania and Commonwealth Championships, Youth Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Games. So far 34,287 youth took part in the program and the OWF aims is to double these figures within the next four years.     — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter