News

IWF Coaching and Research Committee meeting May 10, 2021

The IWF Coaching and Research Committee met on May 10, 2021 for most likely the last meeting of the mandate. Because of the Covid-pandemic the work of the IWF CRC has been hindered as planned world-wide roll-out of the IWF Coaching Education system cannot take place: a Coach Education program must have an element of face to face practical sessions. Instead, the CRC is planning a Summer Webinar Series with presentations in the area of Coaching, Research and Coach Education. As approved by the IWF Congress in Pattaya in September 2019, the IWF Fairplay Certificate work is under progress. This is an internet based E-learning platform which introduces the sport of Olympic Weightlifting to a wider audience. Topics such as a glance back into the history of weightlifting and an introduction of the lifts and how it is safe to begin weightlifting training, the physiological and sociological aspects, are presented. At the end each section there is a set of questions to answer, and once one answers correctly one can print out a certificate at home. The CRC approved also proposals for an international Weightlifting Day when our sport can be celebrated throughout the world and delivering the Best Coach Award to the coach of the best Male Team, the best Female Team, the best Male Athlete and the best Female Athlete at World Championships. These and other proposals which are aimed to rejuvenate and modernize the sport will be delivered to the IWF Executive Board for approval. The CRC Chair Mahmoud Magoub and Deputy Chair Karoliina Lundahl thanked the Committee Members for their participation in the work of the

2021 IWF Competition Calendar Update

The IWF informs all Member Federations that the following IWF Events had a change in either the date or the host country: African Championships New Host: Nairobi, Kenya The competition documents have been updated. 2020 Pan-American Junior Championships New Date: 20-26 June 2021 In case of any further change in the calendar it will be duly communicated to all

Start List for the 2021 IWF Junior World Championships Is Published

The Start List of the 2021 IWF Junior World Championships has been published today. The list also includes athletes (born in 2000) who will compete in the Special Gold Qualification Event. The number of athletes might change due to eligibility checks in the upcoming days. The list is

Colombia and USA Dominate Pan American Weightlifting

(ATR) The first Pan American Weightlifting Championship organized in person in more than a year confirms that Colombia and the United States lead the way in the sport on the continent. Colombia garnered the most gold medals with a total of 22. Fourteen continental records were established, five of them by Colombians. US women also set five in the event held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While Colombian men won 19 golds, the USA women topped the podium 13 times during the competition organized from April 19 to 25 by the Dominican Federation with the endorsement of the Pan American Weightlifting Federation (FPLP). In the general table, Colombia won 43 medals (22-11-10) followed by the USA with 39 (15-11-13). In the classification of teams by points, in men Colombia was first (706), followed by Cuba (675) and USA (628). In women, USA (762), Colombia (692) and Mexico (628). More than 250 competitors from 24 countries were back competing together after more than a year of absence due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced the postponement of this continental championship in 2020. According to William Osuna, president of the Dominican Federation, the biosafety measures adopted by the organizers were complied with and no case of Covid-19 was registered. The event was a Gold Level IWF rated competition that allowed athletes to accumulate valuable points to be added to the final rankings with a view to the Tokyo Olympics. The competition also opened the qualifying process for the Central American and Caribbean Games, which will be held in either Mayaguez (Puerto Rico) in 2022 or San Salvador (El Salvador) in 2023. A decision will be made in the next few days. Canadian Maude Charron (64 kg) and Colombian Jhonatan Rivas (96 kg) were selected the most outstanding weightlifters for the level of their records. The president of the Colombian Federation, William Peña, believed that Colombian weightlifting is preparing "the best performance in history" at the Tokyo Olympic Games. For the president of the Pan American Federation, José Quiñones, having been able to carry out the postponed Pan American Championship in Santo Domingo “with great success” is the first aspect to highlight. Quiñones also praised the marks made by athletes that bring them closer to the Olympic classification, despite the period of more than a year of international inactivity. As of May 9, the South American and Ibero-American Championships and a World Open will be organized in Cali, Colombia, in which the classifications must be outlined with a view to Tokyo. Source: ATR - Miguel

Revised Olympic Qualification System for Weightlifting at Tokyo 2020 Published

Lausanne, 5 May 2021; The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) yesterday welcomed the publication of the revised Olympic Qualification System, developed in agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Adjustments had become necessary in order to reflect the circumstances of the pandemic. “As Tokyo 2020 approaches, athletes deserve as much certainty as we can all provide for them. The IWF would like to thank the IOC for approving a revised Olympic Qualification System for weightlifting that will contribute to this kind of certainty,” said IWF Interim President Dr Michael Irani. “The revised Olympic Qualification System also stays true to the principles that brought widespread praise: clean nations will still be rewarded with the greatest possible opportunities to qualify athletes. Qualifying lifters must also have competed regularly across a significant period of time, ensuring they are subject to appropriate in-competition and out-of-competition doping controls.” Weightlifters must still have competed during two key periods, the first from 1 November 2018 to 30 April 2019 and the second from 1 May 2019 to 31 October 2019. The number of events at which athletes must have competed, however, has been reduced from six to four, reflecting the limited opportunities to compete in the third period of qualifying, which started on 1 November 2019 and concludes on 31 May 2021. In addition, the mandatory participation in the third period has been excluded from the eligibility requirements. In line with the above the calculation of the Absolute Ranking Points has been modified in the following way: “At the end of the qualification period; an athlete’s final Absolute Ranking Points; subject to participation in one (1) event in the same Olympic category will be drawn from four (4) results (ROBI points for Total results only): two (2) results, best result from Period 1 and best result from Period 2 (as per Paragraph C. 2. c) ii) and; two (2) next best results from Period 1, Period 2, or Period 3 (as per Paragraph C. 2. c) ii).” A copy of the revised Olympic Qualification System can be found here: ENG / FRE The current IWF rankings can be found here:

IWF Constitution Consultation – Booklet

Preparations for the IWF Constitutional Congress, to start on 30 June, continue quickly and effectively. Many IWF Member Federations and Stakeholders provided proposals and comments on the draft Constitution and these can now be found here. You can also find the original draft Constitution here. During the Constitutional Congress, the draft constitution approved by the Reform and Governance Commission and drafted by its independent expert members will be presented for adoption. Where there are alternatives, based on differences between the draft constitution and the proposals provided by Member Federations, there will be a discussion and a vote. “It is clear that the IWF is at a turning point and there are significant expectations that we will come together to take advantage of this opportunity to show to the world our commitment towards reform,” said Interim IWF President Dr Michael Irani, in a letter to IWF Member Federations.