News

Korea to host University Worlds – Technical visit to Gangjin

FISU Technical Committee Chair for Weightlifting Anikó Németh-Móra and FISU Director-General Paulo Ferreira made a visit to Gangjin, Korea, the city to host the next World University Weightlifting Championships in 2020. A small city but well equipped with sports facilities, Gangjin, a traditional domestic tourist destination in the South of the country wishes to elevate itself to a higher rank and is eager to achieve international fame through the organisation of this important world competition. They are fully committed to the task and will receive great professional and technical assistance from the Korean Weightlifting Federation. The 6th FISU WUC in Gangjin, Korea, will run 20-24 October 2020. FISU has already opened the online

Family members of Paul Anderson visited Moscow⁩

Last weekend, on August 24, 2019, the Russian Weightlifting Federation, together with the Regional Moscow Weightlifting Federation, organized an excursion to Gorky Park for members of Paul Anderson's family (Glenda Anderson, Paul’s widow and Stephen Leonard, now Glenda's husband. Paula Anderson Schaefer, Paul’s daughter, and her husband Edward Schaefer). Guests from the USA met with eyewitnesses of that match meeting of the USSR-USA of 1955. The meeting was held in a warm and family atmosphere. There were two grandsons of one of the most medaled Russian weightlifters ever who told that their grandfather told them many times over that Paul was his idol and had motivated him to strive to be the best weightlifter he could be. He became a world and Olympic champion. This athlete was Alexei Medvedev, who was Paul's rival that night in 1955. Today it brought tears to Paula’s and Glenda’s eyes to see this sight and imagine that night so long ago. Glenda was then interviewed and asked questions by the large group of members, over 20 + support staff. The group of members were fascinating men of all ages. Members of Paul Anderson's family expressed such words about the meeting: "Absolutely fascinating and extremely warm and kind! They were retired lifters, coaches, administrators of the Russian team. Again, this is THE sport in Russia. It was a magnificent day all around. They feted us like royalty. It was hard to leave them. We are so thankful for Randy Strossen connecting us to them. He brought about the celebration which we enjoyed today". During the meeting, everyone supported the idea of holding a USA-Russia match meeting again, but now in the

Olympic Solidarity course in Timor Leste

An Olympic Solidarity course was held in Dili, Timor Leste 5-10 August. IWF Coaching and Research Committee Member, Aveenash Pandoo was the lecturer of the Level 1 course, dedicated to beginners. 25 coaches, 22 men and 3 women attended. “The coaches present were mostly former athletes and were involved in some sort of weight training before, displayed a fair level on the technical aspect of the sport of Weightlifting, but the Theoretical and Education aspect of the sport was seriously lacking.” “The Coaches were tested every morning about the previous day lectures, and I must say it was of a satisfactory standard.” “In the end I was glad that they had a better understanding of the sport, more scientific base and develop a new paradigm shift as they move forward.” “Among the coaches in the group there were a few that were earmarked for a possible furthering of their studies in coaching and could use the IWF Development Program to do so,” said Mr Pandoo. The topics included modules of IWF official coaching manual level 1, coaching principles and roles of the coach, technical determination for Snatch and Clean and Jerk with explanatory videos, periodisation, nutrition and IWF Anti-Doping program. “I would like to thank the Weightlifting Federation of Timor Leste and the NOC for their support during the course despite the limited resources. They were very welcoming and showed willingness to learn.” “A good basic was laid at the course and there are a lot of talent among the coaches that need to be developed and further polished,” added Mr

Happy Birthday Mike Irani!

Dr Michael Irani, Chairman of the IWF Medical Committee and Executive Board Member celebrated his 70th Birthday this weekend. Dr Irani is holding positions at the IWF since 1992 and always serves unselfishly at the events as a doctor on duty, despite being a busy doctor of his own practice and supporting British Weightlifting for many years. The IWF and the Weightlifting Family wishes him many more successful

Lynn Jones is 80!

Coach of the Australian team, Lyn Jones has been holding positions in the IWF since 1984. Starting as President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and IWF Executive Board Member - until today when he is Member of the IWF Coaching and Research Committee.   Author of the IWF Coaching Manuals and a lecturer for decades he has been travelling the world and teaching weightlifting to several generations. The IWF sends him its warmest wishes and congratulations on his 80th

Weightlifting Family Learns Together at USA Weightlifting Coaching Symposium

Coaches from around the world meet in Miami for the weekend of education & training Nearly 100 weightlifting coaches from around the world gathered in Miami, Florida August 8-11 as USA Weightlifting hosted its Coaching Symposium presented by Ascent Protein. Anchored by a speaker lineup of world-class weightlifting and sports performance experts, participants learned how to be better coaches to their athletes and ambassadors to the sport. “We had an incredible group of speakers and coaches here in Miami,” USA Weightlifting Senior Director of Sport Performance and Coaching Education Mike Gattone said. “This is a terrific service we offer to our members and we are so happy that it was a success.” Speakers included Olympic champions, strength and conditioning coaches for professional sports teams and top sports psychologists. All contributed to fruitful discussions about how to grow coaches’ knowledge, athlete success and businesses. Topics discussed included different approaches to training and coaching techniques, sports psychology and data analytics. “We are here to share ideas and how to be better coaches,” USA Weightlifting Technical Director and three-time Olympic Champion Pyrros Dimas said. “When you talk with different coaches from different countries you learn about different styles and that makes you a better coach.” Dimas, a four-time Olympic medalist, gave a talk about his 26 years in the sport and how that’s applied to his role at USA Weightlifting. Dimas also trained with participants in the training hall, supplied by USA Weightlifting official equipment manufacturer, Rogue Fitness. Coaches from more than a dozen states and Puerto Rico were represented at the Symposium, along with participants from fourteen nations, including Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Costa Rica, England, Guyana, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia, United States and Uruguay. Over lunch on Saturday, women participants gathered to learn from USA Weightlifting International Coach and Olympian Cara Heads Slaughter. Slaughter runs CHFP Weightlifting near Washington, D.C. and has generated many international-level lifters. Slaughter presented Creating Your Pathway to a Successful Weightlifting Business Model: From Vision to Implementation to empower more women to start and grow successful weightlifting businesses. “There is such a wonderful community of women in our sport,” USA Weightlifting Coaching Education Manager Anna Swisher said. “The lunch provided attendees a great resource as they continue their athletic and entrepreneurial journeys.” Prior to the Symposium’s formal start on August 9, USA Weightlifting held Level 1 and Level 2 coaching and certified nearly 50 new coaches. USA Weightlifting debuted its re-designed Level 2 coaching course at the pre-Symposium, showcasing re-vamped curriculum that promises to bring weightlifting coaches to the next level. “We’ve rewritten this course from the ground up,” USA Weightlifting Coaching Education Manager JP Nicolletta said. “We got some great feedback from the debut, and we look forward to incorporating it into the course.” The new Level 2 course will roll-out nationwide later in