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IWF120y/99 – 1924: Austria starts Olympic 12-year cycle of success

Despite intense discussions around the participation of Austria in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris – the country had been one of the defeated belligerents during World War I and had been banned in the 1920 edition in Antwerp -, Austrian lifters were finally present in the French capital. And the least we can say is that their participation was quite successful, with four medals – three silver (Andreas Stadler, Anton Zwerina, and Franz Aigner) and a bronze (Leopold Friedrich). Four years later, in Amsterdam, the Austrian delegation clinched two victories, thanks to Franz Andrysek (60kg) and Hans Haas (67.5kg). In Los Angeles 1932, Haas will become the sole Austrian lifter with two Olympic medals until the present day, by adding a silver to his roll of honour. Karl Hipfinger (75kg) also got a bronze medal in California. In 1936, Berlin hosted the Olympics in a dangerous time for Europe, and Robert Fein (gold in the 67.5kg category) closed the Olympic medal count for Austria. With nine medals, weightlifting is the third most successful sport for the central European nation, after sailing and canoeing. Both Haas and Fein (photo) were Jewish: if the first one could complete his career without major problems, Fein’s story was completely different. After the victory in Berlin (he was one of the 13 Jewish athletes getting a medal there), he could still earn a silver at the 1937 World Championships in Paris, but with the instauration of anti-Semitic laws in Austria, he was barred from competing. Never again, after World War II, did Austria know such achievements from its athletes. On the administration level, things were different: curiously born in 1924, Gottfried Schödl was one of the most prominent IWF officials, entering the Executive Board in 1964 and being elected IWF President in 1972 (until

IWF120y/98 – 2024: Li Wenwen (CHN) ‘jumps’ for the gold at the Games

The last weightlifting competition day at the 2024 Paris Olympics had only one event on the programme: the women’s +81kg. And what a great way to conclude the Games it was! With the group of 12 lifters visibly happy to be performing in such a prestigious scenario, the gold medal went to favourite Li Wenwen from China, in 136-173-309, her second consecutive Olympic title after also reaching the highest step of the podium in Tokyo 2020ne (then, with a performance of 140-180-320). But if in the Japanese capital the podium celebrations had to be more sober (COVID pandemic oblige), the atmosphere in Paris was clearly more relaxed. While on both sides of the podium, Hyejeong Park (KOR, silver) and Emily Campbell (GBR, bronze) had received their medals, a very happy Chinese ace literally jumps to the highest step when she is called to receive her gold award. It was one of the moments of the Paris competition, in what was also the most followed (TV-wise) weightlifting event of the entire Games. Born in March 2000, Li is one of the five female lifters so far with two Olympic titles. Her road to stardom started in 2019, when she is second at the IWF World Cup. In the same year, she wins her first continental title in Asia (she got two more gold medals, in 2020 and 2023), and she is also first at the IWF Worlds (in the +87kg category, 146-186-332). After Tokyo’s achievement, she is the best at the 2022 IWF showcase, and she already gives a good indication of her motivation for Paris 2024, winning some months before the IWF World Cup in 145-180-325. Li is also the current WR holder in her category for the Clean and Jerk (187kg) and Total

IWF120y/97 – 1972: Zygmunt Smalcerz leads Polish success in Munich

The Munich 1972 Olympic Games were particularly successful for the Polish weightlifting team, with its athletes getting three medals (one of each colour). The shiniest star of the group was Zygmunt Smalcerz, the champion in the 52kg category. Despite his tiny body structure (he is 1.53m high), the Polish ace got in Germany the main achievement of his career, clinching the title in 112.5-100-125-337.5 (it was the last edition of the Olympics with the Press movement). Behind him in Munich, two Hungarian competitors were relatively distant – Szucs got the silver with a total of 330kg, and Holczreiter was third in 327.5kg. Four years later, Smalcerz had a good motivation to revalidate the Olympic title, but an unfortunate injury in Montreal jeopardised his plans (he had to withdraw from the competition). At the IWF Worlds, the Polish champion was more successful, collecting two gold medals (in 1971 and 1975) and placing third in 1973. At the continental level, Smalcerz dominated the field between 1971 and 1975, earning four gold medals. His only recognised World Record during this period dates from May 1972, when he lifted 103kg in the Snatch. After the conclusion of his career as an athlete at the end of the 1970s (he was born in 1941), he took the coaching path: in 2008, he was namely the Head Coach of the Polish Team competing at the Beijing Olympics. More recently, he has also provided valuable services internationally, namely with the teams of the USA and Norway.

IWF120y/96 – 1964: Sam Coffa proudly competes for Australia at the Olympics

On his passport, the official name is Salvatore Coffa, but the entire weightlifting world knows him as Sam Coffa. After a successful career as an athlete, coach, manager, official and administrator, the first years of his life were however modest, within a Sicilian family experiencing the difficulties and challenges caused by World War II. Born in Ferla (Sicily, Italy) in January 1936, Coffa emigrated with the family to Australia in 1952, in search of other horizons and opportunities. He will quickly integrate the community in Hawthorn (suburbs of Melbourne), by practicing and developing weightlifting in the local club. As an athlete, he progresses quickly, and after acquiring Australian citizenship in 1959, he takes part in the 1962 Commonwealth Games and 1964 Olympic Games, representing his new country. If the results in Tokyo are somehow deceiving, his most vivid and emotional memory remains the opening ceremony, where he could, in his own words, “proudly march behind the Australian flag”. After his retirement as an athlete, he remains a pillar in the development of weightlifting in his town, in the state of Victoria, in Australia (he is presently at the helm of the national body), in the Commonwealth community, continental federation, and at the IWF level. Sam Coffa is the world reference in terms of the weightlifting rules, currently chairing the IWF Technical Committee – he is also a member of the IWF Executive Board, where his highest position was of First Vice-President. Also involved with politics, he was Mayor of Hawthorn on two occasions, was awarded the membership of the Order of Australia, and was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2009.

IWF120y/95 – 1906: Weightlifting again represented at the Intercalated Games

They are often named the “Forgotten Games”, but they were originally called the “Second International Olympic Games in Athens”. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympic Movement, was opposed to the idea of staging this event in the Hellenic capital in 1906, but several factors led to its organisation: the unsuccessful “official” Games in Paris 1900 (all resources going to the Universal Exhibition running in parallel) and St-Louis 1904 (travelling to the USA was not as easy as in present days…); the desire of the Greek officials to “extend” the achievements of the first edition of the Games in 1896 (where our sport was already included), celebrating in the best possible way the 10th anniversary of the Games revival; finally, the possibility for the many athletes that could not travel to St-Louis to take part in an international competition. For the IWF, it was also the opportunity to gather the best lifters of that time, just 10 months after its foundation, in June 1905. Despite the desire for some regulation, athletes from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, and Turkey continued to perform in just two events: one-hand and two-hand lift. Josef Steinbach (AUT) was the best at one-hand, while Dimitrios Tofalos (photo) became a local hero after winning the two-hand competition. Italy, Germany, and France were the other countries with weightlifting medals. Overall, the Games were a success, with the participation of 854 athletes from 20 nations, competing in 12 sports. The Hellenic idea of keeping these Games in Athens every four years (between the “official” Olympic Games) was abandoned after financial difficulties dictated the cancellation of the 1910 edition, and World War I compromised the 1914 and 1918 Games. Because of that, the IOC never officially recognised the performances of the 1906 event as Olympic results. Photo credit:

Asian Championships: ‘Beautiful memories’ for Rahmat Erwin, agony for Olympic champion Rizki – and China wins 57 medals

Rahmat Erwin said farewell to the outgoing body weight categories with a memorable performance at the Asian Championships in Jiangshan, China, where he set his fifth 73kg clean and jerk world record in 30 months. His Indonesia team-mate Rizki Juniansyah, the Olympic 73kg champion, was beaten by a newcomer from China when he moved up to 81kg and failed to make his final attempt after tearing the skin on both thumbs. While Erwin was the only world record breaker in the men’s events, China and PRK collectively claimed seven world records in the women’s categories. Rahmat Erwin (INA) When Yang Qiuxia bettered Angie Palacios’ 71kg snatch mark, she ensured that every female world record holder in the “old” categories, which will cease to exist on May 31, is from China or PRK. China won 57 medals in Jiangshan, far more than any other nation. Erwin, a multiple world and continental champion, was sensationally beaten by Rizki in the final qualifying event for the Olympic Games just over a year ago. Rizki won gold in Paris while Erwin stayed at home. In Jiangshan, Erwin declined his third snatch, then bettered his own world record of 204kg when he made all three clean and jerks. In his five good lifts he made 155-205-360 to register the best Sinclair points score of the Championships on 486.3. Yang Qiuxia (CHN) His father and coach Erwin Abdullah told Indonesian media that there had been “so many bittersweet memories” during 16 competitions at 73kg over a period of six and a half years. “But this is one we will never forget,” Abdullah said. “We have beautiful memories of May 2025. Now we move on to a new weight category.” Whether that will be down to 71kg or up to 79kg is to be decided. Erwin weighed 72.75kg in Jiangshan, and Rizki 79.66kg. Rizki had finished second in his only other competition at 81kg three years ago at the South East Asian Games, where Erwin won 73kg gold. This week Rizki was second again, behind the international debutant Luo Chongyang, who missed two snatches in making 162-100-362. Rizki tore calluses on both thumbs on his second clean and jerk at 190kg, according to his coach Triyatno. He was in so much pain he could not complete his final attempt at 202kg, which would have given him victory. Another Olympic champion, Liu Huanhua from China, won by a wide margin at 102kg. Artyom Antropov from Kazakhstan, who won the world title in Liu’s absence last December, was 15kg behind at halfway and could not make a contest of it. Liu finished 180-230-410 and Antropov 165-221-386. Ro Kwang Ryol (PRK) Ro Kwang Ryol from PRK, who was second to Karlos Nasar at the World Championships, claimed his first career victory when he finished ahead of Li Dayin at 89kg. Ro made 168-212-380 while Li, a multiple champion for China, missed his final two attempts and finished 1kg behind on 176-203-379. PRK had another impressive winner in Pak Myong Jin at 61kg. Pak overcame a 6kg deficit at halfway to win on 136-170-306 ahead of Wang Hao from China on 142-163-305. Ayat Sharifi from Iran won the +109 super-heavyweights on 195-227-422. China’s women started with two world records on day one – snatches of 88kg and 90kg by the 45kg champion Zhao Jinhong - and won seven of the ten categories. PRK won two, and Thanyathon Sukcharoen from Thailand was the only winner from elsewhere, at 49kg. Zhao Jinhong (CHN) The highest-quality contest was at 71kg, where China and PRK both had world records, Yang Qiuxia in snatch and Song Kuk Hyang in clean and jerk and total. Yang made 122-140-262 and Song was outstanding in clean and jerk to record the highest women’s Sinclair score on 121-155-276. Kuo Hsing-Chun from Chinese Taipei, the Tokyo Olympic champion and a medallist in Paris, was only 80 per cent fit after a recent injury when she finished third at 59kg, according to her coach. Kim Il Gyong won for PRK with a total of 235kg. Thanyathon Sukcharoen (THA) China’s winners were Zhao at 45kg, Zhang Haiqin at 55kg, Li Shuang at 64kg, Liao Guifang at 76kg, Wu Yan at 81kg, Jiang Yujia at 87kg and Li Yan in the +87 super-heavyweights, where she finished 140-170-310. Liao had 76kg world records in snatch and total in making 125-154-279 on Tuesday, a day when five women’s world records were broken. By Brian