News

IWF Executive Member Pyrros Dimas visits Cyprus Federation

IWF Executive Board Member - triple Olympic champion - Pyrros Dimas paid a visit to Cyprus to meet the leaders of the Cyprus Weightlifting Federation and talk about possibilities of promoting the development of the sport in the country. In addition to conducting talks with Dr. Andreas Roumbas, President of the Cyprus Weightlifting Federation, Mr. Dimas was received by the President of the Cyprus Parliament, Mr. Dimitris Syllouris and the Minister of Education, also in charge of Sports Finances, Mr. Konstantinos Kadis and led fruitful discussions, whereby the smooth functioning  of the Federation and the support to weightlifting was assured from both sides. Mr. Dimas was accompanied by the new President of the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation, Mr. Konstantinos Korlos, who used the opportunity to consult with the CWF on bilateral cooperation in the sport of weightlifting.

Mosquera already focusing on Tokyo 2020

Although the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ended last year, Luis Javier Mosquera Lozano is already practising for the upcoming big challenges. The Colombian weightlifter’s reason to start such early is to achieve better and better results to reach his goals. „At the 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA I wish to showcase an outstanding result to prove that I am already moving ahead on my chosen path leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. I wish to be arrive there as serious contender for the Gold Medal.” The 21-year-old Mosquera added - “With the help of God, I can reach more success and become a favourite for Tokyo as in 4 years I want to become an Olympic Champion. “ The Colombian weightlifter – only mentioning his biggest achievements – won the 2012 Youth World Championships in the Men’s 62kg (Total of 283 kg), the 2014 Junior World Championships. He then moved up to the 69kg bodyweight category and won the Junior World Championships title in 2015 again. He won the Bronze Medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for his Total of 338kg. This year he plans to compete at the National Championships, the Pan-American Championships, the IWF World Championships as well as at the Bolivarian Games held every four years between athletes from Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Peru and

PAWF Technical Officials’ Courses

Within the framework of the IWF Development Program, the Pan American Weightlifting Federation organized two Technical Officials’ Courses, one in Nicaragua and another in El Salvador. In both cases the lecturer was Ms. Maritza Ortiz from Dominican Republic (Member of the Technical Commission of PAWF and International Technical Official). All together there were more than 50 participants. The Courses included topics such as instance incorrect movements, athletes' outfit, roles of the Technical Officials and more. It was a great project mainly because the Central American Games will take place in Managua, Nicaragua in

Kangasniemi turned 76!

Kaarlo Olavi Kangasniemi is the first and only Olympic Champion weightlifter from Finland and he turned 76 this weekend!  He reached the peak of his career in Mexico City at the 1968 Olympic Games when he won with a Total of 517,5 kg (still three lifts to be performed at that time)  in the men’s 90 kg bodyweight category. He was also Gold Medallist in Warsaw, Poland in 1969, two times European Champion; only to mention his biggest achievements. Additionally he set multiple word records; four times in the press, seven times in snatch and five times in the clean and jerk, altogether 16 between 1968 and 1972. In 1969 he received the Best Lifter title and in 1998 he became Member of the IWF Weightlifting Hall of Fame. He also worked as coach and was Eurosport commentator.

Andrysek, Arsamakov and Kim all born on the same day!

What a coincidence! Three well known famous weightlifters were born on the same day - February 8th – however not in the same year! Franz ANDRYSEK – the first Olympic Champion in weightlifting from Austria – was born in 1906. In 1928, after the Snatch he ranked 4th, but he defeated everyone in the Clean and Jerk setting a record in the Total with 287,5 kg. He became Olympic Champion in men’s 60 kg bodyweight category in Amsterdam. He was born and died in Vienna on February 9th, 1981 – just one day after his 75th birthday. Israil ARSAMAKOV was also born on the same day 55 years ago. Olympic Champion in Soul in men’s 82,5 kg category, he also set a World Record under the Soviet flag. The Korean KYM Myong was born 48 years ago. The Democratic People's Republic of Korean World Champion achieved his biggest success in men’s 75 and 70 kg categories. He won his medals: Bronze in Barcelona at the 1992 Olympic Games and Silver in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympic

2016 Jenő Boskovics Award winners for Lifter of the Year revealed

The voting for the "Jenő Boskovics Lifter of the Year" awards launched by WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING involved a historic number of ballots cast for the 2016 edition. Nearly 38,000 votes arrived for the best male and female weightlifters! Thank you for your great interest and participation! In the women category, TANASAN Sopita (Thailand) became the winner with a good 1,200 votes ahead of the second best DENG Wei (China) and 2015 best HSU SHU-Ching (Chinese Taipei). A mere 55 votes decided between the latter two. As Best Lifter in 2016 among Men was voted ROSTAMI Kianoush (Iran) who drew an overwhelming 20,000 plus votes, three times more than runner up TALAKHADZE Lasha (Georgia). In third place RAHIMOV Nijat (Kazakhstan) with significantly less votes. Those who received votes are all heroes of the Rio Olympic Games. WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING editors and the IWF are preparing for a due presentation ceremony later during the year. Congratulations to the