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IWF Intercontinental Commission meets in Astana

Hosted by IWF Vice President Zhanat Tussupbekov, the IWF Intercontinental Commission's meeting took place in the country's capital, Astana. The IC is composed of the Presidents and General Secretaries of the Continental Federations and, last but not least, the President and General Secretary of the IWF. The Astana gathering was also attended by the IWF's 1st Vice President and the Director General. All 5 continents were represented - by President , General Secretary or both - in the 2-day IC meeting, the first one held separately, away from the combustion and tension of World Championships. As participants pointed out, the meeting chaired by IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján provided a unique opportunity and was fruitfully used to discuss issues of common interest, get updates from the IWF on items of particular concern to the Continental Federations. Unity, as key to progress and reinforcing the status of weightlifting on a global scale, was emphasized and, in general opinion, clearly manifest at the meeting. Inserted in the schedule, the IC members were honour guests at the Electoral Congress of the Weightlifting Federation of Kazakhstan, at which President Tussupbekov's mandate was reconfirmed for another 4-year term. Participants also paid a visit to the new, elegant and perfectly outfitted office of the IWF General Secretary, Mohammed Jalood and that was where they concluded their working

Tulio Hernán Martínez Leal passed away

We are very sad to announce that the former President of the Colombian Weightlifting Federation Mr.Tulio Hernán Martínez Leal died today after battling disease for a long time. Under his presidency, the Colombian Federation made huge progress, producing many medals at high level international competitions (including Olympic Games and World Championships) and Colombia organized the Junior World Championships in Cali, in 2008. He was a great leader who treated his athletes and his colleagues as part of his family. May he rest in

Oceania Stars to Battle for Glory at Australian Open

Weightlifters from eight countries across the Oceania region will gather in Brisbane this weekend for the 2018 Australian Open at the Sleeman Sports Complex – and the competition is set to be more ferocious than ever. With last year’s event having served as a qualifier for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in nearby Gold Coast in April, this year’s Australian Open will feature a series of competitors who have lofty ambitions, as well as many who have already established outstanding reputations on the international stage. Amongst the athletes coming from all corners of the host country, Cameroon-born Francois Etoundi, who has been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, will compete in the men’s 77kg category. No fewer than 20 of the competitors will be teenagers, providing an exciting glimpse of the future, including Tasmanian Stephanie Pickrell, who will compete in the women’s 48kg division and has been tipped as an up-and-coming star after a series of impressive performances last year. However, the Australian athletes will need all the support they can get from the home fans, with several weightlifters with Olympic Games experience ready to challenge for places on the podium. Among them will be Jenly Wini, who was the flagbearer for her native Solomon Islands at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics and also competed at the Rio 2016 Games. She will be hoping for a repeat of her gold medal in the 58kg division at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby. Sisters Thelma and Dika Toua from Papua New Guinea will also present significant challenges to the home favourites in the women’s 48kg and 53kg categories, respectively. Thelma Toua won three gold medals at the 2015 Pacific Games, while Dika Toua picked up gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a record total lift for the event of 193kg. [caption id="attachment_21371" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Weightlifting sisters Thelma and Dika Toua. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie[/caption] In the men’s competition, it is also worth watching out for the 105kg division, which will feature two gold medal-winners from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Dancing legend David Katoatau will be targeting further glory after winning Kiribati’s first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 105kg division four years ago, while Steven Kari of Papua New Guinea has moved up from the 95kg category. Morea Baru will also harbour ambitions of bringing a medal home to Papua New Guinea in the men’s 62kg division, having finished sixth in his category at the Rio Olympics two years ago. However, Baru will be up against a number of tough rivals in a competitive division, including Fijian pair Poama Qaqa and Manueli Tulo. [caption id="attachment_21374" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Always putting on a show: Kiribati's David Katoatau[/caption] Qaqa won a gold medal in the Oceania Junior Championships and a bronze in the Oceania Senior Championships in Gold Coast back in September, while Tulo, a former Fiji Sportsman of the Year, claimed gold at the 2016 Australian Open before edging out Elson Brechtefeld and Australian Lynton Hargrave for top spot at the Oceania Championships last year. Hargrave and Brechtefeld are back again for this year’s Australian Open, with a mouth-watering competition in prospect. Remarkably, Brechtefeld will be one of five athletes representing the remote Republic of Nauru, the smallest state in the South Pacific and home to only 11,000 inhabitants, demonstrating the reach of a truly global sport. Keep up-to-date with the Australian Open via the Australian Weightlifting Federation's channels. Follow them on Facebook to learn more. -- Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING’s latest issue is out!

No.143 of WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING special issue on the 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA is out. Check it out the best moments and

Yasmin Zammit Stevens named Malta’s Sportswoman of the year

Maltese weightlifting has made history once again with Yasmin Zammit Stevens named Malta’s Sportswoman of the year 2017. Jesmond Caruana was nominated for "Official of the year" and Shelby Mangion Vassallo was nominated for "Youth athlete of the year". Yasmin Zammit Stevens finished on top after 8 sport journalists from different media voted for who they thought had the most success in 2017. Last year, Zammit Stevens was the first Maltese female weightlifter to compete at the European Championships and at the Universiade, the first Maltese woman to win individual gold medals at an international weightlifting event, broke over 20 national records and qualified for the Commonwealth Games set to take place in Gold Coast this April. Jesmond Caruana finished in a close 2nd place in his respective category. This was the 8th time Caruana has been voted into the finals with consistently high results every year. First time finalist, Shelby Mangion Vassallo, was also among the 5 finalists for youth athlete of the year, celebrating a very successful year leading up to the youth Olympic Games. The Malta Weightlifting Association is overjoyed with the tremendous success 2017 has brought. This recognition confirms that the tireless work by the association is paying off with more and more success year after year. Check out the video on YouTube Source: Jesmond Caruana, Malta Weightlifting Association

IWF oversees anti-doping education seminars in suspended Member Federations

Lausanne; 16 February 2018: The latest anti-doping education seminar has concluded in Azerbaijan as the IWF continues to oversee anti-doping education seminars in its nine suspended Member Federations (MFs) and support them bring about cultural change. MFs must organise anti-doping seminars at least every four months, as part of the IWF’s extensive series of criteria that they are obliged to fulfil. Since December 2017, anti-doping seminars have been held in Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Moldova Turkey and Ukraine. The purpose of the seminars is to educate athletes, coaches and officials on the dangers of doping and provide more information on IWF anti-doping policy, anti-doping rule violations, prohibited substances, ADAMs and whereabouts information, WADA and NADOs. Representatives from National Anti-Doping Agencies and medical experts make presentations to provide the very-latest information and scientific data. The seminars and their content is strictly overseen by the IWF and MFs must provide the IWF with detailed reports following the seminars. The IWF Monitoring Group, consisting of independent anti-doping experts, examines and evaluates all the presentations and reports of the MFs to ensure the seminars are effective as possible. IWF President Tamas Ajan said: “Anti-doping education is vital in helping change cultures, particularly in high-risk countries where doping is more prevalent. We of course need to ensure we have robust anti-doping measures in place to protect clean athletes and catch athletes who cheat. But, it is equally important to have extensive education programmes in place to encourage cultural change and prevent the minority of athletes who cheat from cheating in the first place. “When we suspended the nine MFs we sent out the strongest possible message about how committed we are to protecting clean athletes. We also made it clear that we would work with these countries to make real and lasting change and put in the necessary anti-doping measures to address their doping issues. These anti-doping seminars are effective way of doing that. But there is a lot more that needs to be done and a lot of criteria they need to fulfil before they can fulfil their obligation to ensure clean sport. The IWF, through the Monitoring Group, will continue to work with them to achieve