News

IWF celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Today marks the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), a global celebration recognising the power of sport in advancing social inclusion, equality and peace. This year, under the theme “Levelling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion”, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) highlights how sport contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing its role in creating more inclusive and equitable societies. As a proud member of the Olympic Movement, the IWF is committed to harnessing the power of weightlifting to drive social change and empower communities. Weightlifting is more than just an elite competition - it is a sport that brings people together at all levels. IWF President Mohammed Jalood emphasised the sport’s role in ensuring inclusivity and social development: “Sport has the power to change lives and weightlifting is no exception. Both on and off the competition platform, we strengthen individuals and communities; providing opportunities for empowerment, enjoyment and personal growth. By working with our National Federations and global ecosystem, we are committed to making the sport accessible worldwide so more people can experience its transformative impact.”  Athletes play a crucial role in promoting these values. Two-time Olympic weightlifting medallist Emily Campbell has been vocal about using her platform to create opportunities for young people: "I want to be more than just an athlete," she recently told the BBC. Emily Campbell (GBR) "I would love to open my own gym for, predominately, youth and development. But I want anyone to be able to walk into my gym, to be able to have that community space to learn weightlifting, to learn physical literacy and to be comfortable and to live a healthy lifestyle." Stories like Campbell’s highlight how weightlifting is changing lives, giving people the confidence and skills to build better futures and be part of a united community. On this IDSDP, and on the road to the Olympic Games LA2028, the IWF remains committed to making weightlifting a vehicle for social inclusion, empowerment and peace - ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has a place in the sports’ global

IWF120y/54 – 2000: Female lifters set Olympic milestones for Thailand

Weightlifting and Boxing are quite popular sports in Thailand and appear at the top of the medal chart concerning medals won at the Olympic Games. Lifters have a slight advantage, with 17 podium presences, including five gold, four silver, and eight bronze medals. In our Sport, this successful road started in 2000, when women could participate for the first time in the Games. In the 58kg category, Khassaraporn Suta became the first-ever female Olympic medallist (all sports) for her country, earning the bronze (97.5-117.5-210). Four years later, her compatriot Udomporn Polsak (photo – at the 2003 IWF Worlds) ‘upgraded’ this achievement, with the first-ever Thai gold medal for a female athlete in the 53kg category (97.5-125-222.5). This trend continued until 2016, when in Rio (BRA), Sinphet Kruaithong was the first man to climb on an Olympic podium – winning a bronze (132-157-289) in the 56kg. Out of the 17 medals, 14 were obtained by women and only three by Thai male lifters. The last edition of the Games, Paris 2024, was particularly successful for the Asian nation, with three podium presences (silver in the men’s 61kg and 73kg, and bronze in the women’s 49kg). At the IWF World Championships, Thailand consolidated its status as a powerhouse in our Sport: 51 (only Total results) and 140 (Snatch, Clean & Jerk, Total)

IWF120y/53 – 1936: Last glory days for France at the Olympics

During its first decades of life, our International Federation had a strong institutional influence from France and it was without surprise that Jules Rosset presided over the world governing body from 1920 to 1937, and then again from 1946 to 1952. In parallel, French lifters were also shining on the platform, amassing nine Olympic gold medals, precisely between 1920 and 1936 – these are the country’s only Olympic triumphs in the Sport until today. The most successful lifter of this impressive generation was Louis Hostin, Olympic champion in 1932 and 1936, and runner-up in 1928, competing in the 82.5kg. He was also a two-time world medallist (silver in 1937 and bronze in 1938). Finally, he established 10 World Records throughout his career. He is the only lifter in French Olympic history with two gold medals. The remaining champions at the Games were Ernest Cadine (photo – appearing with his teammates of the French team in the 1920s) and Henri Gance (in 1920), Charles Rigoulot and Edmond Decottignies (in 1924), Roger François (1928), René Duverger and Ryamond Suvigny (1932). Besides these ‘golden’ performances, France would get another three silver (1928, 1976, and 2012) and three bronze (1920, 1928, and 1956) throughout its Olympic participation in weightlifting. The last success was a second place in London 2012, with Vencelas Dabaya, initially fifth, but climbing to the podium after subsequent disqualifications due to doping problems. In 2024, when the Games were back in Paris, the French athletes could not replicate the successes of their predecessors 100 years earlier: despite the presence of four athletes, the best lifter was Marie Fegue, fifth in the women’s 71kg.

Lasha Talakhadze elected president of the Georgian Federation

Three-time Olympic champion Lasha Talakhadze was elected yesterday as the new President of the Georgian Weightlifting Federation, after the unanimous vote of the 55 delegates at the electoral congress of the national body in Tbilisi. Talakhadze, a true legend in the sport of weightlifting, earned his third Olympic title in Paris 2024 after previous successes in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020ne. He has also won seven world and seven European gold medals. The current World Record holder in the heavyweight category takes over the function from another iconic lifter, Kakhi Kakhiashvili, who was also three times on the highest march of the podium at the Olympic Games, in 1992, 1996, and 2000. Photo credit: ewf.sport After 10 years at the helm of the Federation, Mr Kakhiashvili will remain involved in the activities of the Georgian national body, as Vice-President (alongside Irakli Turmanidze, Olympic bronze medallist in Rio 2016 and Nodar Sirbilashvili). Rusudani Muradashvili was reconfirmed as Secretary General. The IWF congratulates the great champion for another important achievement and wishes him the best of success in his new

Call for Letters of Interest: Become an “IWF Certified Supplier”!

The International Weightlifting Federation is happy to announce that in order to enhance its licensing programme, it has launched a public offer for certification of manufacturers and weightlifting equipment in the six categories listed below: Weightlifting barbell equipment, comprising the following full set of deliverables: Competition Stations Warm-up and training Stations Bars Bars Discs Discs Collars Collars Platforms Platforms Plate Racks Plate Racks Magnesia Container Magnesia Container Barbell Lifter Squat Stand Safety Barrier   Weightlifting competition stage Weightlifting costumes/singlets Weightlifting belts, wrist and knee sleeves, wraps and bandages Weightlifting Shoes Scales and portable saunas (for event purposes) For each of the categories, a non-exclusive agreement will be established with the IWF, whereby the selected manufacturers/products will be “IWF Certified Suppliers” for the period 2025-2028. This certification will allow each of the licensees to promote its products as IWF homologated and benefit from the associated promotional and marketing opportunities specified in the agreement. As the number of licensees is limited within each of the categories, a thorough technical, quality and compliance evaluation will be made by the IWF upon the reception of each candidature file. Expressions of interest must be transmitted to the IWF by no later than Monday, April 28, 2025, at the following e-mail: [email protected] Specific details concerning the financial conditions and the requirements to be fulfilled by each of the applicants can be obtained by contacting the IWF at the same e-mail ([email protected]). Technical requirements (if any) can be found in the IWF Technical Competition Rules (link

IWF120y/52 – 2008: A ‘delayed’ but historical medal for Samoa

In 1983, the Samoan Olympic Committee was created, and the first athletes representing the nation in the Games travelled to Los Angeles in 1984. The following year, Ele Opeloge was born and would become the only Olympic Samoan medallist (all sports) so far in the history of her country. She is also the first and only Pacific islander (natives from the Oceania islands grouped in one of these three regions: Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia) with a weightlifting Olympic podium presence! But the story is not simple: at the Beijing 2008 rendezvous, Opeloge competed in the women’s +75kg and ranked fourth (119-150-269). Years later, following the re-analysis of samples from those Games, the silver and bronze medallist in Opeloge’s event were found positive for prohibited substances and their medals withdrawn. Upgrading into the Olympic hierarchy, the Samoan star ended up with the silver medal, a pride for a nation that has a solid tradition in weightlifting. If you type “Opeloge” in the IWF athletes' result database, you will find numerous lifters. In fact, Ele comes from a successful weightlifting family, where 10 out of the 12 siblings competed internationally in the sport – her brother Niusula (born in 1980) was a gold medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the men’s 105kg, in the same day Ele triumphed in the women’s +75kg. Sister Mary (born in 1992) is a nine-time winner at the Oceania Championships (between 2008 and 2016). Ele is also a three-time winner at the Pacific Games and earned two gold medals at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships. She had a second Olympic participation in London 2012, finishing fifth. Ele is the aunt of Avatu Opeloge (her twin sister’s daughter), a silver medallist at the 2023 Pacific Games.