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Guadalajara, Preview: USA’s senior gold medallist Morris aims for more glory at IWF World Junior Championships

Six medallists from this year’s senior IWF World Championships, including one who won gold, are among the 229 final entries for the 2023 World Junior Championships. The competition in Guadalajara, Mexico starts on Wednesday and runs until November 23. Teams from Costa Rica, Panama and Malta arrived early for a week-long training camp funded jointly – along with their competition entries – by the IWF and Olympic Solidarity. Hampton Morris (USA) The senior gold medallist in Guadalajara is Hampton Morris from the United States, who won the youth world title in 2021 and was junior world champion last year at 61kg. Morris, 19, failed to make a total in Riyadh in September after three snatch failures but came out to set a junior world record in winning the clean and jerk. This time Morris has moved up to 67kg, where he will be competing against another of those senior World Championships medallists, the Armenian Gor Sahakyan. Armenia appears to have one of the strongest teams in Guadalajara, alongside Egypt, Turkey, Ukraine and the only two with the maximum entry of 20 athletes, Mexico and the United States. Three of the highest entry totals in the 10 men’s categories are posted by Armenians, and their women have medal chances too. Like Sahakyan, Garik Karapetyan won a medal in Riyadh. Karapetyan holds all three junior world records at 102kg and is aiming to win a third straight junior world title. Garik Karapetyan (ARM) Egypt has contenders in a range of men’s and women’s categories. They include Mahmoud Hosny, a senior bronze medallist in September, in the men’s 96kg and 17-year-old Rahma Ahmed, who has won gold and silver in the past two World Youth Championships, in the women’s 81kg. Cansu Bektas from Turkey, also a medallist in Riyadh, has already won youth and junior world titles and is a strong favourite to win again in the women’s 45kg. Ukraine has several medal hopes, led by Mykyta Rubanovskyi and Volodymyr Marchuk in the men’s 109kg, Olha Ivzhenko in the women’s 64kg and Svitlana Samuliak in the women’s 59kg. Samuliak, twice a European junior champion, began her career as a 14-year-old more than six years ago. Her main rival is likely to be the “newcomer” Eduarda Souza, a Brazilian who moved to Portugal and has excelled in CrossFit. Souza makes her third international weightlifting appearance in three months. The popular Brazilian finished 17th at the senior World Championships on her debut, and eighth at the Pan American Games. In her first junior competition she has the same entry total of 215kg as Samuliak. Other strong contenders from Latin America include Kerlys Montilla, a multiple youth and junior champion from Venezuela, in the women’s 49kg, Kelin Jimenez from Ecuador in the women’s 76kg, and Elizabeth Reyes from Cuba, a silver medallist in last year’s World Juniors, at 87kg. The top hopes for the host nation will be two silver medallists from last year’s world juniors - Mariana Garcia in the women’s 71kg and José Poox in the men’s 55kg. Poox has a very good chance of winning on the first day in Guadalajara, having moved down from 61kg to 55kg, while Naomi Montes could make the podium in the opening session, the women’s 45kg. Two athletes are trying for an age-group "double" in the juniors, having won youth world titles in Albania in March. The 17-year-olds Phattharathida Wongsing from Thailand and Ella Nicholson from the United States lift at 71kg and 76kg respectively, and both look capable of winning medals in Mexico. By Brian

IWF World Championships 2023: all anti-doping tests were negative!

Besides the outstanding sportive success, the IWF is pleased to announce that the 2023 IWF World Championships, held from September 4-17 in Riyadh (KSA), had no positive doping results among the 213 athletes from 61 different countries that were tested. In addition to the 213 urine samples, 82 blood samples were collected (approximately 40% of the tests). The IWF global showcase was attended by 692 lifters and is one of the two mandatory events in the pathway for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification. Lifting Clean in Riyadh After receiving this positive report from the International Testing Agency (ITA), responsible for the independent conduct of all IWF anti-doping activities, the IWF President Mohammed Jalood and IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso wrote a note of appreciation to all IWF National Member Federations. “This accomplishment reflects the rigorous anti-doping measures, the commitment of our athletes, and the dedication of the Member Federations to uphold the highest standards of integrity in weightlifting,” the IWF leadership considered. Congratulations to all athletes and National Federations! “We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to each and every Member Federation, its athletes, coaches, officials, and all stakeholders for their relentless commitment to clean and fair competition. Your dedication to maintaining the integrity of our sport is truly commendable and serves as an inspiration to the entire weightlifting community,” they concluded. This encouraging news comes two weeks after the historic IOC decision to reinstate weightlifting in the programme of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. One of the main arguments in favour of that outcome was the consideration of the enormous effort the IWF is doing in terms of fighting against doping in sport. The IWF World Championships 2023 are the most recent and tangible proof of that commitment!   IWF Communications Photos by Giorgio

Colombia take team honours and American Reeves stars at Pan American Games weightlifting

Colombia topped the weightlifting medals table at the Pan American Games at Santiago in Chile, where the star individual performer was the 20-year-old American Olivia Reeves. Reeves set two junior world records at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Saudi Arabia in September and followed up in Chile with a sweep of continental junior records at a different weight. The world records, which helped Reeves to a World Championship bronze medal, came at 71 kilograms while in Santiago she went up to 81kg and made all six lifts for a career-best 114-144-258. Olivia Reeves (USA) It was all the more remarkable given that Reeves was only 1.02kg heavier than last time, weighing in far lighter than her rivals on 71.95kg. Having already won gold, Reeves opted for a final attempt at 144kg, a weight she had never tried in training or competition. After making it, she said: "It feels pretty great. That’s an all-around best day of my career right there. "I just like breaking my personal records. That is the most fun really - me against me." Mary Theisen Lappen also won gold for the US, continuing her good progress in the super-heavyweights with 120-157-277 to edge out the Ecuadorian Lisseth Ayovi in a tense finish. Theisen Lappen had been denied by a "no-lift" decision when going for clean and jerk gold in the World Championships but this time the jury came to her rescue. Mary Theisen Lappen (USA) "I felt like the judging was a little bit strict so I was surprised that I got it. I was happy but I was surprised," Theisen Lappen said. Gold medals for Yenny Alvarez in the women’s 59kg, Jhonatan Rivas at 102kg and a tearful Rafael Cerro in the men’s super heavyweights made Colombia the most successful team for a third time this year. Colombia’s women finished top of the team classification at the IWF World Championships at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in September, and Colombia had also outperformed all other teams at the Central American and Caribbean Games in June. Yenny Alvarez (COL) Those efforts, and top place in the Pan American Games medals table earned a letter of commendation from the nation’s Sports Ministry, which labelled Colombia as "the reference federation of America" in weightlifting. Alvarez was 2kg ahead of the Olympic 64kg champion Maude Charron, from Canada, in a close finish. Alvarez totalled 228kg while Charron, who made all six lifts, was on 226kg. Rivas was far enough ahead to decline his final attempts in snatch and clean and jerk, finishing 176-206-382. Cerro was flat out on the platform in despair after failing with a 225kg penultimate attempt, but came out to make his final lift at the same weight to win on 185-225-410 ahead of Keiser Witte from the United States. Colombia also had two impressive performers in second place, Luis Javier Mosquera and Yeison Lopez Lopez, both of whom were beaten by Venezuelans. Julio Mayora made all six lifts in his 154-188-342 to finish ahead of Mosquera, who was competing for only the second time since a 15-month injury lay-off with hand, adductor and shoulder problems. Mosquera’s three-from-six 153-180-333 was an improvement of 8kg on his World Championships total in Riyadh, where he lifted in the B group. Lopez Lopez set a Pan American snatch record of 177kg in the 89kg contest but failed with his final clean and jerk attempt at 209kg and was beaten by Keydomar Vallenilla, who made 172-211-383. Arley Calderon (CUB) Arley Calderon from Cuba was a clear winner of the men’s 61kg on 125-154-279, declining his last two attempts. The women’s 49kg winner was Dahiana Ortiz from Dominican Republic, whose team-mate Beatriz Piron was back in third place. Angie Palacios from Ecuador declined her final attempt having already won at 71kg on 118-135-253. Weightlifting was honoured when Italo Barattini, an IWF international technical official from Chile, was selected to take the oath for technical officials in all sports at the Pan American Games Opening Ceremony. By Brian Oliver, Inside the Games Photos by Giorgio

European Union Cup successfully concluded in Ljubljana (SLO)

After the mixed team event during the EYOF in July in Maribor, the European weightlifting family happily returned to Slovenia for the 9th edition of the European Union Cup, organised at the Sport Faculty of the University of Ljubljana on October 13-14. The competition focused on the youth, with teams from 13 countries consisting of three boys and three girls, one each in U15, Youth (U17), and Junior (U20) age groups. The Hungarian Team won the gold medal, with Poland and Spain getting respectively the silver and bronze. The European Union Weightlifting Confederation (EUWC) didn’t miss the opportunity to educate the young generation, as Rodmar Pulis from the Malta Weightlifting Association delivered an Anti-Doping seminar. Beside Jesmond Caruana, EUWC President and Giuseppe Minissali, EUWC General Secretary, also Attila Adamfi, IWF Vice President, Antonio Conflitti, EWF President, Alex Padure, EWF EB member and Uros Mohoric, NOC Director of Sports graced the event with their presence. Mr Adamfi praised the hosts: “The Slovenian Weightlifting Federation, under the professional leadership of President Damjan Czanzek and General Secretary Slavko Lajlek, demonstrated again their skills and dedication to organise international weightlifting competitions.  “After the Urban Weightlifting event during the EYOF in July, the 9th EU Cup was a great success again and I am convinced Slovenia could host European or world events in the near future. “What better way could we celebrate the IOC's decision to include weightlifting in the LA2028 Olympic Games programme than to see the new generation of athletes, the potential 2028 Olympians compete in a friendly environment? Congratulations to all the teams and athletes!” Mr Conflitti also expressed his satisfaction after the conclusion of the event: “The 9th EU Cup isn’t just a competition, but a celebration of dedication, discipline, and the spirit of weightlifting. Its importance cannot be overstated. The camaraderie and passion displayed here in Ljubljana are exemplary and serve as an inspiration to upcoming athletes and the weightlifting community at

Weightlifting confirmed on the programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028

Weightlifting has today been confirmed on the programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, following a vote of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai, India.   It comes after the IOC Executive Board and Olympic Programme Commission recommended the sport for inclusion as part of their discussions last week.   Today’s news protects the dreams and ambitions of millions of athletes around the world and provides much needed certainty for all stakeholders of the sport.    It reflects strong progress being made in governance and anti-doping reform under the leadership of the refreshed IWF Executive Board elected in June last year. The IOC Session in Mumbai (IND) Since his appointment, IWF President Mohammed Jalood has prioritised dialogue and action to put weightlifting on the path to a new and stronger future in line with the criteria set out for the sport to remain on the Olympic programme.   Reacting to the vote, President Jalood said: “My first thoughts today are for our global weightlifting community – and especially the athletes – for whom this news will be both a great relief and a cause for rejoicing.   “It is thanks to everyone’s collective efforts that we are here today, and we thank the members of the International Olympic Committee for recognising our unity, commitment to change, and the great strides we are making as a sport.   “Today is a moment for weightlifting to celebrate, but it should not be seen as an end. We must – and will – continue, in line with our strategic priorities, towards a new future for weightlifting as a healthy, modern, and athlete-centred sport.”   IWF President Mohammed Jalood (right) and IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso in Mumbai (IND) Antonio Urso, IWF Secretary General considered: “This is the result of a very hard work and commitment from the IWF family to a change of culture in our sport. The initial shockwave provoked by our exclusion from the Olympic programme in 2028 definitively obliged us to choose a new direction, with a renovated team since June 2022.    “Working united, in a transparent and determined way, we made a massive improvement in two of the domains that needed more attention: good governance and anti-doping policy. Through a constructive and continuous dialogue with the IOC, this shift was duly valued and our beloved Sport is back to the place it deserves, the Olympic arena.    “This is only the first step; we must continue to prove our value, reliability, and accountability in a very competitive sports environment. Our athletes and fans around the world certainly deserve that.”   Ursula Papandrea, IWF First Vice-President, stated: “This is of course the best possible news for the weightlifting family! Our athletes, coaches, and officials devoting their lives to this sport in the five continents deserve this recognition for their passion and hard work. At the level of the IWF management, this is also a fair tribute to the immense transformation our Federation has undergone since the last elections of the Board in June 2022. IWF First Vice-President Ursula Papandrea “Concepts such integrity, good governance, safeguarding, transparency, gender equity, athlete representation, or human rights are now part of the IWF language and practice. This is a fundamental change in the way we operate and govern the sport on a global level. But we must never rest on our laurels: this tireless effort must continue, so that we can remain and reinforce our added value in the Games’ programme in particular, and in the Olympic Movement in general.”   IWF Athletes Commission Chair Forrester Osei Forrester Osei, IWF Athletes Commission Chair, said: “On behalf of all our great athletes, I cannot hide my satisfaction for this unforgettable milestone! The reinstatement of our Sport in the Olympic programme is a solid proof that the IWF is now considered a respected and reliable organisation. Its efforts in keeping the Athletes at the core of its functioning have proved essential in this successful strategy. Reforms allowing the direct election of the Athletes Commission (AC) members by its peers, or the inclusion in the Board and Congress of three AC representatives, with full voting rights, clearly show the IWF’s determination to change the culture of the sport.    “We feel we are heard and we are actively taking part in the decision-making process. Our involvement in the recent establishment of the first-ever IWF Strategic Plan is also evidence that lifters are properly considered at the IWF level. From now on, we sincerely hope that Los Angeles 2028 is only the first stop in a long road of positive achievements for the weightlifting family. In this so happy moment, the role of our President Mohammed Jalood and all colleagues from the IWF Board need to be recognised and duly appreciated”.   Hidilyn Diaz, IWF Athletes Commission member and first-ever Olympic gold medallist for the Philippines, considered: “The Olympic Games is the supreme goal for all the athletes competing in sports. I am in a good position to know the value and importance of taking part in the greatest sports event on the planet! Knowing that weightlifting has been confirmed in the Los Angeles 2028 programme is a great joy for all of us. Our Sport is one of the founding ones in Olympic history, being present already in the first edition of the Games, in 1896. It also symbolises like no other the notion of ‘Fortius’ (Stronger), present in the Olympic motto.  Hidilyn Diaz (PHI) “I am sure the IOC will not regret this so important decision; it is now up to us to continue honouring the Olympic principles and values. In this moment of satisfaction, I must thank the IWF President Mohammed Jalood and the entire IWF leadership for their vision and their hard work for the benefit of weightlifting and its athletes around the world”. By IWF

IWF welcomes IOC Executive Board recommendation on weightlifting in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) welcomes today’s recommendation that weightlifting be confirmed on the programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. The proposal, made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Programme Commission and approved by the IOC Executive Board, will be final if it is ratified by a vote of the IOC Session taking place in Mumbai, India on Monday, October 16, 2023. It follows many months of productive dialogue between the IWF and IOC teams, during which the IWF has had an opportunity to present the wide-ranging governance reform and significantly reinforced clean sport programmes being implemented following the election of a new IWF President and Executive Board in June 2022. IWF President Mohammed Jalood IWF President Mohammed Jalood said: “We are encouraged by this crucial step forward in our efforts to secure the dreams of millions of young weightlifters around the world. “On behalf of those athletes, and everyone throughout the global weightlifting family, we wish to extend our thanks to the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission, its Sport Department and Executive Board for the fair and rigorous process undertaken – and for their guidance in helping us shape a new future for our sport. “Today’s recommendation, subject to the approval of the IOC Session, is testament to the wide-ranging programme of governance reform undertaken by the new IWF Executive Board since our election last year. It recognises, too, the great spirit of unity and openness to change throughout the IWF’s 194 national member federations and five continental federations, who are crucial to the progress we are making. Cyrille Tchatchet, from the Olympic Refugee Team, at the Toyko 2020 Games “The work to deliver a stronger, healthier, more athlete-centred modern sport will continue according to the roadmap set out by our new IWF Strategic Plan – the product of the broadest-ever consultation in the history of weightlifting. “It is fitting that this recommendation should come as we embark on the implementation phase of our new strategy and on the heels of an IWF World Championships which once again highlighted the exceptional universality of our sport and its most youthful talent. “It is with the interests of those athletes at heart that we look towards Monday’s vote of the IOC Session with renewed optimism and determination.”