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Jet lag, some solitude, but still a medal!

After the successful organisation of the 2022 edition of the IWF World Youth Championships in Leon, it was expectable that Mexico could send a multi-athlete delegation to this year’s event, taking place in Durres (ALB). In the end, one single competitor was entered, Cristian Jesus Grijalva Bojorquez. He was in action today, competing in the men’s 102kg category. And despite this solitary presence, Cristian’s performance was fruitful, getting one bronze medal in the snatch, with a lift of 137kg. At home, less than one year ago, he was also third (but with 133kg), doing 161kg (fourth in C&J) and 294 (also fourth) in total. In Albania, he was slightly worse in the two-movement attempt (160kg) and finished with 297kg, also the first lifter outside the podium area. “Honestly, I had hopes I could have three medals, but the bronze came in snatch and I am of course happy with it. But I feel I could have done more. I arrived three days ago and I still feel jet-lagged. Tonight, I haven’t slept enough, so I believe all counted for this disappointing result for me,” confesses the 16-year-old talent, with his bronze medal around his neck. With a personal best of 140-168-308 (which would have given him a silver overall in Durres), the Mexican says that being alone and so far from home was a challenging element. “Of course, I came with my coach, but it’s true it was a bit difficult to keep focused these days. Fortunately, I was able to be constantly in contact with my friends and family in Mexico. I could relax a bit and take the pressure off my shoulders. Also, my coach gave me a lot of confidence”. Despite his relative deception, Cristian speaks with passion about the sport he chose at 10 years old, thanks to the influence of an uncle – a weightlifting coach. “Before that, I tried many sports and had many coaches, but when weightlifting came into my life, I simply loved it! To have that adrenaline which allows you to lift all this weight, and then more and more, I love that! Being able to also represent your country thanks to this sport, it’s quite encouraging for me,” he confesses. “Some years later, at around 13, when I started to train harder, and when the first results appeared, I understood that perhaps this was my future,” Cristian adds. After an appearance in the upcoming Nationals, he hopes to represent his country, in November, at the IWF World Junior Championships. “If everything goes according to the plans, I will be able to be in Guadalajara, Mexico. It would be a great joy for me to compete for my country again at home!” Celebrating his 17th anniversary next June 15, Cristian aims at an “Olympic medal in the future”. In the meantime, and between competitions, he normally trains twice a day, while on event mode, he switches to one daily session. With one year to go until entering university, the Mexican star is still undecided on what to choose, but believes it will be something “related to Administration”. On his stay in Albania, Cristian admits that “everyone is very nice, attentive to our needs, and always available to help. It has been a great experience. Also, having the hotel next to the beach is quite pleasant!” Mexico’s sole medal on this penultimate day of the event in Durres – together with the overall bronze of Poland in the same event – enlarged the number of nations in the medal chart to 30, largely more than half of the countries’ total (57) in this edition of the IWF World Youth Championships.    By Pedro Adrega, IWF

Durres, Day 7: Kazakhstan teenager wins world title by 64kg and says “I can do better”

A 16-year-old weightlifter from Kazakhstan marked himself out as one to watch in the sport  when he won a youth world title by a massive margin and said, “I can do better than that.” Nikita Abdrakhmanov was 27kg clear of his nearest rival after the snatch and 64kg clear on total in the men’s 102kg at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Youth Championships in Durres, Albania. In the other medal event of the day, the women’s 81kg, Shams Mohamed Ahmed (EGY) set a world record on total when she made 103-129-232. Ahmed and second-placed Mariam Murgvliani (GEO) both made six from six and third-placed Emma Poghosyan (ARM) failed only with her final attempt. Murgvliani made 102-127-229 and Poghosyan 98-123-221. “I am very happy with my performance,” said Ahmed, whose father was a weightlifter, before being interrupted by a call from her sports ministry. Her next competition is likely to be the Arab Championships in her homeland in four months’ time. Abdrakhmanov’s sweep of golds took Kazakhstan to the top of the medals table – which features 30 of the 57 nations competing here - with one day to go. Poland and Mexico were the latest medal winners. When he watched a master class display of weightlifting in his home city of Shakhtinsk eight years ago Abdrakhmanov was captivated. He asked his mother to take him to a club and soon knew that he had found not only his sport but his future career. “This is all I want to do, I love it,” he said. “Weightlifting is the best!” Asked who his favourite lifters were, Abdrakhmanov said, “Nobody really – I just focus on myself.” His 164-205-369 earned a second straight youth world title for Abdrakhmanov, who made 348kg last year and celebrated with a big meal - because he had been so nervous in the days before competing he lost his appetite. There was no sign of nerves in Durres as he made six from six in a performance worth 407 Sinclair points, the highest score of the week in the across-the-weights rating system. His total would place him 17th in the Olympic rankings, where Artyom Antropov is the best  Kazakhstan lifter at 102kg category, in seventh place with a 385kg total. “I can lift that much in training,” said Abdrakhmanov. Unlike the highest points scorer in the women’s events, Thanaporn Saetia (THA), Abdrakhmanov will not be heading to the senior Asian Championships next month. His next target is likely to be the Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Delhi in late July. Saba Adamia (GEO) had a sweep of silvers on 137-168-305, and Marcin Ziolkowski (POL) was third on total with 136-166-302. There was a snatch bronze for Cristian Grijalva (MEX) on 137kg and a clean and jerk bronze for So Ijun (KOR) on 167kg. By Brian Oliver, Inside the

Bariloche, Day 4: Favourites confirm credentials in Argentina

Three finals, three overall champions from different countries. The fourth day of the Pan-American Championships, taking place in Bariloche (ARG) consecrated Angie Palacios Dajome (ECU) in the women’s 71kg, Keydomar Vallenilla Sanchez (VEN) in the men’s 89kg, and Meredith Alwine (USA) in the women’s 76kg. The Ecuadorean star was the best in snatch, lifting 111kg and got the overall gold in 248kg, after getting the third-best performance in the clean and jerk (137kg). The silver medals in this event went to Katherine Nye (USA), with 110-138-248, while her teammate Olivia Reeves triumphed in the C&J (139kg) and got the bronze in snatch (108kg) and overall (247kg). Among men, the Venezuelan champion was the best all the way through, totalling 379kg (167+212). In clean and jerk and total, he was followed by Cuba’s Olfides Saez Vera (195kg and 355kg, respectively), while Alex Bellemarre (CAN) was the second-best in snatch (166kg) and bronze medallist in the overall count (354kg). Saez Vera was third in snatch (160kg) and Ivan Escudero Ordonez (ECU) completed the podium in the C&J (191kg). In the women’s 76kg, Alwine won the continental title in 238kg, thanks to a solid C&J successful attempt at 136kg (gold). In the snatch, she was not on the podium, with 102kg. The silver medals went to Bella Pardes Arreaga (ECU – 105-132-237), while teammate Kelin Jimenez Quinones was third with 105-130-235. Read more:Bariloche, Day 3: Local fans celebrate Ullua’s gold; double win for Venezuela – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Bariloche, Day 2: Clear victories for Charron (CAN), Contreras (PER) and Morales (NCA) – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport)   Bariloche, Day 1: USA, Mexico and Venezuela start with gold – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport)

IWF Executive Board meeting in Durres (ALB)

Under the leadership of the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, a hybrid IWF Executive Board meeting took place on March 30, 2023, with most of its members attending the IWF World Youth Championships in Durres (ALB).   The main decisions taken by the IWF Executive Board include:   - Approval of the IWF Development Programme for 2023, with a total of US$650,000 being distributed by National Federations across the five continents. Special attention was given to three members recently affected by natural disasters: Ecuador, Turkey, and Syria;   - Validation of the applications received for the constitution of an IWF Refugee Team – seven athletes (four women and three men) were accepted to be part of the programme. Moreover, six coaches have shown interest in being the technical responsible for the team;   - Acknowledgement of the excellent partnership with ITA (International Testing Agency), the independent body in charge of all anti-doping operations on behalf of the IWF. The Executive Board reiterates that this is a fundamental integrity topic and that a significant part of the IWF annual budget (around 35%) is allocated to the fight against cheating in our sport. Moreover, the IWF recognises that the number of cases was dramatically reduced, thus proving the efficiency and extent of the IWF/ITA cooperation;   - Following the recent IOC recommendation related to the eventual participation of Russia and Belarus at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Executive Board states:   “The IWF stands in solidarity with Ukraine and supports the continued IOC sanctions against Russia and Belarus.  We have taken note of the recommendation by the IOC Executive Board that sets out strict conditions under which athletes with Russian or Belorussian passports may be permitted to compete on an individual, neutral basis in competitions governed by International Federations. We will take time to review the guidance closely in order to determine whether and how it can be applied to weightlifting.  The IWF Executive Board will provide an update once the recommendation has been fully considered.  In the meantime, the protective measures introduced last year remain in place at this time.”   - Approval of a working group in charge of creating an “IWF Strategic Plan 2024-2032”;   - Appraisal of the commitment and valuable contribution of the IWF Athletes Commission (AC) for the development of the IF activities. The presence of three AC members on the Executive Board is deemed extremely useful, as it allows very direct and efficient communication between the IWF leadership and the IWF athletes;   - Discussion on the Constitution’s update, which must be formally approved by the IWF Congress next September with the occasion of the IWF World Championships. It was noted that no substantive changes are made – matters related to better readability and comprehension of the text are being revised by the IWF legal team;   - Approval of a rule establishing that Organisers of IWF events must do their utmost to make all financial transactions by wire transfer. Cash operations are only allowed in very exceptional circumstances and must be timely reported to the IWF, in the most detailed way possible;   - Approval of a “Sustainability Plan Report”, to be applied at the IWF events;   - Approval of a transgender policy and creation of a working group responsible for its implementation.   “We had a very fruitful meeting here in Durres and I take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues from the Executive Board for their valuable support to our activities and for their sense of unity and close cooperation. The IWF family is working together for the sake of our athletes, coaches and officials, and their respective National Member Federations. Many important topics were discussed and I am sure that progress will continue to be made in several areas: good governance, anti-doping policy, transparency and accountability, voice and representation of athletes, and organisation of IWF events,” stated the IWF President Mohammed Jalood at the end of the meeting. 

The healing power of sport

Less than two months after the terrible tragedy that affected the country, Turkey is determined to show in Durres (ALB) that whatever catastrophic the circumstances may be, there is always room for hope. At the end of the sixth day of competition at the IWF World Youth Championships, the Turkish delegation has already 14 medals – five gold, five silver, and four bronze – and is placed fourth so far in the medal chart of the event.   The most recent protagonist of this success story was Baki Sami Kiymet, winner of the men’s 96kg, with a personal best of 145-180-325. His supremacy during the final was never questioned and his closest competitor was Italy’s Simone Abati, finishing in 317kg (144+173).   Still 16 (he will celebrate his 17th anniversary next June 28), Kiymet was visibly a happy man after the medal ceremony. After six years in the sport – thanks to the influence of his grandfather, himself a weightlifting coach -, the new world youth champion declared that his victory was not “planned before coming to Albania”. However, he quickly adds: “It is a nice contribution to Turkey’s overall number of medals. I worked very hard to get these results, and in the end, the effort paid off”.   Training six days a week (with double sessions every day), Kiymet comes from Konya, a city in central Turkey. When asked about the consequences of the earthquake on a personal, and on a sport level, the 16-year-old explains: “Fortunately, my city is far from the epicentre of the tragedy. I didn’t have any personal problem with a family member or friend. However, the entire country felt this was an enormous tragedy. For me, it was the saddest thing I lived in my life and it obviously had consequences in terms of the sport. If affected all activities in Turkey”.   Kiymet then rebounds on the power of sport in situations as the Turkish nation lived. “To continue training and practicing weightlifting was the best possible ‘therapy’ to forget for a while what was happening. We are all very proud of the courage of our citizens to deal with such a drama, but for us, athletes, sport is also a way to heal wounds. I am very lucky to have weightlifting!”   Turkish talent’s next rendezvous will be the European Youth Championships, a competition in which he already won medals in the past. The long-term objective is, of course, the participation in the Olympic Games.   With two days to go before the conclusion of these Championships, Turkey has still good chances to win medals, in both the women’s 81kg and +81kg, respectively with Busra Can (best entry total of 224kg) and Tuana Suren (also the strongest on the entry list, at 240kg).   By Pedro Adrega, IWF

Durres, Day 6: Teenager and 77-year-old show Italy is on right path for weightlifting success

An athlete and a retired coach with an age difference of 60 years represented the past and future health of Italian weightlifting on day six of the IWF World Youth Championships in Durres, Albania. In his second international competition Simone Abati (ITA) went up 15kg in body weight and 78kg in performance to finish second in the men’s 96kg behind Sami Baki Kiymet (TUR). Abati came desperately close to making six from six but just failed with his final attempt, leaving Kiymet to decline his final lift on 145-180-325. Abati made 144-173-317. It was an impressive display by both men, who finished well ahead of Ashot Margaryan (ARM) in third place on 137-163-300. Abati had finished fifth and last in his only previous competition, the European Under-15 Championships in 2021 when he lifted in the 81kg category and made 239kg in total. That was a few weeks after Italy had won more medals than any other European nation at the Tokyo Olympic Games, a feat they aim to repeat in Paris as a long-term development programme continues to bear fruit. Watching on at the Ramazan Njala Sport Complex, as Abati won Italy’s first medal on total this week, was 77-year-old Salvatore Scarantino, who has played a significant role in the story of Italian weightlifting across seven decades. Salvatore has the same surname as one of Italy’s most illustrious weightlifting families, whose youngest member lifted in Durres this week. But he is no relation to the multiple Olympians Giovanni and Mirco Scarantino. The connection is that they all come from the same city, Caltanissetta in Sicily, which thanks to Salvatore’s intervention became the “weightlifting capital” of Italy. But for Salvatore’s decision to bring weightlifting to Caltanissetta in 1968, Giovanni Scarantino may never have made it to Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, and his recently retired son Mirco to London 2012 and Rio 2016.  And maybe, too, Antonio Urso, general secretary of the IWF, 12 times a national champion and head of that long-term development plan as president of the Italian Weightlifting Federation, might never have taken up the sport. “In weightlifting there is nowhere else in the world like Caltanissetta, and Salvatore Scarantino is responsible for the city’s enthusiasm for our sport,” said Urso, who is from the 63,000-population regional capital. “Nobody talks about football in Caltanissetta, only weightlifting.” Salvatore was in the fire brigade and wanted an indoor sport at the barracks to help keep the firemen fit. When he was watching live television coverage of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, he decided weightlifting would fit the bill. When he asked for help, the renowned coach Roberto Migliaccio was sent from Rome and he stayed for two years, coaching athletes and coaches. Salvatore himself was the first coach in Caltanissetta, and was active for more than 50 years until he retired two years ago. “Caltanissetta is the most important city in Italian weightlifting,” Salvatore said in the break during Abati’s competition. “We have had great coaches – Ettore Pilato, Salvatore Parla, Maurizio Sardo and now Alessandro Spinelli in the national team. “We have had 42 athletes from Caltanissetta in the national team, six at the Olympic Games, we have won more than 500 national championships. There will be more.” One of them may be Claudio Scarantino, Mirco’s brother who was 17 this week. Claudio, who won a European youth medal last year, made only two good lifts at 61kg here but is definitely one for the future. “If he maintains his progress he will for sure achieve good results,” said Urso. Both Giovanni and Mirco are now helping their nation off the platform. Giovanni is working on training and selecting young talent in a special project in which the Italian Weightlifting Federation (FIPE) has invested 400,000 euros. Mirco, 11 times a European champion, retired last month and will now focus on coaching and sport university. “We want all our top achievers to attend sport university. We need people like them so we can use their experience of elite weightlifting,” said Urso. There was a surprise in the day’s other medal event in Durres, the women’s 76kg. Ella Nicholson (USA) was hoping to qualify for the Pan American Youth Championships in Venezuela in August with some personal-best lifts – and she did that in style by breaking all three continental youth records and winning a world title. Nicholson, 16, came to the sport through CrossFit and is from an active family. Her mother does CrossFit, her brother is in wrestling and football, and her dad goes to the gym too. “I’m motivated by all the strong women in weightlifting and CrossFit, I look up to them and want to be like them,” she said. “I’ve been on a weightlifting track for the past eight weeks and I’m going to stay on it for sure.” Nicholson made 101-121-222, posting a clean and jerk personal best by 7kg. That left her ahead of Rahma Ahmed (EGY), last year’s winner, on 99-122-221. Ahmed needed to make 124kg on her final attempt to take the title but her coaches failed to enter the correct weight in time. Anna Amroyan (ARM) was third on 88-116-204. By Brian Oliver, Inside the Games