News

IWF congratulates new ASOIF Council members

The International Weightlifting Federation warmly congratulates the four new members of the ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) Council, elected at its General Assembly on June 11, 2025. In Lausanne, the Olympic capital, Andreas Zagklis (International Basketball Federation), Nenad Lalovic (United World Wrestling), Jean-Christophe Rolland (World Rowing), and Ximena Restrepo (World Athletics), brilliantly got their place in the ASOIF Council, an election in which the IWF President Mohammed Jalood was also a candidate. “I warmly congratulate my colleagues who were elected and wish the best of luck for their duties in the ASOIF Council. I had the honour of also being, for the first time during my presidency, a candidate for this election, and despite the support towards the IWF, it was not enough. It was nevertheless a very constructive experience and on behalf of the entire weightlifting family I assure that I will continue giving my best to support ASOIF in its essential role of defending the interests of the International Federations within the Olympic Movement”, considered Mr Jalood. The IWF President's candidature for this position also aimed to fulfil a gap: to elect an IWF representative to the ASOIF Council for the first time ever. IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry speaking at ASOIF General Assembly The General Assembly was highlighted by introductory messages from the IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry.  Mr Bach thanked the Summer IFs for their important contributions over the last years in making the Olympic Games more modern, younger, and more sustainable, as highlighted at its best at Paris 2024. Ms Coventry stressed the importance of working closely with the IFs to deliver the best Olympic Games for the athletes and build a better world through sport. She explained how both priorities are closely connected with Olympic athletes inspiring the next generation. ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos chairing the General Assembly - Photo credit: ASOIF Chaired by ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos, the General Assembly was also the privileged opportunity to brief the members about the progression of the three upcoming editions of the summer Olympic Games: Dakar 2026 (Youth Olympic Games), Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Insightful presentation from the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Testing Agency were also delivered. “It was specially gratifying to see that all International Federations are genuinely engaged in making Sport a tool for a happier, healthier, and more peaceful world. ASOIF definitively got reinforced after this General Assembly in Lausanne, as it displayed a high level of unity and sense of togetherness among all its members,” concluded the IWF President.

IWF formally signs agreements with Eleiko and ZKC for 2025-2028

The IWF President Mohammed Jalood and the IWF General Secretary José Quiñones signed in Lausanne (SUI) the ‘IWF Official Barbell Supplier Agreement’ related with the partnership with manufacturers Eleiko and ZKC for the period 2025-2028. Under this contract, both companies will be entitled to have exclusive access to the following high-level events: Olympic Games & Youth Olympic Games; Qualification events to the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games; IWF World Championships, IWF Grand Prix and other IWF events. IWF General Secretary José Quiñones and IWF President Mohammed Jalood signing the Eleiko agreement As two of the most respected and renowned barbell manufacturers in the world, Eleiko (Sweden) and ZKC (China) have been associated with the IWF for many years: two recent examples include the 2024 World Championships for the Swedish company, and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games for the Chinese partner. The ‘Official Supplier’ is the highest possible (Tier 1) agreement a manufacturer can establish with the IWF, and its rights are valid worldwide and without territorial limitation.   Signing the ZKC partnership “We are very happy to establish these partnerships, with both Eleiko and ZKC. These two companies have a long and successful history in supporting our athletes and our Sport. Being in Tier 1, these manufacturers will benefit from an additional exposure and visibility, as they will be present in the most prestigious IWF events around the world. I thank Eleiko and ZKC for their support and engagement and I am sure our lifters will continue enjoying the high-quality of their barbell products,” considered the IWF President Mohammed Jalood. IWF Communications

IWF leadership celebrates 120th anniversary in Lausanne

The IWF leadership was today in Lausanne (SUI), the city hosting the IWF Headquarters, for the celebration of the 120th anniversary of our International Federation. The top officials present in the Olympic Capital included the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, the IWF General Secretary José Quiñones, and the IWF Athletes Commission Chair Forrester Osei. The former IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso also attended the celebration. From left to right: Forrester Osei (IWF Athletes Commission Chair), Mohammed Jalood (IWF President), José Quiñones (IWF General Secretary), and Antonio Urso (former IWF General Secretary) On June 10, 1905, in the German city of Duisburg, four founding members – Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands – created what would be the predecessor of the IWF. The first name of the world body in charge of governing weightlifting (and wrestling at the time) was “Amateur Athletic World Union”. Other nations slowly joined the new organisation, which had 16 members in 1913. In 1920, Weightlifting became the only sport governed by the Federation, and in 1972, the definitive name of ‘International Weightlifting Federation’ was adopted. Presently, the IWF has 195 Member National Federations in the five continents and organises world competitions in Olympic weightlifting. At the Games, our Sport was already present in the first edition in 1896 – in Sydney 2000, the programme was open to women’s participation.   Present in Lausanne also for the ASOIF General Assembly and the 12th International Athletes Forum, the IWF officials were able to blow the candles of the IWF’s celebratory cake, exactly 120 years to the day after the foundation of our organisation. MOHAMMED JALOOD, President: “As one of the oldest international federations and a founding sport of the modern Olympic Games, we are very proud of our rich and prestigious 120-year history. While this is a privileged opportunity to celebrate the feats of our athletes and the hard work of the administrators that preceded us, these 120 years should be a moment to reflect on the future, so that weightlifting can continue inspiring thousands of young athletes in the five continents!” JOSE QUINONES, General Secretary: “We are celebrating this anniversary in a pivotal moment for the history of the IWF. We recently held elections and the entire weightlifting family showed great unity around common goals! That’s the best proof that we remain faithful to the values of our ancestors and that we are now ready to write many other golden pages in the successful history book of our International Federation”. FORRESTER OSEI, Athletes Commission Chair: “I am very happy and honoured to join this celebration, on behalf of all our talented and devoted athletes! Much of our history is made by the achievements of our lifters during these 120 years - thousands of stories made of resilience, sacrifice, determination, hard training, and superb performances. IWF exists to serve the athletes and their support personnel – in return, they all give us, on a daily basis, the inspiration to continue building a bright future!”   IWF

IWF120y/120 – 1905-2025: Happy Birthday IWF!

Exactly 120 years ago, on June 10, 1905, the premises of the International Weightlifting Federation were laid down in the city of Duisburg (GER). The initiative for such a gathering came from the German national body two months earlier. The objective was to create a world union, with the following objectives. 1. To standardise the names, execution, and evaluation of exercises; 2. To hold competitions under standardised regulations; 3. To only accept the presence in these competitions of members affiliated to the world union; 4. To strictly observe the amateur rules; 5. To fix the value of prizes to be awarded; 6. To unify the rules related to records. Despite the invitation being sent to 11 countries, only four were present on that historic day in Duisburg: Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. They are the official four founding members of the IWF! The only two points on the agenda of that inaugural meeting were: 1. A resolution on founding an international union in weightlifting and wrestling, and a decision about its name; 2. The creation of a commission, with representatives of these four nations, in charge of elaborating the details of the exercises and the running of international competitions. The first name of the world body in charge of governing weightlifting (and wrestling at the time) was “Amateur Athletic World Union”. Other nations slowly joined the new organisation, which had 16 members in 1913. In 1920, Weightlifting became the only sport governed by the Federation, and in 1972, the definitive name of ‘International Weightlifting Federation’ was adopted. Happy Birthday

IWF120y/119 – 2016: 19-year-old Simon Martirosyan shines for Armenia

Simon Martirosyan is the only lifter representing Armenia with two Olympic medals so far. Born in 1997, he was still a junior athlete, when in Rio 2016 he won the silver medal in the 105kg category, lifting 190-227-417. Some months earlier, at the Europeans in Forde (NOR), he was third, and before that, in 2014, at 17, he won his category at the second edition of the Youth Olympic Games, in Nanjing (CHN). After the Brazilian achievement, Martirosyan (photo) continued to shine, namely by getting two world titles, in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics (in the 109kg), the Armenian ace is again very consistent, earning a second silver medal, this time in 195-228-423. Not qualified for the Paris 2024 Games, he shone again in 2025, finishing second at the European Championships. In 2023, despite his fifth place at the Worlds, he performed his best international result, with 200-250-450. As an independent country (since 1996 – before that, many Armenians also shone on the Olympic scene, but under the flag of the Soviet Union), Armenia has a total of 22 Olympic medals, including seven (five silver, two bronze) in weightlifting (the second most prolific sport, after wrestling, the only one with two Olympic champions). Other Armenian lifters with Olympic medals are Tigran Vardan Martirosyan (silver, 2008), Gor Minasyan (silver, 2016), Varazdat Lalayan (silver, 2024), Arsen Melikyan (bronze, 2000), and Gevorg Davtyan (bronze,

IWF120y/118 – 1948: Ibrahim Shams (EGY) wins gold after a 12-year wait

The successful tale of Olympic legends is often made of resilience and patience, but the story of Ibrahim Shams can be ranked at the top of that list. Born in 1914, he was 22 when he took part in his first Olympics, in Berlin 1936. In the 60kg, he earned the bronze medal, after lifting 80-95-125-300 (lifters from Egypt won five medals at those Games). It was his first major international outcome, in a career that was aimed at greater successes. However, after those Games, World War II halted all sports activities, and two editions of the Olympics – 1940 and 1944 – had to be cancelled. In theory, those could have been the most prolific years for Shams, who nevertheless knew that his most illustrious hour was yet to come. Twelve years after his initial Olympic rendezvous, the Egyptian legend was ready to make history in London 1948. Competing in the 67.5 category, he clinched gold at the age of 34, with a solid performance of 97.5-115-147.5-360. Proving that this achievement was not an isolated one, Shams added two gold medals to his roll of honour, at the 1949 and 1951 editions of the World Championships. In Egypt’s Olympic history, Shams became the second athlete to earn two medals (after diver Simaika, at the 1928 Olympics), and the first one to make it in two different editions of the Games. Until his retirement, at almost 40, Shams also improved five World Records during his brilliant career (one in Snatch and four in Clean & Jerk). The Egyptian legend died in