News

Farewell to Chuck Vinci, two time Olympic Champion

The American weightlifter and two-time Olympic Champion, Charles Thomas Vinci, Jr. died at the age 85. [caption id="attachment_22614" align="alignleft" width="228"] Chuck Vinci standing on the top of the podium[/caption] Mr. Vinci was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1933 and was one of the greatest athletes in the city's history. He was the United States Senior National Champion from 1954 to 1956 and then from 1958 to 1961. He won silver medals at the 1955 and 1958 World Championships. At the Pan American Games in 1955 and 1959, he won gold medals. He won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and set a world record with his three lifts (snatch, clean and jerk, overhead press), totaling 342.5 kilograms. At the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, he took the gold medal once more. During his career, he set 12 world records in the 56kg bodyweight category. After he retired from competitive weightlifting,  he remained a strong force in the sport, inspiring the new generation of athletes. Chuck Vinci was the father of 8 children. The International Weightlifting Federation wishes to express its deepest sympathy to his family and the USA Weightlifting.

Hsu Shu-Ching, two times Olympic champion announced her retirement

Hsu Shu-Ching, Chinese Taipei weightlifter and two times Olympic Champion officially announced to IWF her retirement from competitive weightlifting, dated from 5th June 2018. At a press conference, she said:  “I am still recovering from serious injuries sustained last year and cannot undergo training in full. After discussing the matter with my coach, my doctor, the Chinese Taipei Weightlifting Association and leaders in various organizations, I have decided to withdraw from training for the Asian Games in Jakarta and end my career as an athlete,” she said. “Because of the government’s financial support, I will stay in the National Sports Training Center and assist Coach Tsai Wen-yee (蔡溫義) and other coaches in training young weightlifters. I will learn to be a good coach to help train more top athletes for the nation,” she said. Hsu thanked her coach, the association, her sponsors and other parties for supporting her training so that she could do so well not only in the Olympics, but the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Government policy and support from others for weightlifting are crucial for athletes like her, Hsu said. Hsu won a gold in the 53kg category at the 2012 London Games and the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games. She is the first Chinese Taipei athlete to win two Olympic golds and was scheduled to compete in the same bodyweight category in Jakarta. She said she hoped the public would continue to support her and cheer for the nation’s weightlifters in Jakarta. Tsai, who won a bronze in the 60kg class in weightlifting at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, told the Central News Agency that Hsu’s retirement comes two years earlier than they had planned. He and Hsu had originally planned that she would compete in the Tokyo Games, but he would respect her decision even though it was against his wishes, Tsai said. Hsu tore two ligaments in her right arm during the world championships and underwent surgery after she returned to Taiwan. Told rehabilitation would take a year, her recovery has not gone as she had expected, Hsu has said previously. Source:

Frank Robby, Vice President of OWF passed away

Frank Robby, Vice President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation passed away on 11th June due to illness for the past 12 months. Mr. Robby was the heart of Papua New Guinea Weightlifting for many decades.  He was a strong pillar in the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and his passion for weightlifting was unmatched. In his younger years, he was an excellent weightlifter and later rose to the position of Vice President of OWF, which he held with a great pride until his death.  He was also involved with powerlifting and strength coaching for rugby. He was also a Category 1 Technical Official and represented Papua New Guinea more times at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, Oceania Championships and other international events in the region. The IWF offers its deep condolences to his family, the PNG Weightlifting Federation, the PNG Olympic Committee, and the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.  

Hidilyn Diaz’s tourney to search for new Philippean lifters

More than 130 lifters from all over the country are expected to take part in the 2018 Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Open Championships to be held from 27-29 July at the Meralco Fitness Center in Ortigas, Pasig.   The tournament, which is held with the support of the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation and the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, aims at helping Olympian Hidilyn Diaz leave a legacy behind when she finally retires after the 2020 Olympics. And that’s to find talents and young lifters who have Olympic dreams and can excel in international competitions. It will serve as a tryout for aspiring members of the national team and for those who can join the seven lifters who have been selected to see action in the coming Asian Games in Indonesia.   Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said they have recommendations for Diaz and her teammates to be included for the national delegation to the coming Asiad and those who will excel in the HDWOC.     Read the full article

IWF Prepares to defend Olympic Qualification at CAS

In April of this year, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced a radically new Qualification System for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with the principal aim of protecting clean sport. The Weightlifting Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport to challenge the Qualification System. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifying system for weightlifting was approved by the International Olympic Committee, which reduced the overall number of places available at Tokyo 2020 for weightlifters. Under the new system, athletes will have to compete in at least six eligible competitions between 1 November 2018 and 30 April 2020, ensuring there are regularly subjected to the heightened level of doping controls at IWF-sanctioned competitions. “The IWF is completely committed to protecting clean athletes to and to ensuring that demonstrably clean athletes lift at the Olympic Games, which remains the pinnacle of our sport,” said IWF President Tamas Ajan. “In recent years, we have worked hard to reduce the historical incidence of doping in weightlifting by radically changing our approach. Change can often be difficult, but for the good of our sport, the IWF is determined to continue working towards a brighter

XI South American Games has succsessfully concluded

The XI South American Games held between 28 and 31 of may has successfully concluded in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The first South American Games were held in 1978 in La Plaza, Bolivia.  They have since been held every four years. The Games has an equivalent to the Olympic Flame: the South American Flame, which is relayed from Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, to the host city. This year’s event was held at the Suarez Coliseum, organized by the ODESUR (South American Sports Organisation). The ODESUR has 14 member countries, of which 12 competed in the games, and 9 countries managed to achieve new South American and Pan American records. Jorge Espana, Technical Delegate did an impressive job preparing the competition and the delivery was very successful, his work benefited both the participants and the public. IWF Vice President and President of the South American Weightlifting Federation Jose Quinones also participated at the