News

40 years ago: Melbourne 1956

The XVI Games of the Summer Olympiad finished on 8 December 1956, four decades ago, in Melbourne. 3,314 athletes were present representing 67 nations who vied for glory in 19 sports. That was the first Olympic Games in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australians had to face several obstacles, one of the gravest of which was raising the funds to hold the Games. Eventually, the host State of Victoria had to resort to the financial assistance from the central government to be able to construct the necessary facilities. Due to the strict Australian veterinary regulations and restrictions, the equestrian events had to be held - instead of Melbourne - at an earlier time in June in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. As for weightlifting: Olympic champion titles were awarded in seven bodyweight categories. Only two countries won gold: the USA athletes were best with four, the Soviet Union was second best with three gold medals each. The duel was decided on the last day when in the heavyweight category, the then plus 90kg, Paul Anderson triumphed with a round 500kg total result, including snatch, press and clean and jerk.

Imre Földi receives highest recognition ‘Prima Primissima’

The most popular and successful Hungarian weightlifter, Olympic, world and European champion Imre Földi has received a high recognition from Hungary’s society. Already a member of the elite Hall of Fame, Földi has been awarded the Prima Primissima Prize allocated to the most outstanding representatives of Hungary’s culture, arts, science and sport. In the presence of János Áder, President of the Republic of Hungary, at the awarding Gala  Földi was recognised as a ‘living legend’, who started his weightlifting career in the mid-1950s and remained on the national squad until 1977. He was the first weightlifter in the world to participate in five Olympic Games (1960-1976) winning silver medals in 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico before finally arriving at the peak of his career at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games where he became the Olympic champion. He added 5 world and 10 European titles to his collection and set 35 world records. In 2005 he was acclaimed as a “Lifter of the Century” and in 2009 he received the IWF Gold Award. The Prima Primissima Prize is awarded by a public vote involving the entire Hungarian

Jules Sylvain, Canadian weightlifter: 1925-2016

Jules Sylvain (1925-2016) Canadian weightlifter, coach and referee died in Quebec. Jules Sylvain was the very first citizen of the city of Quebec to participate in the Olympic Games (men-women, winter-summer, all sports combined). He was a great athlete who competed in two Olympic Games: 1952  in Helsinki (10th) and 1956 in Melbourne (9th). He held all the records of the British Empire in his bodyweight category. He was also an international referee and served many major events, including the Montreal Olympic Games. But of Jules what came out most is his great human qualities. He was a gentleman. In the sports world of Canadian weightlifting, everyone agrees that Jules has marked them with his exemplary personality. He was a positive example for the young and the not so young. He regarded refereeing as  life devotion - no better proof is that according to his last wish he was cremated in the official Technical Official uniform. May he rest in peace!   (Source: Yvon Chouinard, Quebec

EWF Coaching Research and Scientific Committee Summary

EWF Coaching Research and Scientific Committee Chairman Mr Colin Buckley presented a selection of events completed during 2016 at the EWF Congress in Eilat, ISR. This included coaching workshops, scientific seminars and Youth development training camps: North European – Latvia (63 participants from 14 Nations) South European – Spain (54 participants from 11 Nations) Coaches Research and Scientific Conference – Ireland (62 coaches from 23 Nations) Special thanks must go to the IWF Development Program for funding these excellent programs. Exciting plans are in place for 2017 including the new EWF Communication App, Training camps and education programs / workshops. Check the IWF and EWF Websites for updates. Source: Colin

Yuri Vlasov celebrates 81st birthday

Arnold Schwarzenegger sent him an autographed photograph after their 1988 meeting in Moscow and signed it „To my Idol, Yuri Vlasov”.  The Soviet Union Post commemorated his 1960 victory at the Olympic Games in Rome on a special stamp - only to mention two moments in the life of one of the greatest and most popular Soviet weightlifters, Yuri Petrovich Vlasov, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, on December 5th. Born in Makiivka, Ukraine, Vlasov became an Olympic gold medallist in the category  +90kg 56 years ago. Four years later, in the 1964 Tokyo Games he finished as a silver medallist behind Leonid Zhabotinsky, another Soviet star. In both Olympic Games he was the flag bearer of the USSR delegation. He triumphed four times in the annual World Championships in heavyweight: 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. In the European Championships he could stand right at the top of the podium six times and set up altogether 34 world records. A proof of his exceptional qualities: between 1959 to 1963 he won all the competitions he entered. By the way, he was the first weightlifter to clean & jerk 200 kilos and more. After retiring as a competitor in 1968, he became famous as a writer and a politician. Happy Birthday, Yuri

1st Tournament in more than 40 years in Barbados

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their Independence, the Barbados Weightlifting Association (BWA) joined these festivities by holding the very first single-day-Tournament in the last 40+ years.  This time the Phillips & Springer Classic, on Sunday 27 November, was revived to give the present-day lifters an opportunity to show the world their level of commitment to the sport.  The national coach and all around “commander in chief”, Mr. Andrew CALLENDER, organized this event with the help of two special guests: Dr. Kyle PIERCE (USA) who spoke the day before on strength training, while David COLÓN-ARROYO (PUR) explained the requirements to become an efficient Technical Official.  Also at hand was Category #1, Gabi MÁTHÉ (HUN), who kept the communication flowing from the Marshall’s desk to the speaker. An eager group of about 50 lifters participated in five sessions where a full capacity at the Queen Park Steel Shed applauded every lift from start to end.  Several personal records were improved and the conclusion of this great show rendered no injuries among the participants. The highlight of the Tournament was the presence of Mr. Austin SEALY, IOC Member. This experience demonstrated that the BOA complied with all the technical aspects of the Rules and Regulations included in the IWF Rule Book. The platform, made of a special species of redwood, held nicely throughout the event that used ELEIKO equipment. By the way, this barbell competition set was the result of the intervention of Moira Lassen, IWF Board Member, through Mr. Richard Gonsalves who made it possible for the set to reach Barbados at a nominal cost. Ample photographic evidence of this historical event is available at the following web site address: www.facebook.com/holeindewallgym Special thanks to Ms. Shelley Griffith who worked tirelessly in the administrative aspects that made possible the presence of Kyle, David and Gabi to this beautiful island in the