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Happy Birthday Sam Coffa!

On his passport, the official name is Salvatore Coffa, but the entire weightlifting world knows him as Sam Coffa. Today, he celebrates his 90th birthday and the entire IWF community sends him its warmest wishes and regards. Happy Birthday Sam! And what a life it has been so far! Despite a successful career as an athlete, coach, manager, official and administrator, the first years of his life were however modest, within a Sicilian family experiencing the difficulties and challenges caused by World War II. Born in Ferla (Sicily, Italy) January 15, 1936, Coffa emigrated with the family to Australia in 1952, in search of better horizons and opportunities. He will quickly integrate the community in Hawthorn (suburbs of Melbourne), by practicing and developing weightlifting in the local club. As an athlete, he progresses quickly, and after acquiring Australian citizenship in 1959, he takes part in the 1962 Commonwealth Games and 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, representing his new country. In the Japanese capital, his most vivid and emotional memory remains the opening ceremony, where he could, in his own words, “proudly march behind the Australian flag”. After his retirement as an athlete, he remains a pillar in the development of weightlifting in his town, in the state of Victoria, in Australia (he is presently at the helm of the national body), in the Commonwealth community, continental federation, and at the IWF level. Sam Coffa is the world reference in terms of the weightlifting rules, currently chairing the IWF Technical Committee – he was also a member of the IWF Executive Board for many years, where his highest position was of First Vice-President. Also involved with politics, he was Mayor of Hawthorn on two occasions, was awarded the membership of the Order of Australia, and was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2009. With the occasion of IWF’s 120-year celebration in 2025, we have published an exclusive interview with Sam Coffa, divided in three parts. Follow the links below to learn about the life of a man who devoted more than 70 years of his existence to the development of weightlifting worldwide: Interview Sam Coffa (Part 1): “We chose Australia because it was very far!” – International Weightlifting Federation Interview Sam Coffa (Part 2): “I am good at convincing people, I can be quite persuasive” – International Weightlifting Federation Interview Sam Coffa (Part 3): “From where do I take my energy? I just don’t stop!” – International Weightlifting

IWF President New Year’s Message

Dear Members of the global weightlifting community, As we close an extraordinary year for our sport, I am delighted to reflect on 2025 - a historic year for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). This year we celebrated 120 years of the IWF, a remarkable milestone since our foundation on 10 June 10, 1905, in Duisburg, Germany. What began as a body to establish rules and organise competitions has grown into a global platform inspiring millions of athletes and fans worldwide. Importantly, earlier this year we held our electoral Congress, reaffirming our commitment to serve our athletes and National Federations and to protect their interests as we continue to grow our sport together. One of the highlights of the year was the IWF World Championships in Førde, Norway, where nearly 500 athletes from 87 nations competed and set 40 new world records. The event showcased the heart of our sport: courage and unity. From Solfrid Koanda lifting her way to a world title on home soil, to Jon Mau, returning to competition after chemotherapy, and athletes from emerging nations showing remarkable progress, the World Championships captured the very best of weightlifting. The local community, volunteers and His Majesty King Harald V of Norway ensured the event’s success and created an unforgettable atmosphere for all. Weightlifting’s influence continues to grow globally. This year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved additional bodyweight categories for LA 2028 and we were confirmed in the core sports programme of the Centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games reflecting the sport’s ongoing development and recognition. Collaborations such as the weightlifting activation campaign in Manama, Bahrain, during the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final, brought the sport to new audiences and highlighted its appeal across regions and other sports. Beyond competitions, we strengthened the foundations of our Federation. The IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education seminars gathered over 320 participants from five continents, reinforcing our commitment to fair play. Our Board made key decisions on the IWF By-laws, International Coaching Licence programme, long-term partnerships and upcoming events, including preparations for the IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, in 2026. The IOC has also had an important year, and we have greatly enjoyed working with the new President, Kirsty Coventry, and engaging with other members of the Olympic Movement. Initiatives like “Fit for the Future” help us promote Olympic values around the world and we look forward to continuing our support in this area. Looking ahead, the future of weightlifting is bright. In 2026, in addition to our Senior, Junior and Youth World Championships, we will see exciting championships across our continental confederations, and continued collaboration across the Olympic Movement as we prepare for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. We will continue to work hard to create opportunities for participation, inspiring communities and uniting people through the power of our sport, whether that is competitively or recreationally. To every athlete, coach, official, fan, partner and stakeholder who has contributed to the success of weightlifting in 2025: THANK YOU! I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026. Mohammed JaloodIWF

Season’s Greetings!

Please be informed that the IWF office will be closed from December 22, 2025 (Monday) to January 2, 2026 (Friday). For urgent matters, please don’t hesitate to email your direct contact within the IWF staff. Wishing you all very happy festivities and a successful and prosperous New Year of

SEA Games: World records for world champions Wichuma and Rizki – and hosts Thailand take nine golds

Rizki Juniansyah from Indonesia was in world record form as he claimed another major victory to add to the Olympic gold and world title he has won in the past 18 months. Rizki won at the South East Asian Games in Chonburi, Thailand, where a high-quality competition featured six world records — five senior and one junior. Thailand dominated over five days of weightlifting in the multi-sport Games, which end on Saturday. The host nation had nine winners, two of whom – world champion Weeraphon Wichuma at 71kg and Theeraphon Silachai at 60kg – set world records. Both men were silver medallists at the Paris Olympic Games. Rizki Juniansyah (INA) Five of the seven women’s events were won by Thailand, which also took five silver or bronze medals. Indonesia won three golds, and Vietnam and the Philippines had one each. The star performer for the Philippines was a silver medallist, Albert Delos Santos, who bettered his own clean and jerk junior world record in finishing second to Wichuma. Delos Santos was named “the future of Philippines weightlifting” by his team-mate Hidilyn Diaz, the 2020 Olympic champion who competed for the first time in nearly two years but finished out of the medals. Diaz, 34, said she was not retiring yet. Weeraphon Wichuma (THA) Rizki, like Wichuma, broke world records in clean and jerk and total. With his final attempt he bettered his own clean and jerk mark by 1kg, finishing 160-205-365. That was 3kg better than the total world record set by Abdelrahman ‘Abdo’ Younes from Egypt at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia last month. “I wanted to break the snatch record (166kg) but my coach wouldn't let me do it,” Rizki said. “So I decided to just land at 160 kg in the snatch so I could relax a bit in the clean and jerk.” Theeraphon Silachai (THA) He seemed untroubled in making his 160kg snatch, and also looked more comfortable in clean and jerk than he had done when winning the world title in Norway in early October. Rizki’s team-mate Rahmat Erwin bulked up to 80.61kg, his heaviest ever, but was still more than 7kg light in the 88kg category. Rahmat won on 160-202-362 and said he was trying to be less stressed in future, having suffered badly when he was knocked out of Paris 2024 by Rizki in the final qualifier. “I can be more calm, enjoy it, and just relax,” he said. “I don't want to worry too much or be overwhelmed.” Asked about weight classes for himself and Rizki next year, when qualifying for Los Angeles 2028 begins, Rahmat said, “We don't know what it'll be like yet, or which class we'll be in. We'll see.” Wichuma has won Olympic silver, a world title and now SEA Games gold in his past three competitions. He made 151-196-347 at 71kg, which was 1kg more than his World Championships total in Forde, Norway in October. His 196kg was the 12th world record at this weight since July. Albert Delos Santos (PHI) Delos Santos made 138-186-324 in second place. After seeing his team-mates Rosegie Ramos, Jhodie Peralta and Diaz all fail to win a medal in the three lightest women’s events, he became the first Philipppines medallist. “I wanted to lift the team some way or another,” he said. “I’m not doing this for myself, I want to do this for them. I love my team.” Silachai was second in Paris and Forde, and won in Chonburi on 131-173-304. By contrast with the 71kg category, his clean and jerk was the first world record at 60kg, where the world standard on total is 307kg. Surodchana Khambao (THA) Thailand’s other male winners were Patsaphong Thongsuk at 65kg on 307kg, and Sarat Sumpradit at 94kg on 366kg. Vietnam won the men’s super-heavyweights when Dinh Thang Tran made 366kg. The women’s champions from Thailand were the Paris bronze medallist Surodchana Khambao at 53kg on 204kg, Suratwadee Yodsarn at 58kg on 224kg, Phattharathida Wongsing at 69kg on 229kg, Chalida Taingdee at 77kg on 214kg, and the super-heavyweight Duangaksorn Chaidee on 258kg. Elreen Ando won on 229kg for the Philippines at 63kg, while the home favourite Thanaporn Saetia made only two good lifts and finished third. Luluk Wijayana from Indonesia also got the better of a leading Thai lifter when she totalled 184kg to win at 48kg ahead of Thanyathon Sukcharoen, who failed with her final attempt at 102kg. Elreen Ando (PHI) Rizki, Wichuma and Silachai led the individual men’s rankings in that order. The top female performer was Yodsarn, whose 224kg was a career best, followed by the 58kg silver medallist Natasya Beteyob from Indonesia, who totalled 218kg, then Khambao. By Brian

Malta hosts successful EU Cup and International Junior Open Championships

The Malta Weightlifting Association successfully hosted, 5-7 December 2025, the European Union Cup and the Malta International Junior Open Championship at the newly inaugurated facility within the Marsa Sports Complex. These twin events brought together athletes from 21 countries, competing across three age categories, Under 15, Under 17, and Under 20 - for both boys and girls. As part of the programme, a technical seminar for athletes, coaches, and officials was held in Sliema, led by Dr. Milan Mihajlovic. Three national officials who also attended, successfully passed later their examinations to become International Technical Officials. The opening ceremony was inaugurated by Charles Camenzuli, President of AIPS Europe, who spoke about the growth and development of weightlifting in Malta over the years. Additional remarks were delivered by EWF General Secretary, who highlighted the importance of these competitions, commended the professionalism of the organisers, and expressed hope that Malta may soon host the European Youth Championships. Jesmond Caruana, President of the Malta Weightlifting Association and the European Union Weightlifting Confederation, thanked all participating countries for their commitment and emphasised that the success of the event was made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure exceptional hospitality and smooth operations. Dr. Astrit Hasani, President of the European Weightlifting Federation, praised the Malta Weightlifting Association, noting his admiration for how such a small federation could deliver an event of such high organisational quality and attention to detail. The competition saw outstanding individual and team performances. France claimed the title of Best Team in the EU Cup, while Israel emerged victorious in the Malta International Junior Open. The European Weightlifting Federation extends its sincere appreciation and congratulates the Malta Weightlifting Federation and Mr. Jesmond Car uana for organising another high-level weightlifting event. Source:

Bolivarian Games: World champion Yeison Lopez ends memorable year in style

Yeison Lopez from Colombia rounded off a highly successful year when he claimed another notable victory at the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru. A few days later he won a prestigious sportsperson of the year title. “It’s been a wonderful year,” Lopez said. “I’m coming off a very special year with the Olympic Games, but 2025 has also been very special because I’ve achieved so much. “The key is discipline. When we are disciplined, consistent, and work hard, success comes easily. I am a man very dedicated to what I do.” Lopez set two world records when he won the 88kg world title in Norway in October, and was within range of another one at the Bolivarian Games, where he was Colombia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony. Yeison Lopez (COL) - Photo credit: Lopez' Instagram page He equalled Ro Kwang Ryol’s world record of 215kg when he jumped 12kg to make his second clean and jerk. But he declined his final attempt, as he had done in snatch. In his four good lifts, Lopez made 169-215-384, which was 3kg less than his own world record on total. Medals were awarded in snatch and clean and jerk, but not on total. Lopez, 26, was second behind Karlos Nasar at the Paris Olympic Games last year and has been in the top two in his past eight competitions. He was presented with the El Espectador/Movistar sportsperson of the year award, which has been running for 65 years, on Monday. There was further recognition for weightlifting when Luis Arrieta was named coach of the year. Keydomar Vallenilla (VEN) - Photo credit: Vallenilla's' Instagram page Lopez’ only setback in 2025 was at the Pan American Championships, where he failed with his last two attempts and finished second to Keydomar Vallenilla from Venezuela. Vallenilla moved up to 94kg in Lima (he weighed in 2kg light) and won on 176-216-392, which put him second behind Lopez in the individual rankings. Both men set continental records, Lopez in clean and jerk, and Vallenilla in clean and jerk and total. Two other men set Pan American senior records - Reinner Arango from Venezuela with a 150kg snatch at 71kg, and the Colombian super-heavyweight Rafael Cerro with a clean and jerk of 227kg. Angel Rodriguez from Venezuela, who was second behind Lopez, claimed junior Pan American records in snatch and total when he made 168-192-360. Rodriguez, 19, was a silver medallist at the World Junior Championships this year. His team-mate Julio Mayora declined his second and third snatch attempts but still took both golds at 79kg on 145-193-338. Anyelin Venegas (VEN) - Photo credit: Venegas' Instagram page Venezuela had the top female performer in Anyelin Venegas, who had a sweep of continental records at 58kg when she made 99-122-221. The Ecuador junior Jessica Palacios Dajome was ranked second despite making only two good lifts at 63kg on 95-122-217. Yenny Sinisterra, Julieth Rodrigues and Mari Leivis Sanchez all won two gold medals for Colombia. Sinisterra made 104-123-227 at 63kg, Rodriguez 107-132-239 at 69kg, and Sanchez 105-128-233 at 77kg. Yenny Sinisterra (COL) - Photo credit: Sinisterra's Instagram page Colombia and Venezuela dominated the medals tables. Colombia won 17 golds, 10 silvers and two bronzes, while Venezuala had 12, nine and eight respectively. By Brian