News

Tom Goegebuer prepared for the London Olympic Games in South Africa

Belgian’s best known weightlifter might be Serge Reding with a silver medal at the Olympic Games of 1968, but the last Belgian Olympian (Beijing, 56 kg bodyweight category), Tom Goegebuer certainly beats all records in terms of representation. With 13 consecutive participations in the European Senior Championships (European Champion in the 56 kg bodyweight category in 2009) and 10 participations in the World Senior Championships he has become a well known face in the world of weightlifting. As he is the only Belgian competitor at World and European Championships, he can only be qualified for the Olympic Games through an individual qualification with a top 15 in the Olympic qualification list (or in extremis by reallocation). With a 254 kg Total at the last World Championships he is still in the run and already preparing hard for London 2012. It was a great pleasure having him in South Africa at the Hottentots Holland Weightlifting Club for a pre-Olympic training camp at Strand. Tom also enjoyed the training with some South African top lifters and assisted them wherever possible. It was much appreciated form lifters and hope it will lead to annual visits. During the European winter the great summertime of South Africa attracts many Europeans, and while they are in the same time zone the absence of jetlag makes it a unique place for training camps. Moreover, when Tom started his career as an international weightlifter, one of his international mates was Aveenash Pandoo, National Coach of the South African Weightlifting Federation. Aveenash is not an active weightlifter anymore, but he is the Head Coach of the successful South African Weightlifting Team since 14 years. Tom Goegebuer: “After 24 years of training it is very important for me to enjoy my lifting in order to stay fully motivated. Coming to South Africa, to meet my old friend Aveenash and to enjoy the warm and dry weather was a very good idea. It was good to get some extra tips from an experienced coach like him and the mix of hard training in the “Holland Hottentots” Weightlifting centre and rest at the beautiful white sandy beaches was the ideal way of loading the batteries for the important upcoming Olympic year…” We wish Tom Good luck in the Quest for the London Olympics Qualification. By Aveenash Pandoo, National Coach

Novikava’s gold enough for second place

Aliaksandra Herasimenia, World Champion swimmer (100 m freestyle) has won the title of Best Athlete in Belarus in 2011 when journalists participated in a poll conducted by Sportswriters Association of Belarus. Paris World Champion Nastassia Novikava became second seven points behind the winner (third Daria Domracheva biathlon World Champion). It is remarkable to note the three best athletes of the country are all women. In Belarus journalists vote for the top ten regardless of their

Just a “simple” handshake

Moment of the Year by Anikó Németh-Móra In my 34 years (!) with the IWF, I have been fortunate enough to witness and partake in many emotional and uplifting moments that burned into my memory. More often than not, I am not ashamed to admit, tears came to my eyes, especially when I saw again and again the power of sport. When I talk about the power of sport I refer mainly to its potential to bring together people and peoples, cultures, nations – sometimes on opposite sides of the frontline – religions or even political enemies. That is a capacity of sports unparalleled by any other walk or sphere of life. Therefore, to me the highlight of 2011 was not one of the fantastic world records or battles on the weightlifting platform that abounded last year like in many seasons before, but something that happened on another stage away from the competition. According to tradition, at the Closing Banquet of the Junior World Championships in Penang, Malaysia, the Eleiko-IWF Press Commission Best Lifter Trophies were presented. The women’s prize went to Deng Wei, a Chinese girl in 58kg, while the journalists voted Iran’s prodigy, 85kg Kianoush Rostami to receive the men’s Best Lifter award. Actually, another Chinese girl, Kang Yue came to the stage to take over the trophy for her teammate. When it came to posing for the photographers, the two winners, holding the beautiful glass trophies in their one hand, turned to each other, smiling, and shook hands. A simple handshake between two outstanding young athletes – what is so special about it?, you may ask. However, that handshake was symbolic. We should know that in Iran, according to tradition and morals, men are not supposed to shake hands with women. Therefore, Rostami’s gesture that came so natural and obvious, out of joy and respect for a fellow competitor, was significant – of course in a different environment. In the environment of sport, friendship and fair competition. Whereas Rostami’s deep-rooted and honest faith and conviction, as well as his full devotion and loyalty to his country cannot and should not be questioned, to me it also showed that he is the same as young people anywhere in the world. We found that handshake so becoming that we decided to put it on the cover of World Weightlifting, hoping that its true message will not be misunderstood. After many similar experiences in my years with weightlifting, I firmly believe that without hurting one’s integrity, sport will continue to break barriers and unite people. Anikó Németh-Móra IWF Director Senior Editor World Weightlifting Send your Most Memorable Moment of 2011 to Dezso Dobor, IWF Media Officer ([email protected]) or the IWF Secretariat in order to be

Electoral Congress of the Pan American Weightlifting Federation

The Pan American Weightlifting Federation held its Electoral Congress yesterday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with the participation of 24 countries. Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President chaired the Meeting where the following officials were elected: President: Willian Ozuna (DOM) by acclamation General Secretary: Eddie Suarez (VEN) 1st Vice President: Rafael Pacho (CUB) Vice Presidents: Andrés Vargas (PUR) Horacio Reis (BRA) Luis Zambrano (ECU) Kyle Pierce (USA) Treasurer: Christian Harthey (CHI) Members of the Medical Committee, Technical Committee, and Scientific and Research Committee were also

Voting closed for the Best Lifter of 2011

The voting for the “Jeno Boskovics Lifter of the Year Challenge Trophy” closed today. Results will be revealed

Matthias Steiner: My little son fondles my leg

Moment of the Year by Emanuel Reinke The nightmare of Matthias Steiner came suddenly without any warning. In September in the training camp organized for the best German and French athletes in the French town of Vittel the superheavy gold medallist of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing had to stop training due his injury on his left knee, that forced him to walk on crutches. No training, no competitions, no weightlifting – for months. „After the surgery my pain was during the first two nights“, said Steiner to the Sport-Informations-Dienst (SID), by having missed the German championship and the World Championship as well. A terrifying fact for the sportsman, who trained the whole year with just the tournament of Paris on his mind. „I really wanted to become World Champion in November“, said the 2010 Clean and Jerk champion, who won't make the European Championship in Antalya in April also: „I'm not going to be fit and competitive enough", he said to a German TV station. Steiner’s goal for the New Year is different. „The Olympics in London are very realistic. And I am absolutely focusing on it“, said the 29-year old Steiner, who became world famous for one of the most emotional moments in Beijing 2008, when he presented a photography of his deceased wife at the award ceremony. Today Steiner is married again with the former German tv-host Inge Posmyk, and his little son who was born in 2010. Besides the pain, the surgery and the sleepless nights, there is something good for the Austrian born Steiner, who got the German citizenship in the beginning of 2008. Now he finally has a lot of time to spend with his family. „I really enjoy it. The little boy always climbs on me. And if he comes too close to my leg, I just say 'Daddy oouch', and he starts to fondle my leg“, said Steiner. Emanuel Reinke, Sport-Informations-Dienst Send your Most Memorable Moment of 2011 to Dezso Dobor, IWF Media Officer ([email protected]) or the IWF Secretariat in order to be