News

Zabolotnaya takes it all

The IWF Grand Prix President's Cup held in Belgorod, Russia had an exceptional opening on 17th December. The competition is held in the Training Sport Complex named after two times Olympic (1996, 2000) and nine times World champion gymnast Svetlana Khorkina born in Belgorod. She greeted all participants of the first President's Cup including 31 athletes representing 14 countries. The real star among them was Olympic silver medallist Natalya Zabolotnaya who closed 2011 with unexpected world record in the 75kg bodyweight category. 26 years Russian lifter snatched with 135kg with a technically brilliant movement. The previous world record was set up by Podobedova (KAZ), a year ago in Antalya. Podobedova had the sad end of the year as she lost her world record in the Total as well. However Natalya Zabolotnaya missed her first Clean and Jerk but later improved by 11kg. It was necessary to outclass the previous world record in Total. The new world record is 296kg. Zabolotnaya was awarded 14000 US dollars for the two world records and victory in 75kg over Evstyukhina (RUS) and Valentin (ESP) who both achieved 255kg. The very first winner of the President's Cup was Andrey Demanov (RUS) in 94kg. Two Russian Demanov and World Champion Alexandr Ivanov (2010) had a close fight won by Demanov. One kg difference decided between them as Demanov was able to perform 217kg Clean and Jerk. His total was recorded 387kg, as Ivanov with three silver medals pocketed had 386kg Total. The very first world record in the history of President's Cup was set up by 17 years old Alexey Kosov (RUS) by 174kg, new youth world record. The enthusiastic audience had a chance to enjoy another world record as well as David Bejanyan won in 105kg bodyweight category. Besides his victory (421kg) The Russian athlete (23) was hungry to set up a new world record Clean and Jerk 238kg. One of the oldest world record (237kg marked by Tsagaev (BUL) in 2004 in Kiev) had been broken. The IWF Grand Prix President's Cup Belgorod, Russia is broadcasted live on Eurosport tomorrow at 16h30 Central European Time. You can also follow the competition on our live Scoreboard displayed on the IWF

The Arab Games: Major event in the sports calendar

The Capital of Qatar, the modern city Doha, has become a very important centre of Arabic Sports - both traditional and major multi-sport events. Now hosting the 12th edition of the Arab Games featuring 33 disciplines including weightlifting, Dr. Tamás Aján IWF President believes that it has grown to be a major event in the sports calendar. "The organization has put into place a modern introduction of sports with breathtaking audiovisual technology showcased by a professional Australian team. The event is organized and delivered under the motto of friendship and tends to communicate the importance of Sport for Peace" - Dr. Aján said. Weightlifting competitions are held in the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex with the participation of 19 countries. The 12th Arab Games Organising Committee (AGOC) has announced prize money - allocated by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) - to the winners in individual and team competitions meant to be an incentive for athletes to do their best and to achieve the highest level of performance. The NOCs will also be rewarded the same amount as the athletes. "This should contribute to enhancing the competitions technical level, and hopefully lead to breaking a few records, which is one of the objectives of the Organizing Committee," said Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee. In weightlifting, medals will be awarded in the Snatch, the Clean & Jerk and in the Total within 8 Men and 4 Women categories where gold medal is awarded with 5000 USD, silver with 3000 USD and bronze with 2000 USD. Breaking of Arab Records will be supplementary award of 5000 USD. His Royal Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Chairman of the Arab Games Organising Committee (AGOC), and Secretary General, together with Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation and President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation put tremendous efforts into delivering an outstanding weightlifting competition to demonstrate Qatar's ability in hosting a world-class event. Check out the results here:

President’s Cup preview

Many long-term programs supporting sport and healthy life style have been accepted in Russian Federation on federal and regional levels. The confirmation of these words is the order signed by the President of Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev on third of February 2011, „on establishing the Russian Federation President's Cup." President of Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev said: „Achievements in this area prove the fact that crisis period in Russian sport progress is close to the end. Our sportsmen have huge potential." After their excellent results at the 2011 IWF World Weightlifting Championships Paris, France it is time to prove the President's words. IWF Grand Prix President's Cup is held from 16-18 December in Belgorod, the birth place of Dmitry Medvedev. (Belgorod is a city 600 km away from Moscow and 40 km distance from Ukrainian border.) The competition is held in the Training Sport Complex named after two times Olympic (1996, 2000) and nine times World champion gymnast Svetlana Khorkina born in Belgorod. „This event follows the traditions of „Druzhba" (Friendship) Cup after 20 years long break" - said Sergey Syrtsov, President of Russian Weightlifting Federation. "The initiative to run the Cup was met with great enthusiasm and recognition in Russia and all over the world" - he added. All relevant information can be found on the IWF

Former Olympic Bronze Medallist Bochenek died at age 80

Polish weightlifter Jan Bochenek who competed in Garrison WKS Lodz (1951-1959) and Legia Warsaw (1960-1962), where his coach was Joseph Styczyński died at the age of 80. Multible European and World Championships medalist, he won the third place at the 1960 Olympic Games. Five times Polish Champion Bochenek set up 18 national records in total. He had his most dramatic contest for a medal in Melbourne Olympics in 1956, where he took 4th place in the middleweight class loosing the bronze because he was heavier than his Italian rival by 40 decagrams. Jan Bochenek became a the first class coach working for the Polish National Team at many World Championships and at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988.He was Master of Sport (1960), twice decorated Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Sports, Golden Cross of Merit (1960) and the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polish Rebirth (1988). He was a lieutenant colonel in the Polish Army. Jan Bochenek was a quiet, likeable and good-natured man, died after a serious illness. The IWF offers its deep condolences to his family and the Polish Weightlifting

Weightlifting Test Event came to end in ExCel

The event designed primarily for London 2012 and the International Weightlifting Federation run smoothly and gave great contentment and high satisfaction to both organizations. The last day of the Test Event's action saw Hungarian Peter Nagy claim victory in the Men's +105kg category with a Total of 396kg. Dovhal won the Women's +75kg with 255kg. After his victory, Peter Nagy said: "It was a heartwarming feeling to listen to the Hungarian National anthem at the medal ceremony from the top of the podium. It gives me confidence and motivates me to put all my efforts into obtaining a quota for the 2012 London Games." Great Britain head coach Tamas Feher has hailed the experience his weightlifting squad has gained with just seven months remaining until next summer's Olympic Games. All of the home interest when it came to weightlifting took place in two of the four selected categories. As well as Perdue and Kirkbride, Sonny Webster also recorded a personal best total of 293kg but Smith was forced to pull out as a precaution due to a recurrence of her niggling back injury. David Luckes, Head of Head of Sport Competition from LOCOG said: "The London Prepares Series Weightlifting Test Event was a major stepping stone for us in the preparation for London next year. We had very successful cooperation with IWF through the planning and preparation for this event, and ensured that the key testing areas of ensuring the field of play, volunteers and workforce were given a great workout. We look forward to building upon this Test Event to ensure that next summer, in ExCeL, we can stage a truly fantastic Olympic Weightlifting competition for the athletes, spectators and viewers

Test Event on track

Competitions started today at the London Prepares Weightlifting International Invitational with Women's 69kg and Men's 94kg bodyweight categories. After almost 6 years of planning, LOCOG together with the IWF is pleased to see the sport taking the stage and having all details prepared cautiously fell into place. Athletes can now feel the Olympic spirit, and get closer to the environment and conditions to be ensured for the upcoming Olympic Games. Participants enjoy lifting the weights on the 25 platforms displayed in the training and the 12 in the warm-up area and are impressed by the Olympic venue Excel. "This competition gives all weightlifters and officials the chance to experience being associated within the dynamics of an Olympic environment"- said David Luckes, Head of Sport Competition from LOCOG. Women's 69kg Podium: 1. SUWANNARATANA Wiriya (THA) Total: 240kg 2. KANG Yue (CHN) Total: 240kg 3. KASIRYE Ruth (NOR) Total: 219kg Men's 94kg Podium: 1. ZAIROV Intigam (AZE) Total: 377kg 2. LI Bing (CHN) Total: 362kg 3. MATAM MATAM David (FRA) Total: