News

British weightlifting has eight competitors to compete in the World Championships in Paris

Peter Kirkbride, 23 and from Kilmarnock, was due to compete in Paris but has withdrawn due to an ankle injury sustained at the Commonwealth Championships in October. British Weightlifting's Performance Manager Fiona Lothian said: "This is a great opportunity for the GB athletes to put down a marker for London 2012 selection, the progress the athletes have made over the last few months means we are now in a position to field a much bigger team than we sent to the Worlds 2010." The Team:Londoner Joanne Calvino, 31and Halil Zorba, 23 trains at Crystal Palace National Sports CentreGareth Evans, 25 and from Holyhead, Wales. Trains at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in LeedsJack Oliver, 20 and from London. Trains at the HPC in LeedsNatasha Perdue, 36 and from Swansea. Trains at the HPC in LeedsHannah Powell, 18 and from Birmingham. Trains at the HPC in LeedsZoe Smith, 17 and from London. Trains at the HPC in LeedsBen Watson, 21 and from Didcot in Oxfordshire. Trains at the HPC in Leeds

Lift CLEAN and Jerk; the IWF Anti-Doping campaign launched

WADA developed its Outreach Program to unite both athletes and their entourage in anti-doping and to project the Say NO! To Doping message. Since February 2011, approximately 50 organizations have signed up to the Outreach Program. The IWF joined this WADA Program - the Bronze Outreach Level - in July 2011 with the aim of reaching out to the weightlifting community in major Anti-Doping issues. Since 2009, the IWF runs with great success it's educational and awareness program providing useful tools and knowledge in technical and Anti-Doping related fields. As an impressive number of countries - more than one hundred - will perform on the platform of the 2011 World Weightlifting Championships in Paris, France, the IWF seizes the opportunity to introduce its Say No!To Doping campaign with its slogan: Lift CLEAN and Jerk! At present, only 13 organizations have adopted the Say No!To Doping campaign, and time has come for the IWF to join this strong awareness program. The IWF is passing the message to athletes and their entourage that doping is no longer tolerated in the weightlifting arena. To bring it closer to reality, the IWF chose two weightlifting ICONS • Olympic Champion in 1992, 1996, 2000 and Multiple World Champion Mr. Pyrros Dimas (GRE)• Olympic Champion in 2004 and Multiple World Champion Ms. Pawina Thongsuk (THA) They were introduced during the International Weightlifting Federation's Congress at the 2011 World Championships in order to show that you can Lift CLEAN. Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President pointed out the importance to "communicate the message to all stakeholders involved. Education and prevention about risks and consequences of doping should reach all athletes and at the same time their entourage - coaches, officials and all those willing to eradicate doping from sport. With this campaign, the IWF found another efficient way to spread the message". At the Say No!To Doping Campaign Stand a Quiz will be played by all visitors that is available on 9 languages and printed material, such as the At-A-Glance series - available in 3 languages: English, Russian and Spanish - and the WADA Prohibited List, will provide important information to all interested in regard to their rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping

Weightlifting off to a strong start

The Women's 48 kilogram and Men's 56 kilogram weight classes group A will both compete for medals today. Women's 48 kg The line up looks strong however Turkish Olympic, World and six times European champion Nurcan Taylan announced not to start. Massive Turkish media group arrived to Paris to report specially on her is very disappointed about last minute decision to withdraw due to her small knee injury. She cannot defend her World Championships title. China's Youth Olympic Games winner Tian Yuan may have a shot at the gold medal. She finished third a year ago in Antalya and won Asian Championships and IWF Grand Prix this year.Lifters from Moldova and Poland will bid for medals. Christina Iovu junior European Champion returns to 48 category after several visits to 53 kg this year. Polish Karpinska won European U 23 Championships in Bucharest and ready to continue her succesful saeson (53 kg). The most experienced in the field is Italian Genny Caterina Pagliaro who became a professional soldier in Italian Army after signing a 4 years contract. Men's 56 kg Chinese Wu Jingbiao is ready to defend his World Championships title won in Antalya. After winning IWF Grand Prix and Asian Championships in China this year he must display his capacity outside his home land. Another possible medalist is his compatriot Zhao Chaojun an absolute newcomer given a chance to participate at World Championships at 23. The Chinese tandem is challenged by Khalil El Maoui junior World Champion of 2008 who has Olympic experience as

IWF Congress in Paris

After the two days Executive Board Meeting, the IWF held its Congress in Paris, France.Reports of the IWF President, General Secretary and IWF Committees were approved. Dr. Tamás Aján thanked the effective and productive involvement and engagement of the 3 Committees, their Chairmen and Members. Dates and places of the 2012 Continental Championships and Olympic Qualification Events were announced as follows:28.03.2012- 02.04.2012 African Championships Nairobi, KEN06.04.2012- 16.04.2012 European Championships Antalya, TUR23.04.2012- 30.04.2012 Asian Championships Pyeongtaek, KOR06.05.2012- 18.05.2012 Junior World Championships & Pan-American Championships Antigua Guatemala, GUA22.05.2012- 26.05.2012 Oceania Championships & Commonwealth Championships Apia, SAM As tradition on the IWF Congresses, the following awards were given: Weightlifting Hall of FameKakhi Kakhiashvili (GEO) - During his career Kakhi represented USSR, Georgia and Greece. He is one of the four athletes who have won three Olympic titles. Róbert Nagy (HUN) - Former lifter of the Hungarian National Weightlifting Team, Róbert Nagy has excelled as the Technology expert of the International Weightlifting Federation. Besides his membership in the IWF Scientific, later Technical Committees since 1992, he invented and developed the IWF's world famous Competition Management System. For their longtime services, the IWF Executive Board awarded the IWF Honorary Life Vice President Title to Philippe Saint-Cyr (CAN) and Myrddin John (WAL). Award of MeritAleksandr Putsov (UKR)Alain Lunzenfichter (FRA) was thanked for over three decades of contribution to the Weightlifting Sport. Previous President of AIPS Weightlifting Commission, Alain was also Chairmen of the IWF Press Commission and resigns with these

Facts and Figures 2011 WWC Paris

IWF Disneyland for the 22nd edition for Women World Championships. In Antalya we had 203 lifters of 50 countries. The previous records are 231 athletes of 53 countries. Among men there are 327 lifters to compete representing 81 nations. In Antalya there were 312 lifters from 63 countries. The most popular categories are women 53 kg (38 participants), men 69 kg (48 lifters). Out of the 15 Antalya World Champions there are 10 athletes to defend their titles. There are four nations with full teams of 15 lifters, Japan, China, Poland, Russia. 22 nations are represented just by one

IWF World Championships allocated

During its Meeting in Paris, France, the Executive Board of the IWF allocated the future World Championships: Senior World Weightlifting Championships 2013 Warsaw, Poland2014 Astana, KAZ2015 Houston, USA Junior World Weightlifting Championships2013 Lima, PER2014 St. Petersburg / Vladivostok, RUS 2015 Warsaw, Poland Youth Weightlifting Championships2013 Tashkent,