News

Wu Jingbiao defended his title

Like a year ago Paris brought again noisy Chinese success by a tandem formed by Wu Jingbiao World Champion and the newcomer Zhao Caojun at this time. Their challenger was a Bulgarian born young man Valentin Hristov representing Azerbaijan Republic. The 17 and a half years old lifter had a hard work to stay in competition in Snatch. On the contrary El Maoui (TUN) was successful in Snatch collecting a bronze medal (127 kg) but in Clean and Jerk he was not able to perform well and had to say good bye to Paris without a result in Total. Another young talent Thach Kim Tuan (VIE) tried to break his Youth World Record from 127 to 129 kg with no success. At the end of the series Wu Jingbiao tried to reach as much advantage as he could. The snatch session was closed by his 133 kg attempt. Hristov had a fantastic 154 kg in Clean and Jerk breaking the Youth World Record. Finally Wu Jingbiao defended his Antalya title by 159 kg in Clean and Jerk. Press Conference: Speaking at press conference, the Chinese champion, Wu Jingbiao declared that he has been competing with Zhao Chaojun, the silver medalist several times, and he won more than his teammates in the training sessions. Being asked over the absence of Long Qingquan, his former teammate and the 2008 Olympic champion, Wu Jingbiao said he really wanted to compete together with Long as they did in Antalya a year ago but he could not qualify for Paris. They are good friends and being informed about Wu's triumph Long Qingquan immediately congratulated him by sms. Hristov Valentin, who is now an Azerbaijani citizen, said he was born in Bulgaria but since he had many problems for attending the competitions there he and his father (also his coach) decided to leave the country for Azerbaijan. He added that in Bulgaria they did not have the chance to compete for more than 2 years, but now they have excellent conditions in Azerbaijan. Expressing their gratitude to the president of Azerbaijan weightlifting federation, Valentin stressed that it was also very difficult for them to participate at Paris 2011 championships as the citizen of Azerbaijan, accordingly they could not prepare well for this very important world competition. Highlighting the difficulties the weightlifters face in Bulgaria, Valentin revealed that three men, two women and two coaches have already left Bulgaria for Azerbaijan.Furthermore, the 18 year-old bronze medalist said that he started weightlifting when he was 11 years old, and it was his first world record.

18 years old junior Tian Yuan crowned in 48 kg

Chinese Tian Yuan was in a league by herself, with six successful lifts and three gold medals, 90 kg in the Snatch and 117 in the Clean and Jerk, for 207 kg total. The young talent was conservative enough with her first attempt by 108 kg. A last minute call ordered to increase to 111 kg. The movement indicated she could ask for more. She asked for 115 kg and finally 117 kg. She had nothing else in her mind just to be faultless. She was the only athlete with six perfect lift. At a satisfactory distance Khamsri Panida (THA) followed her with silver in the Total with 187 kg. Nurdan Karagoz (TUR) Snatched 80 and Clean and Jerked 103 kg for bronze in the Total with 183 kg. After her missed attempt she had to concentrate strongly to find the right balance. Her strength brought her double bronze. There was a great fight for this bronze medal and bodyweight and strategy determined the final positions.The Italian lifter with Olympic experience Genny Caterina Pagliaro Snatched a silver (83 kg) but could not stay in competition by 100 kg clean and jerk. Her failure opened the way for others to think of a shining medal. Press Conference: Speaking at press conference, Chinese gold medalist stressed that her main object was to have six good attempts although she had formerly lifted heavier weights in the training sessions back in China than in Paris. It was the reason she did not try to break junior world record at this time however she already Clean and Jerked 120 in training. Promising to do better in future competitions, Yuan said she is very young now and has a long way in her future. Being asked whether she would also win gold medal at London Olympics, Yuan said that it will be clear just next year if she could compete at London 2012, and that there would be national competitions to select who would be the strongest enough to participate the Olympic Games.She added she is to enjoy the beauty of Paris and go for shopping in the so-called shopping paradise. Her favorite free time activity is shopping, but plans to visit Disneyland and Tour Eiffel as well before returning China on the 9th November. Thailand's Khamsri Panida, told the reporters she was satisfied with her result, but she formerly lifted 85kg in snatch and 110kg in clean and jerk in her trainings. She said she started lifting six years ago. She added that her coaches had great influence on her as she did not like lifting at the beginning. Her idol is Thailand's Aree Wiratthaworn, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist (48 kg).Her motivation is to surpass her idol by Olympic Gold medal in London.

1000th record set with an Eleiko barbell

According to Eleiko's notes the correct number of world records set with an Eleiko barbell is 999. The 1000th record was set! HRISTOV Valentin from Azerbaijan competing in the 56kg bodyweight category broke the Youth World Record in the Clean & Jerk with 154 kg at the World Championships in Paris. The Chinese missed the chance as they did not know about this special award. To remember to this historical moment and honour the lifter, he will receive "The Eleiko 1000th World Record Award" which consists of a complete Eleiko barbell set, worth 3300 EUR. Congratulations! When he was asked what he will do with the barbells he received as his gift from Eleiko, Valentin said he will keep the barbells and it will decorate his

Interview with Frederic Donze, WADA Director, European Office and IF Relations

IWF had a great step forward Q: Close to one hundred countries perform on the platform of the 2011 World Weightlifting Championships in Paris, the IWF grabbed the opportunity to launch its Say No!To Doping campaign with its slogan: Lift CLEAN and Jerk. A: I think it is a very positive thing that the IWF have adopted this program. WADA launched this campaign two years ago together with International Ice hockey Federation and now we have 13 partners including some international federations like hockey, football, triathlon, just to name some of them. United Kingdom recently launched a campaign called 'Win Clean' and they are part of the Say No! to doping anti doping campaign as well. We are quite happy that IWF have contacted us to follow the campaign. We are working closely together because education as we all know is a key part of the fight against doping. We think it is a great step forward - Frederic Donzé, WADA Director, European Office and IF Relations says. Q: It is really positive to see some big stars representing the campaign because they are all icons for the other athletes, for the young children. What do you think of weightlifting hero, three times Olympic Champion Pyrros Dimas? A: It is very important that a caliber like Dimas supports the campaign. He is a strong symbol and through his personality and mentality a strong message is sent to the weightlifting community. Q: What makes WADA really satisfied about its results? When do you consider your work successful? A: I think that doping will never disappear as it is related to human nature. You always find cheaters in life. Since WADA has been created since 1999 the world anti doping community has really progressed tremendously. But let's not being naive we always need to do more and we always need improvement in our fight against doping to actually catch as many cheaters as possible. We certainly hope by working together there will be really on day with minimum doping in sport. But doping free sport is an utopia. Q: What are the next steps ahead of WADA? A: We have always said that the world anti doping code is not set in stone. We knew world anti doping code had to improved as time was passing. There was the first revision in 2006 and 2007 which gave birth to a new code which took place in January 2009 and now there will be another revision of the world anti-doping code starting next year. The new code will be approved at the time of the 4th world conference in doping in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2013. We really encourage any individual, any organization, and any national federation in the weightlifting family to take part in this process. This work is done very openly and transparently. We hope that the weightlifting family will contribute a lot. Q: At IWF Congress the doping control results of weightlifting were displayed by Mónika Ungár. What do these numbers say to a real expert like you? A: Unfortunately you can interpret results the way you want. Some people always ask us do you think there is more doping or less doping based simply on numbers.The fight against doping is so comprehensive and complex that it is never possible to say: look you have more cases that means you have more doping involved. May be have become more efficient in your way fighting doping. May be you have less cases but it may say that education and information helped to reduce the numbers. So really I think the numbers presented by Mónika Ungár say that IWF is conducting a comprehensive fight against

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