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Ecuador to shine on the last day of the Pan American Games

105kg menThe blast from the past vs. the new kid in town: What happens when you face a seasoned champion against an up and coming promising youngster? The result is a sensation al confrontation, such as the one that just took place in the XVI Pan American Games, Guadalajara 2011. Julio Luna(VEN), six-time Pan American medalist, as well as six time Olympic participant, broke a long vacation from the weightlifting scene earning gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez 2010, to appear as one of the favorites in this 105kg category. But he had a tough time asserting himself against the junior lifter Jorge David Arroyo from Ecuador. Arroyo has been winning each and every junior competition and now it was time to play with the big boys. And as a big boy he behaved. Arroyo made 215 in his third C&J putting the pressure over Luna, who missed 216kg. The end of the tale crowned a new king of the 105kg: Jorge David Arroyo (no relation with Pan Am speaker David Arroyo) got gold, Luna won silver and Donald Shankle (USA) earned bronze. +75kgEcuador is all weightlifting: USA disappoints twiceNine athletes started this session, but at the end only seven could claim a total result. Guatemala and Puerto Rico registered two novices that had nothing to do with the battle that Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador had to the end. Chioma Amechi (USA) missed three snatches and Sara Elizabeth Robles (USA) could not lift the barbell beyond the waist three times in the C&J, eliminating themselves from a total result. It was then Yuniesky Espinosa (VEN) and Tania Mascorro (MEX) who gave the Pan Am Champion from Rio 2007, Seledina Nieve (ECU) a hard time. After Matos and Saladin, from the Dominican Republic were sent to the showers, Seledina allowed Espinoza and Mascorro to battle for second and third place respectively. A solid performance in the second part ending with 145kg left no doubt that the queen of the super category will reign for four more

A very special award by Eleiko

According to Eleiko's notes the correct number of world records set with an Eleiko barbell is 998. Hopefully the 1000th record will be set during the upcoming World Championships in Paris. Eleiko would like to remember to this historical moment and honour the lifter with "The Eleiko 1000th World Record Award" which consists of a complete Eleiko barbell set, worth 3300 EUR. The lifters name and the date of the world record will be inscribed on the

Team Germany is significantly weakened

After the operation of the Olympic Champion Matthias Steiner the second male athlete of the German Team - European Champion of 2009 Jürgen Spiess - will miss the World Weightlifting Championships in Paris due an

Ruth Kasirye’s hopes for the World Championships

Ruth Kasirye, Norway's best weightlifter, has prepared well for this year's World Championships in Paris. She showed good form during the Nordic Championships in Pori, Finland, early in October (101 kg in the snatch and 127 kg in the clean and jerk). She later confirmed her good form in the regional championships in Norway a week later by lifting respectively 100 kg and 125 kg. Earlier this autumn Ruth has trained very well together with the French national team, but she will close her last preparations for the Worlds in Paris in Norway. Her main goal in Paris will be to qualify on individual basis for the London Olympics. At the last Games in Beijing Ruth Kasirye had the very honorable duty to be Flag Bearer for the Norwegian team at the Opening Ceremony. Her next big competition will be the Test Event in London the second weekend in December this

Excelling performances on the 4th day in Guadalajara

69kg womenToo strong coming from behindShe may have not impressed in the snatch, but in the C&J she certainly took matters into her own hands. With a gutsy performance by hometown hero, Cinthya Dominguez (MEX) snatching 103 kg in her third attempt (for a correction), Mercedes Perez (COL) and Aremi Fuentes (MEX) trailed close behind with 101kg each. But as soon as the second part started, it was clear who was the strongest in this small group of competitors in the 69kg category. Fuentes stayed third with a best lift of 120kg and Dominguez, did only 123kg in her opener, missing twice from there on. The table was then set for Perez to go from 125 to 131kg in her second attempt towards a new Pan Am record. An attempt at 135kg in her third chance was reversed by the jury, but nevertheless, the positions were already fixed. Tenorio (ECU) and Rue (USA) was no match ending fourth and fifth, respectively. 94kg menOnce again, we see a repetitionAt first the medals were finely distributed among the participating countries in the previous three days, but coming into the fourth day, we see that some countries have invaded the medal podium to stay. In these XVI Pan American Games, Eduardo Guadamud, ECU, came back to the weightlifting stage after a few years absence. He worked well his way through the snatch trying to gain a most appreciated lead. But it was to no avail because the Cuban, Javier Vanegas and the Venezuelan, Herbys Marquez decided it was time to advance past Guadamud in the second part. In their third attempt each one of these athletes made a good lift, but in the reverse order of the medals. First Guadamud assured bronze, then Marquez lifted enough for the silver, and Vanegas left no doubt that Cuba still has a little left of what was the strongest country in the American Continent. 75kg womenAn attempted ambush that did not workWhen a country consolidates itself as a continental powerhouse it usually goes for the women as for the men. This is the case of Colombia, searching and reaching for more gold medals in Guadalajara 2011. Although a very small group (six competitors turned into five when Jaqueline Ferreira, BRA, failed to make a single good snatch), the stakes were high with two girls from Venezuela trying to ambush Ubaldina Valoyes of Colombia. To this attack, the junior lifter Maria Valdes (CHI) included herself reaching the third place in snatch right ahead of Maria Alvarez (VEN) with 100kg each. Second was the other Venezuelan Yarvanis Herrera with 104kg. But Valoyes had no mercy going three for three and reaching an advantage of nine kilos over the runner-up Herrera. The Clean & Jerk was a Colombian show when Valoyes assured the gold with 137kg while her contenders were left very far behind: Valdes 129kg and Alvarez

Final Entries reviewed

After double checking the discrepancies and incorrect data with the National Federations, we have updated the Final Entries List. Available