News

Greek legend Pyrros Dimas signs the Olympian’s Wall in Lausanne

Pyrros Dimas is the most Olympic medalled lifter in the history of the IWF and also the most successful Greek athlete in the Games history (all sports included). Today, he received a special tribute at the Olympic House in Lausanne (SUI), where he had the honour to sign the Olympian’s Wall. In a ceremony attended by IOC President Kirsty Coventry and the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, the immense champion could not hide his emotion and happiness for this recognition. The IWF General Secretary José Quiñones and the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in Switzerland, Ms Ekaterini Simopoulou were also among the guests at the IOC Headquarters. From left to right: José Quiñones (IWF General Secretary), HE Ekaterini Simopoulou (Greek Ambassador in Switzerland), Pyrros Dimas, Kirsty Coventry (IOC President), Mohammed Jalood (IWF President), Nicolas Dimas, and Achilleas Tsogas (IWF CEO) With three gold medals – 1992, 1996, and 2000 -, and a bronze lining at home, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Dimas is a reference in the Sport and a Hellenic inspirational hero. His third place in the Greek capital was perhaps the most inspirational moment of his rich career, with the local fans applauding him for long minutes, during the medal ceremony. After that, he announced his retirement. Pyrros Dimas with IOC President Kirsty Coventry “It has definitively been a great trajectory, full of beautiful and rewarding memories. I was very privileged to live such moments and to succeed at this level. Weightlifting has been an essential part of my life, and even today I get emotional when receiving these tributes. I would like to thank the IOC and its President Kirsty Coventry for this initiative. I also express my gratitude to the IWF for accompanying me during my entire career!” considered the Hellenic ace. Also member of the IWF Executive Board and leading our International Federation’s Innovation Committee, Dimas believes he can still bring many positive outcomes to the Sport. “I am now on the ‘other side’, and I feel I can bring my experience and expertise to the benefit of our athletes, and events. Weightlifting undertook a lot of changes in recent years, and we are now a valuable and respected partner within the Olympic Movement. We need to continue the good work, and I am proud to be part of this team!” also stated Dimas. At the IOC Headquarters, next to Pierre de Coubertin's statue   Born in 1971 in Himara (Albania), to ethnic Greek parents, he soon demonstrates a great ability for the sport and moves in the beginning of the 1990s to Athens. At his first Olympic participation – Barcelona 1992 – Dimas gets the gold in the 82.5kg, with a total of 167.5-202.5-370. After this success, he is received like a hero at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens (the one hosting the 1896 first Olympics of the modern era), but the world (and Greece) had only witnessed the start of a legendary journey that would include two more gold (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and one bronze medal (Athens 2004). Signing the Olympian's Wall With personal bests of 180.5kg in Snatch, 215kg in C&J, and 392.5kg in Total, Dimas was also world champion on three occasions (1993, 1995, and 1998). In 2009, he was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame and between 2012 and 2015, he was a member of the Hellenic Parliament. On the ceremony at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Dimas was happy to add his name to a Wall of many legends in Sport. “What a nice feeling to share this space with so many other champions and Olympians! Each one of them is an example of determination, passion and devotion to his/her respective sport. It was also my case and I am very honoured to have my name in this so prestigious Wall,” concluded the Greek legend, who had a special witness at the ceremony in Lausanne: his 16-year-old son Nicolas. Pyrros Dimas in his glory days While in Lausanne, the champion also had the opportunity to visit the Olympic Museum, where he was invited to sign the Golden Book of the institution. Congratulations Pyrros Dimas! IWF

Great attendance at the IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education webinar for Coaches

A total of 362 participants attended the successful IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education webinar for Coaches, held last Thursday, March 19. From the IWF side, President Mohammed Jalood and General Secretary José Quiñones had the occasion of welcoming the attendees, while Colin Buckley, IWF International Coach Licence manager, was also present to specifically address the importance of this initiative for the weightlifting coaches. Besides the significant level of attendance, the feedback received from the participants was also very positive: at the post-webinar survey, a rate of 9.2/10 was achieved. The three main groups attending the webinar included 241 coaches, 63 athletes, and 31 administrators. By nationality, the most represented country was Türkiye, with 46 participants. The topics discussed comprised items such as the anti-doping roles and responsibilities, Member Federation’s categorisation, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, Testing process, or the Reporting procedure, This webinar is part of the global IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education programme, which includes also the organisation of in-person seminars at our main yearly events. IWF

LA28 IWF Qualifiers: Tender for Sale of Media and TV Rights is open

Following a first tender on TV Production, the IWF is launching today a second tender related to the organisation of IWF Qualifiers for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 – this time concerning the Sale of Media and Television Rights from those competitions. According to the procedure described in the Qualification System for LA28, five specific Qualifiers will take place between December 2026 and January 2028. The calendar of those events is as follows: 1st IWF Qualifier – [Doha, Qatar, December 2026] 2nd IWF Qualifier – [Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 2027] 3rd IWF Qualifier – [Lima, Peru, June 2027] 4th IWF Qualifier – [Caracas, Venezuela, November 2027] 5th IWF Qualifier – [Chiang Rai, Thailand, January 2028] As a ‘package’ of five high-level competitions, the IWF is looking for the ideal partner to promote them worldwide, and to guarantee the maximum exposure of the IWF Qualifiers on the route to the Olympic Games in 2028. Proposals related to this tender must be received by the IWF until Monday, April 13, 2026. The IWF Tender related to the Sale of Media and TV Rights for the LA28 IWF Qualifiers can be found

IWF opens tender for LA28 Qualifiers TV Production

In order to ensure a top-level and uniform broadcast of the five IWF Qualifiers for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the IWF launched today a public tender to select a partner that will be responsible for the TV production of these events. As per the Qualification System (link here) for LA 28, and besides the IWF World Championships and continental showcases, five dedicated qualifying events will take place from December 2026 to January 2028, in accordance with the following calendar: 1st IWF Qualifier – [Doha, Qatar, December 2026] 2nd IWF Qualifier – [Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 2027] 3rd IWF Qualifier – [Lima, Peru, June 2027] 4th IWF Qualifier – [Caracas, Venezuela, November 2027] 5th IWF Qualifier – [Chiang Rai, Thailand, January 2028] The IWF Tender aims at selecting a highly professional company that will assure a consistent coverage of these events, namely creating a recognisable ‘look and feel’ for the fans following the competitions on TV screens and digital platforms. Interested partners must submit their detailed proposals by Monday, April 13, 2026. The IWF Tender document can be found

Don’t miss the IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education webinar for Coaches on March 19!

On March 19, we invite our Coaches to attend the Clean Sport Education webinar hosted by the International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of the IWF. We are delighted to be joined by Colin Buckley, IWF’s International Coach License Manager. As trusted figures in an athlete’s life, coaches significantly influence their values and behaviours. Athletes depend on their entourage for reliable information and mentorship, making it important for you to understand the anti-doping rules and how to foster a culture of integrity in sport. This webinar will outline the roles and responsibilities of coaches, offering practical tips for you to support your athletes, protect yourself and serve as a role model for clean sport. We will also discuss important information about the IWF International Coach License programme. Join us as we work together to Keep Sport Real and bring your questions for the live Q&A! This webinar will be delivered in English, with simultaneous translation in Arabic. Automated translated captions in other languages will also be available, and all attendees will receive a PDF of the webinar presentation, including links to the resources covered. The webinar is available in two time slots on March 19: Session 1 at 10h00 (CET), and Session 2 at 16h00 (CET). Session 1 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pqsX9pMVSkGeCot80g7x7g Session 2

IWF celebrates International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day, the IWF celebrates the women who are changing the sport - as athletes, leaders, mentors and advocates. Today and every day is about recognising their achievements, highlighting their stories and reaffirming the IWF’s commitment to creating opportunities for women at every level, from grassroots participation to elite competition and leadership roles. The work of these inspirational women has meant that female participation in strength training is growing worldwide. A 2023 global study, Move Every Mind, surveyed more than 37,000 women across 16 countries and found that 40% of respondents were engaging in regular strength training. The IWF spoke with key voices in the sport to hear their reflections on what weightlifting means to them and the importance of supporting women across the sport. Emily Campbell (GBR) Emily Campbell (GBR) – 5x European Champion, 2x Olympic and 2x World MedallistEmily Campbell is one of Britain’s most accomplished weightlifters, having secured her fifth consecutive European title at the 2025 European Championships in Chisinau, Moldova. Beyond her achievements on the platform, she is widely recognised for her advocacy work, mentoring young athletes, promoting inclusivity and supporting community programmes that encourage girls and women to take up weightlifting. When speaking to the IWF about International Women’s Day, and what women in weightlifting means to her, she stated: “Weightlifting has given me so much. It has taught me resilience and discipline, but above all, it has shown the impact sport can have when it is truly welcoming and inclusive. Every young woman and girl should feel they belong in weightlifting, whether they aspire to compete internationally or simply enjoy the sport. Empowering women and creating real opportunities at all levels is what will make the sport stronger for everyone. It is such a passion of mine, and it is incredibly rewarding to see even more young girls getting involved and benefiting from the sport.” Solfrid Koanda (NOR) Solfrid Koanda (NOR) - Olympic Champion, 4x European Champion, 3x World Medallist Solfrid Koanda is one of Norway’s standout weightlifters, having captured the 86kg world title at the 2025 World Championships in Førde, Norway. Competing in front of a home crowd, she not only demonstrated her incredible talent but also embodied the growing visibility and influence of women in the sport. She explained: “Winning in front of a home crowd last year at the IWF World Championships was an unforgettable experience. Seeing young girls in the audience reminded me how important it is to show what is possible. Weightlifting has given me confidence, independence and a sense of purpose, and I hope my journey encourages other women to pursue their goals and see that this sport is open to them too.” Hidilyn Diaz (PHI) Hidilyn Diaz (PHI) – 2x Olympic Medallist, 4x World MedallistHidilyn Diaz is a national hero in the Philippines after being the first Olympic champion (all sports included) for her country – gold at the Tokyo 2020ne Games, in the 55kg category. In 2022, she was also first at the IWF World Championships, and has also been since then a very active member of the IWF Athletes Commission. She underlined: “Weightlifting has brought so much joy, discipline, and purpose into my life. I basically grew up with this sport, and it helped shape who I am today. I can also say, in my own small way, that through my journey and my Olympic achievements, weightlifting has grown more in the Philippines too. The days of discrimination are behind us. Today, weightlifting is a sport where both men and women can stand equally strong. More and more girls and women around the world are getting into it, and that’s something really inspiring to see. For me, celebrating women isn’t just about March 8. International Women’s Day should be felt every day of the year, everywhere in the world.” Ursula Papandrea (IWF First Vice-President) Ursula Papandrea (USA) – IWF First Vice-President Ursula Papandrea has long been a driving force in international weightlifting governance and a passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. As IWF First Vice-President, she works across programmes and initiatives that support women from grassroots participation to elite competition, and in leadership, coaching and technical roles. She stated: “Weightlifting has been such an important part of my life, and something I love about my role as First Vice-President is that I get to meet other female weightlifters from across the world and see the communities they form. Weightlifting can be practised across all ages, which makes it uniquely accessible, and at the IWF, we are committed to building the systems that allow women and girls to thrive. Like in Paris 2024, at the Olympic Games LA28, men and women will compete in equal numbers. This is something extremely important to us and is something we continue to advocate for across the global weightlifting community. And this is just one part of the IWF’s wider work to strengthen inclusion, support leadership pathways and ensure the sport grows sustainably for future generations." The IWF remains dedicated to supporting women in weightlifting - providing pathways, creating opportunities and empowering the next generation of athletes to compete, lead and shape the future of the sport. Happy International Women's Day! IWF