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Lausanne hosts successful second Swiss Street Weightlifting

The second edition of the Swiss Street Weightlifting successfully took place on July 8-9 in Lausanne (SUI), the Olympic capital. During the weekend, in a very central location of the city – the Flon – many hundreds of adults and children had the opportunity to see weightlifting exhibitions and even to have an initiation to the sport. The organisers of the event, also supported by the IWF, were “very happy with the enthusiasm around this initiative” and the “support of the Lausanne people to street weightlifting”. Photo by Nadine Blanchard On a more competitive mode, six mixed teams of two lifters (one man, one woman) - this is one of the main "concepts" of this initiative, the possibility of having men and women competing together in the same team - made the way into the finals. For the fifth place, the battle between Team Crossfit (A. Lancry & J. Aufdenblatten) and team Switzerland (S. Meister & Y. Tschan) was won by the latter. On the fight for the bronze medal, Team France (L. Antonio & B. Ferré) was better than Team Spain (G. Anasagasti & A. Mendoza). Finally, the gold went to Team International (S. Davies & D. Certov), which defeated Team Brit-Swiss (F. Morrow & T. Verloes). Besides the “traditional” weightlifting competition, a bench press exhibition was open to everyone, as well as a demonstration of street workouts (thus bringing together athletes and spectators). Moreover, one of the goals of the Swiss Street Weightlifting is to bring together two communities - weightlifting and CrossFit. That is why the organisers of the event opted for a faster, more attractive and interactive competition format. On Sunday morning, the Swiss Youth Championship was held and a free weightlifting initiation was organised for

IWF celebrates the ITA’s fifth anniversary and renews partnership

The IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso was recently in Lausanne (SUI) to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the International Testing Agency (ITA) and to sign the yearly contract renewal between the IWF and the ITA. This partnership, in place since 2019, includes most of the activities connected with the IWF anti-doping rules, namely the athletes’ testing, sample storage, scientific research, TUE procedures, education, results management, intelligence, and whereabouts submission process. Representing already more than 30% of the IWF’s annual budget, the partnership with the ITA was reinforced with more resources in three specific areas: education (courses and programmes for athletes and support personnel), intelligence and investigation (enhancement of proactive actions in accordance with investigative findings), and legal support (improvement of the anti-doping violations’ management). IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso at the ITA headquarters  “We are very happy to renew this fruitful co-operation with the ITA, our valuable partner in the anti-doping strategy. Over the last years, the IWF has decisively improved its fight against cheating in the sport and the ITA has played a pivotal role in this merciless battle. Besides the testing programmes, many other services – such as education and intelligence – are also part of the agreement between the IWF and the ITA. This is a guarantee that all aspects of the anti-doping policy are covered and that we are 100% committed to reach a drug-free sport and ensure fair and clean events to all our lifters,” considered Antonio Urso, after the ceremony in Lausanne. “The ITA congratulates the IWF for its continued efforts since 2019 to reinforce its anti-doping programme. Through this expanded partnership, we recognise that the IWF is taking all available measures to kick doping out of its sport. We are grateful for the trust the international weightlifting community places on the ITA and acknowledge as well the important work and responsibility that lie ahead of us. The ITA is as committed as ever to offer all weightlifters the opportunity to take part in clean competitions,” stated the ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. Further details on the IWF/ITA partnership can be found

“Despite almost 40 years in the sport, I’ll never forget these days!”

The enthusiastic words belong to Patric Bettembourg, the coach of the IWF Refugee Team, after the first Training Camp of this group, held from June 23 to July 1 in Halmstad, Sweden. “We shared many happy moments and many hard stories, but the most important in the end is that we became a real team,” adds Bettembourg, who supervised for nine days the training of four athletes in the headquarters of barbell company Eleiko. “This Refugee Team is really an amazing group of lifters!” Patric Bettembourg, the coach of the IWF Refugee Team After the constitution of the first-ever IWF Refugee Team, at the beginning of April, this was the first available occasion for a joint training camp, two months before the start of the major IWF rendezvous of the year, the World Championships in Riyadh (KSA). Four athletes could travel to Halmstad (out of seven members of the team), and the general feeling was very positive after the experience. “Everything has gone very smoothly and we had very good conditions to train. Moreover, the hotel and the food were excellent. The Eleiko centre is offering an optimal environment for the lifters,” states the Swedish coach. Present in Sweden were Parisa Jahanfekrian (originally from Iran), Aline de Souza and Monique Araujo (both Brazilian natives), and also male lifter Addriel Garcia (Cuba). The three remaining lifters of the group – Clementine Meukeugni Noumbissi (Cameroon, but living in Great Britain), Fawaz Mohammed Saleh Hussein (Yemen/Saudi Arabia), and Reza Rouhi (Iran/Great Britain) – could not, despite all IWF efforts on this matter, join the training camp due to the difficulty in leaving their respective host country for the moment. Reflecting on the possible differences between the athletes’ expectations and the outcome of the camp, Bettembourg is clear: “Before their arrival, they expected a lot from this opportunity. At the end of it, I believe the level of satisfaction is excellent”. From a more technical perspective, he considers that given the time between April and now, “all lifters were in the best possible shape”. However, there is of course room for improvement: “They will need to progress, but they have done a great job in such a short time. Even during the days we were together, we could see a lot of progression. They are on a good path – if they continue training consistently”. Aline de Souza and Addriel Garcia Working with these “special” athletes for the first time in his long career, Bettembourg was impressed with their team spirit and mutual solidarity: “I have never met a group of athletes behaving so well and supporting each other so much!” The Swede has an explanation for that: “These lifters are very thankful for being able to be back to the sport they love. It’s an opportunity for them to start again, as weightlifting means everything for them”. Parisa Jahanfekrian The Worlds in Saudi Arabia, to be staged from September 4-17, will be the first opportunity to see these athletes in action, as part of a Refugee Team. “They can all do good lifts there. It will be a great beginning in their ‘new’ career,” the coach admits. Because, as he rightfully concludes, “sometimes not only medals count”. By Pedro Adrega, IWF

IWF Refugee Team already training in Sweden

Led by coach Patric Bettembourg, the IWF Refugee Team is having, from June 23 to July 1, its first Training Camp in Halmstad (SWE), in order to prepare the participation in the 2023 IWF World Championships, taking place from September 4-17 in Riyadh (KSA). Of the seven members of the team, only four could make the trip to Sweden – among women, Parisa Jahanfekrian (originally from Iran), Aline de Souza and Monique Araujo (both Brazilian natives), and also male lifter Addriel Garcia (Cuba). The three remaining lifters of the group – Clementine Meukeugni Noumbissi (Cameroon, but living in Great Britain), Fawaz Mohammed Saleh Hussein (Yemen/Saudi Arabia), and Reza Rouhi (Iran/Great Britain) – could not, despite the best IWF efforts on this matter, join the training camp due to the difficulty in leaving their respective host country for the moment.   The four athletes present in Sweden are enjoying superb facilities in Halmstad – the headquarters of barbell company Eleiko – and have the opportunity to train twice a day, in a venue equipped with modern and high-level weightlifting material. On the first days of the training camp, they were also welcomed by Florian Sperl, IWF Executive Board member and responsible for this successful project. “The atmosphere among the athletes and the coach is great. They all know each other by now and they are happy to share their respective stories and the difficult moments they could experience in life,” states Sperl, after his two-day visit to Halmstad. “The hospitality and the optimal conditions here in Sweden are really appreciated by the athletes. They have an ideal environment to train and prepare for the biggest IWF competition of the year. We hope by then that all the seven lifters of the team can travel to Saudi Arabia” concludes the IWF official. The IWF President Mohammed Jalood also offered his comments on this training camp: “I am happy to see the practical implementation of the IWF Refugee Team programme. The training camp currently being held in Sweden is the first step in a pathway that will see this group of athletes competing in our major events. I thank all those involved in the development of the project and I wish the seven lifters the best success – from now on, the IWF is also their home!”

IWF delegation concludes successful visit to Paris

An IWF delegation was recently in Paris to meet with the organisers of the upcoming Olympic Games in 2024 and discuss on the event readiness, with about 13 months to go before the start of the competition. On June 21-22, Matthew Curtain, IWF Executive Board Member and IF Delegate, as well as Moira Lassen, IF Delegate, and Matyas Lencser, IWF Competition Manager, were in the French capital to discuss with the Organising Committee of the Olympic rendezvous about many areas of interest.   Those topics included the transportation plan, the sport presentation of the weightlifting events, the award ceremonies, training venues, and the brand identity and look of the Games. Important updates were also given on the accreditation procedures, the venue and infrastructure, test event, and the ticketing programme. To conclude the two-day visit, the IWF officials also had the opportunity to visit the venue of the weightlifting competition.   “It was a very useful and important meeting, where we could appreciate the efforts and expertise of the Olympic hosts. The Organising Committee of the Games is doing their utmost to ensure the best conditions are met for our athletes, coaches, and officials during the time of the Games,” said Matthew Curtain and Moira Lassen.    The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11 and will include the participation of 120 lifters, distributed in 10 bodyweight categories (five for men, five for women). Up to date, six qualification events have already taken place in the pathway for the event – the 2022 IWF World Championships, four 2023 continental showcases, and the recent IWF Grand Prix in Havana (CUB). The next qualifier for the Games will be the 2023 IWF World Championships in Riyadh (KSA), from September 4-17.   

Havana GP verdict: Stars from three continents, and AIN, light up Cuba’s first global event in 50 years

A world record for Angie Palacios of Ecuador, a winning start at a new weight for Solfrid Koanda of Norway and a career-best for the remarkable Indonesian Eko Yuli Irawan were among the individual highlights of the IWF Grand Prix that ended in Havana on Sunday. As for the teams, Indonesia, the United States and Ecuador all excelled, while the one dressed entirely in grey also had a successful championships. The weightlifting team of Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), including the lifters with Belarussian passport, had four winners. Three AIN lifters moved straight into the top 10 of the Paris rankings, Petr Asayonak and Yauheni Tsikhantsou at 89kg and 102kg respectively, and Siuzanna Valodzka at 71kg, while others have made it into the top 20. This was their first international competition since December 2021. The team of Individual Neutral Athletes “We are back home, back in the family... I can’t describe how good it feels,” said Vitaliy Kreidich, vice-president of the Belarus Weightlifting Federation and part of the team who managed 13 lifters, eight men and five women, in Havana. Mohamed Jalood, the IWF president, said, “We saw here that weightlifting is a sport for all. The team respected the conditions they signed up to, they came as neutrals and everybody respected them on the platform, on the podium, everywhere.” Kreidich said, “It has been very good here in Cuba, good organisation, accommodation, training facilities. “All the teams have been happy to see us, we were welcomed back on to the platform. There were no bad vibes, no pressure, everything seemed ideal. “It is too early to say who did what in terms of Olympic qualifying here, because there are still four competitions to come” said Kreidich. “We trained well, but we can do better.” Yauheni Tsikhantsou (AIN) Belarus will have a chance to repay Cuba for its hospitality, and will not have to compete in grey in August when it hosts the multi-sport CIS Games for former Soviet states and others. Cuba will be there, one of 10 nations in weightlifting and one of 20 across a range of sports, said Kreidich. The Havana Grand Prix – the first global weightlifting competition hosted by Cuba for 50 years – was the last chance for weightlifters from Russia and Belarus to enter Olympic qualifying as neutral individuals. Russia declined because they did not agree with the “unacceptable” conditions imposed by the IWF, which was following recommendations drawn up by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after it suspended both nations because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Our president (Aleksandr Lukashenko) was not happy that there was no flag, no anthem, no national uniform but he agreed to the conditions because he understands how hard it is for athletes when they cannot compete,” said Kreidich. Sourcing a completely new outfit for the team, which had to be grey with no national emblems, was not easy. By the time Kreidich had bought the material everything was a rush. He had to drive to a national clothing factory 500 kilometres from Minsk, the capital, and arrived after midnight. Everything was finally ready at 5pm the day before departure for Cuba. The average age of the five women in Cuba was just under 21, compared with 24.5 for the men. “We have a good mix in our team who are trying for the Olympic Games - young athletes with potential, and older, experienced athletes,” said Kreidich. Angie Palacios (ECU) Palacios, from Ecuador, was the only world record breaker in Cuba, with a snatch of 121kg at 71kg. She is part of the remarkable family that has produced Olympic and continental champions, including her sister Neisi, who won at 81kg in Havana. Koanda overcame cramp to win in her first competition at 81kg, and Irawan is on course for a record fifth Olympic medal. He posted career-high numbers after going up to 67kg, and his team-mates Ricko Saputra and Rahmat Erwin won at 61kg and 81kg. Solfrid Koanda (NOR) The quality of the women’s 81kg session in Havana is evident in the updated ranking lists for Paris 2024. Four of the top 10 at that weight made their best total in Havana. Across all weight categories for men and women, totals made in Havana feature 16 times in the top 10. There were good results for the United States, most notably by Hampton Morris at 61kg, Wes Kitts at 102kg and Taylor Wilkins at 59kg. Arley Calderon moved into the Paris top 10 at 61kg after finishing third, a performance that helped Cuba to finish top of the men’s team classification. By Brian Oliver, Inside the Games Complete coverage: Havana, Final Day: Late starter “Coach Mary” so close to catching her USA Olympic medallist team-mate – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 10: Double for Asia and more progress by Chilean mother Valdes – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 9: Norway’s Koanda overcomes cramp to win a classic and take third place in Paris rankings – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 8: 2012 weightlifting champion Valentin sets out for fifth Olympic Games – aged 38 – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 7: World record for Palacios continues stunning success for weightlifting’s special family – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 6: Unstoppable Erwin so close to another world record – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 5: US weightlifters battle in Paris rankings while former team-mate Sasser shines – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 4: Irawan hits career high at 33 and has record-breaking fifth Olympic medal in his sights – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 3: Gold for Indonesia, a good day for USA – and another medal for late starter Gallant – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 2: Mother-of-three Piron wins B Group gold to boost chances of fourth Olympic Games – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) Havana, Day 1: British Morrow loses 15% of her body weight to post Paris qualifying total – International Weightlifting Federation (iwf.sport) IWF Grand Prix: “It will be an unforgettable event!” – International Weightlifting Federation Cuba is ready to host its biggest weightlifting event in 50 years! – International Weightlifting Federation