The first major international weightlifting competition in the COVID-19 era is in the books. Last week, athletes from all over Europe traveled to Moscow, Russia, to compete face-to-face for the first time ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Emily Muskett Ends Britain’s 26-Year Gold Medal Drought at the 2021 EWC
The 2021 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) European Championships kicked off on April 3, 2021, in Moscow, Russia. Although they continue until April 11, history has already been made. Emily ... Continue Reading
Nike Releases New Weightlifting Shoes — Nike Savaleos
The new hybrid-lifting shoe from Nike — the Nike Savaleos — was released on April 1, 2021. Much like its predecessor, the Nike Romaleos, which have seen four iterations, the Savaleos are designed for ... Continue Reading
IWF Announces Date For Constitutional Congress, Changes To Anti-Doping, and More
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board announced three major developments on April 1, 2021: The location change for the IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships — a gold ... Continue Reading
USATF Shot Putter Joe Kovacs Squats 394.6 Kilograms (870 Pounds) For Four Reps
USA Track and Field (USATF) shot putter Joe Kovacs is unfathomably strong. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medalist appeared on Sports Illustrated's Instagram page in a video that saw him squat a ... Continue Reading
Mattie Rogers and Jourdan Delacruz Break Down Best Lifts from American Open Series 1
Weightlifters Mattie Rogers and Jourdan Delacruz are no strangers to the spotlight. Both are internationally competitive lifters, likely Olympic team members for the Tokyo Games, and American record ... Continue Reading
Lasha Talakhadze Snatches 223 Kilograms — the Heaviest Snatch Ever Filmed
On March 23, 2021, Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze posted a video of him snatching 223 kilograms (491.6 pounds) in training. It is the heaviest snatch ever caught on film and is currently three ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Mattie Rogers Clean & Jerks 140 Kilograms (308.6 Pounds) In Training
Team USA weightlifter Mattie Rogers is putting in work in the gym. The 2019 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) silver medalist shared a post on her Instagram page of a recent training session ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze Bench Presses 180 Kilograms (396.8 Pounds) for Reps
2016 Rio Olympic Games gold-medalist Lasha Talakhadze is a beast on the bench. On March 20, 2021, Doctor of Georgian Weightlifting team Giorgi Tchintcharauli shared a video on his Instagram page of a bench ... Continue Reading
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Won’t Allow International Spectators
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games — which take place in summer 2021 — will look different from previous iterations. On Saturday, March 20, 2021, according to ESPN, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ... Continue Reading
USA Weightlifting Names Team For 2020 Pan American Championships
On March 16, 2021, USA Weightlifting (USAW) named the athletes who would represent the USA at the 2020 Pan American Championships. This gold-level qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was ... Continue Reading
What Olympic Quota Cuts Really Mean for Weightlifters and Fans
In December of 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued new guidance for athlete quotas in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Continuing a precedent established over the last five years, the ... Continue Reading
International Weightlifting Federation Releases New Proposed Constitution For Review
On March 4, 2021, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) released a proposed new IWF constitution for public view. Notably, this proposed constitution is a draft as IWF Interim President Dr. ... Continue Reading
IOC: International Weightlifting Federation Has Ignored Reform, Could Lose Olympic Spot
On Feb 24, 2021, Director General of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Christophe De Kepper sent a letter to International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Interim President Dr. Michael Irani and IWF ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Lü Xiaojun’s 280-Kilogram Deadlift Confirms He’s Still an Absolute Unit
Chinese weightlifter Lü Xiaojun just gets stronger and stronger with age. The former 77-kilogram, now 81-kilogram weightlifter has snatched a 150-kilogram (330.7-pound) triple and 180 kilograms (396.8 ... Continue Reading
IWF Executive Board Approves Anti-Doping and Election Eligibility Changes
On Feb. 18, 2021, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board approved two decisions regarding the Anti-Doping Rules and the candidate eligibility standards for the upcoming Electoral ... Continue Reading
Russian Weightlifter and Olympic Gold Medalist Yury Vlasov Dies at 85
Weightlifter Yury Vlasov died on Feb. 13, 2021, at the age of 85 from natural causes. The Russian leaves behind the legacy of being the first person ever to clean & jerk over 200 kilograms (441 ... Continue Reading
Eleiko Announces U.S. Headquarters Relocation to Austin, Texas
Eleiko, the Swedish strength equipment company whose weight plates and bars have been used by many strength sports athletes and fans for decades, have announced that they will be moving their North ... Continue Reading
International Testing Agency Announces New Whistleblower Platform “Reveal”
On Feb. 1, 2021, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced the launch of its new doping reporting platform, "Reveal." The platform allows for would-be whistleblowers to disclose anonymous tips about ... Continue Reading
European Weightlifting Federation “Disappointed” By IWF Changes To Electoral Schedule and Anti-Doping Rules
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has experienced a string of hurdles recently regarding governance reform, which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made clear they expect from ... Continue Reading
67-Kilogram Weightlifter Liu Weijian Clean & Jerks Unofficial World Record of 190 Kilograms
The 67-kilogram weightlifter Liu Weijian hit a 190-kilogram (419-pound) clean & jerk. The significance of the massive lift — other than the fact that Weijian is only 21 years of age — is that it is two ... Continue Reading
British Weight Lifting Will Not Back Current IWF Interim President Michael Irani For Election
The International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) leadership has been in fairly constant flux over the past year. Ever since former long-time IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján stepped down following ... Continue Reading
ITA Charges Weightlifters Dumitru Captari and Nijat Rahimov With Anti-Doping Violation
Weightlifters Dumitru Captari of Romania and Nijat Rahimov of Kazhakstan have been "provisionally suspended until the resolution of their respective affairs" by the International Weightlifting Federation ... Continue Reading
Ursula Papandrea Announces IWF Presidential Bid, Seeks Leadership Overhaul
On Jan. 14, 2021, the former Vice President and Acting President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Ursula Papandrea announced her bid for the IWF Presidency. According to a release from ... Continue Reading