The International Weightlifting Federation has announced the 2024 Refugee Team of four athletes: Parisa Jahanfekrian (originally from Iran, but based in Germany), Aline de Souza and Monique Araujo (both from Brazil, but currently based in the USA) and Addriel Garcia (Cuba/Italy).
The US weightlifters took part in the European Championships in 2024. They did not compete for any medals, but... why was the American country allowed to take part in the European qualifying tournament, and what can this mean for weightlifting and the whole Olympic qualification system?
Don Opeloge broke records and made a significant step forward in the Paris 2024 rankings when he won the 102 kg title for Samoa at the Oceania Championships held in Auckland, New Zealand, from February 21 to 25, the IWF official website reports.
Eight years have passed since Georgian legend Lasha Talakhadze won the European title at the age of 23 in Forde, Norway. Since then, he has given none of his opponents a chance of winning a World, European or Olympic gold medal.
As expected, the fight for gold in the men's 102 kg was breathtaking. Two of the three weightlifters competing for gold will be among the medal contenders at Paris 2024 in one of the toughest weight classes.
Armenia's weightlifters won their third gold and fifth medal at the 2024 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. So far, however, all their medals have come in non-Olympic weight categories.
AIPS Europe and the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) presented the Best Weightlifter of the Year awards during the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. The EWF has extended the project in 2022 through a strategic partnership with AIPS Europe.
Karlos Nasar was too strong for his opponents on Day 6 of the 2024 European Weightlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Antonino Pizzolato fought to the end but could not regain the European title.
Two more 2023 European champions defended their titles at the Sofia 2024 European Weightlifting Championships. Loreadna Toma of Romania won the women's 71 kg, while Oscar Reyes of Italy was the best in the men's 81 kg.
Bulgaria's Bozhidar Andreev returned to his best form to top of the European podium in the men's -73 kg category for the first time in five years.
Returning European champions Kamila Konotop (Ukraine) and Gor Sahakyan (Armenia) defended their titles on Day 3 of the 2024 European Weightlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Bulgarian athletes Angel Rusev and Gabriel Marinov won the first gold medals for the host country on the second day of the 2024 European Weightlifting Championships.
On the first day of the 2024 European Weightlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, the two lightest women's categories were contested.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has announced the appointment as CEO of Achilleas Tsogas, who will take up his duties on 1 March 2024 at the headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The 2024 European Weightlifting Championships will be held from 12-20 February in Sofia, Bulgaria. This is a qualifying competition for Paris 2024. Athletes will therefore need to perform at their best to improve their position in the Olympic rankings.