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Malta Weightlifting Association celebrates triumphs at Malta Sports Journalists Association Awards Night

In a dazzling night filled with excitement and celebration, the Malta Weightlifting Association took centre stage, revelling in their success in elevating the status of weightlifting on the island. The highlight of the evening was Tenishia Thornton's remarkable achievement as she clinched the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year award during the 64th edition final night organised by the Malta Sports Journalists Association. The honour was bestowed upon Thornton by Hon. Clifton Grima, the Minister responsible for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, alongside Sandro Micallef, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association. Thornton's outstanding contributions to the sport were recognised with this coveted title, marking a significant milestone in her career. Kim Camilleri Lagana and Tenishia Thornton Adding to the association's triumphs, Kim Camilleri Lagana secured the Youth Woman Athlete of the Year, following in the footsteps of her teammate Tenishia Thornton, who had previously won this title for three consecutive years. This duo's exceptional performances highlight the depth of talent within the Malta Weightlifting Association. Rylee Borg, nominated for the Youth Man Athlete of the Year, and Jesmond Caruana in the Official of the Year categories, earned well-deserved places in the top five finalists, showcasing the association's all-encompassing impact on the sport. The award ceremony, broadcasted live on local TV, revealed a total of 12 honours, with seven determined by the jury's votes. Among these accolades were the People’s Choice Award, the International Sports Event of the Year, and the newly introduced Sport for Social Change Award, chosen by the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association. Additionally, two awards were presented upon the nomination of Special Olympics Malta, adding a layer of inclusivity and recognising the broader impact of sports on society. Rylee Borg, Kim Lagana, Jesmond Caruana and Tenishia Thornton The Malta Weightlifting Association's success at the awards night underscores their commitment to promoting and developing weightlifting on the island, solidifying their position as a key player in the Maltese sports landscape. As they bask in the glory of their achievements, the association looks forward to continuing its efforts in bringing the weightlifting sport to new heights in Malta. News sent by Malta’s Weightlifting

IWF visits Norway and confirms that the 2025 Worlds are on the right track

The IWF President Mohammed Jalood led the visit of an IWF delegation to Oslo (NOR) to meet the organisers of the 2025 IWF World Championships taking place in Forde. The IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso and the IWF Communications and Marketing Manager Pedro Adrega were also in the Norwegian capital, where the group was welcomed by the President of the national weightlifting federation, Stian Grimseth and his team. During the encounter with the hosts of the 2025 IWF showcase, various aspects related with the organisation of the event were discussed, namely the competition and training venue, the accommodation plan, the anti-doping procedures, the medal ceremonies’ protocols, the TV production of the competition, and the involvement of the local population in the Championships. Stian Grimseth (second from left, President of the NOR Weightlifting Federation), Antonio Urso (in the middle, IWF General Secretary), Sondre Sande Gullord (third from right, Vice-President of the Norwegian Olympic Committee), Mohammed Jalood (second from right, IWF President) Being a small city (15’000 inhabitants) in the western part of Norway, the municipality of Forde, together with the hosts of the event, are planning to have the medal ceremonies outside of the competition venue, in a central place of the town, where every night a festival of light and music will be organised for the citizens of Forde. The engagement of the local schools was also highlighted and the hosts’ intention is to daily fill the 2’000 places available at the Championships’ site. During its visit to Oslo, the IWF delegation had the opportunity to also meet with the Vice-President of the Norwegian Olympic Committee, Mr Sondre Sande Gullord. The IWF President underlined the strong support that our International Federation is bringing to the organisers of the event, and highlighted that the level of professionalism related with the staging of the Championships is remarkable. The national Olympic responsible, in return, confessed that the sport community in his country is looking forward to what will probably be the most attended (in terms of nations) World Championships ever staged in Norway. The competition is expected to attract lifters from 120 countries. The city of Forde “We had a very fruitful visit to Oslo and we confirmed the excellent impression we had about the enthusiasm and motivation of Stian and his team. I strongly believe that the 2025 IWF World Championships will be a great success and a milestone in our history. For the first time ever, a Test Event will be held in October this year (12 months before the actual event), and we will have the opportunity to evaluate the outstanding preparation for the competition,” declared Mr Jalood. “Norway is getting a very strong position in international weightlifting, thanks to some athletes at the top of the world ranking. The IWF World Championships in 2025 will reinforce this winning strategy and will provide one important additional inspiration for the youngest lifters of this nation,” concluded the IWF President. From the organisers’ side, Mr Grimseth was also a happy man at the end of the IWF visit. “We want to test new solutions and implement innovative approaches to weightlifting during the IWF World Championships in 2025. It is very positive to note that the IWF leadership is quite open and receptive to these novelties. Our goal with this competition is to open a new era in our beloved weightlifting, a sport that needs to be closer to its fans. The choice of Forde is ideal for the implementation of that strategy,” said the President of the Norwegian Weightlifting Federation. “We thank the IWF for the trust and support and we promise that the weightlifting family will live an unforgettable experience in 2025!” Mr Grimseth concluded.   IWF

Four lifters integrate the 2024 IWF Refugee Team

The IWF is happy to announce its Refugee Team for the year 2024, comprised of four athletes: Parisa Jahanfekrian (originally from Iran, but residing in Germany), Aline de Souza and Monique Araujo (both from Brazil, but presently based in the USA), and Addriel Garcia (Cuba/Italy). These lifters were already part of the first-ever programme in 2023, and will therefore have additional opportunities during the upcoming months to compete at the IWF events. Applicants for the team could apply until January 31, 2024. Besides these athletes, directly selected by the IWF, all lifters that are part of the IOC Refugee Team will also join the group. In 2024, the selected coach to manage the team in Aveenash Pandoo, former IWF Coaching and Research Committee Member, currently working as Head Coach in Abu Dhabi Weightlifting Club. The team is completed by Hussein Elsettawi, a physiotherapist. Monique Araujo (BRA) In accordance with the eligibility rules for the IWF Refugee Team (the 2024 Policy can be consulted here), athletes must be officially recognised as refugees in their country, in accordance with the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and may be entered in IWF events. Asylum seekers are not accepted in the programme and all lifters are required to have a travel document and must comply with article 5.5.16 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules, by which whereabouts information of the athletes shall be submitted at minimum three months prior to the event. Finally, all athletes and support personnel must complete the WADA ADEL online course before competing and present their certificate to the IWF/ITA. In accordance with article 17.2.2 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules, the IWF may also decide to request that athletes complete education activities before and/or during their participation in selected events as a condition of such participation. The 2024 IWF Refugee Team programme will be effective until the conclusion of the IWF World Championships, next December in Manama (BRN). While these athletes are not part of the Olympic Qualification system (with the exception of the lifters included in the IOC scholarship holders’ list), they will be able to attend IWF competitions throughout the year and will be invited to take part in at least one training camp during the year. “After a very successful launch of the IWF Refugee Team in 2023, we are pleased to proceed with the programme. This is once in a lifetime opportunity for these lifters, and I will personally never forget the satisfaction of the two Brazilian lifters who were able to compete at last year’s IWF World Championships in Riyadh. These athletes have experienced quite challenging situations during their existence, but their passion for the sport remained unchanged,” considered the IWF President Mohammed Jalood. “I wish all the lifters included in this group the best luck and I look forward to seeing them performing at the highest level in our competitions,” concluded Mr Jalood. IWF

Caracas, Day 5: Home hero Vallenilla takes ‘zero stress’ route in quest for another Olympic medal

Keydomar Vallenilla was a picture of calm even when lifting 212kg above his head on the way to victory for Venezuela at the Pan American Championships. The host nation ended the final day with three winners and a big move in the Olympic rankings by women’s super-heavyweight silver medallist Naryury Perez. “Zero stress, just the way I like it,” Vallenilla said after making 170-212-382 for a sweep of golds at 96kg, the weight at which he won silver in the Tokyo Olympic Games. He weighed in light at 89.85kg because and he is now an 89kg athlete. There is no 96kg category in Paris. Media interest around Keydomar Vallenilla (VEN) Vallenilla decided not to go head-to-head for a second time with Yeison Lopez from Colombia. At the Pan American Games in October, Vallenilla finished 1kg ahead of Lopez at 89kg. “I look forward to competing with Yeison again, he is a very strong athlete,” Vallenilla said. “But the real contest is in Paris, not here. It made sense to go at 96, I could relax, I could just make four lifts. It was very exciting, and also it was very calm.” Vallenilla declined his final snatch and his last clean and jerk. He made the other four lifts to finish with the same total Lopez made for victory at 89kg the night before. Keydomar Vallenilla (VEN) Gregorio Machado from Brazil withdrew at halfway, leaving Neiser Grefa from Ecuador to take second place 44kg behind Vallenilla on 148-190-338. Norwin Washington from Nicaragua was the only other finisher on 140-167-307. Interest in the 102kg Olympic category focused on Jhonatan Rivas from Colombia, who is 8kg below the top 10 in the rankings. Rivas retired with a shoulder injury after missing his opening snatch on 175kg. He has about six weeks to regain fitness and make a big total at the IWF World Cup, the final qualifier in Thailand from March 31 till April 11. Jeyson Arias won, making it two in a row for Venezuela. Arias made 163-212-375, ahead of Oscar Garces from Colombia on 168-201-369 and another Venezuelan, Jhohan Sanguino on 163-202-365. The Pan American Games gold medallist Rafael Cerro was a clear winner of the men’s super-heavyweights on 177-216-393. Cerro, who totalled 410kg last time out, has not competed in enough events to be eligible for Paris, but the lifters who finished second and third are. Men's +109kg podium Hernan Viera from Peru put 20kg on his best total despite failing with two snatches, finishing 150-215-365. That puts him 6kg behind Josue Medina from Mexico in the Paris rankings. Medina made only two good lifts for 161-200-361. One of these two could take a continental place in Paris. The big mover in the women’s super-heavyweights was Naryury Perez from Venezuela. She put 9kg on her best qualifying total and moved into the top 10 on 117-148-265. Lisseth Ayovi from Ecuador won on 118-151-269. When Ayovi, already assured of a place in Paris, went for a career-best clean and jerk of 158kg on her final attempt it did not go well. She lost her footing and did the splits before hitting the platform hard. Ayovi, who weighed in heaviest at 134kg, was helped off after treatment and hobbled back for the medal ceremony. She left the arena in a wheelchair. Arantzazu Pavez from Chile was third on 105-130-235. Crismery Santana from Dominican Republic, who withdrew after weigh-in, lost 10th place in the rankings. Venezuela had a third winner when Dayana Chirinos made 102-138-240 in the 87kg. Sirley Montano from Colombia was second on 103-136-239 and Dayana Mina from Ecuador third on 101-131-232. Only two athletes lifted in the men’s 109kg. Yeimar Mendoza from Colombia won on 152-190-342 ahead of Nicolas Cuevas from Chile on 151-180-331. Yeison Lopez won the best individual lifter award for men, and Neisi Dajomes from Ecuador was top woman. By Brian Oliver You can follow the exciting Pan-American Championships in Caracas, on @panampesas official Youtube channel at:

Caracas, Day 4: Olympic champion Dajomes misses big chance for Paris in timing mix-up 

The Tokyo Olympic champion Neisi Dajomes is in danger of failing to qualify for Paris 2024 after a mix-up over timing and numbers at the Pan American Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. Dajomes had already won the 81kg category by a wide margin with a lift to spare. She needed 4kg more to overtake her Ecuador team-mate Tamara Salazar and move into fourth place in the Olympic rankings. That meant 145kg was the target. Dajomes has made it before at 76kg, the weight at which she won gold in Tokyo. But her coaching team, led by the Russian Alexei Ignatov, changed from 145 to 146 and apparently got the timing wrong. Neisi Dajomes and her team Dajomes ran on to the platform with 11 seconds on the clock, used a few of them to tighten her belt, and had no time to compose herself. She got the bar off the ground with two seconds to spare but never looked like making the lift. She broke her own continental record in snatch but 121-141-262 was not enough. Salazar, a silver medallist at 87kg in Tokyo, remains in fourth place on 265kg with one qualifier to come, the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand from March 31 until April 11. Nations can send only one athlete per weight category. There was a lot of animated discussion in the warm-up room afterwards. Ecuador tried to make a challenge. The jury president Italo Barrattini from Chile refused it and explained, “The coach made an error, he did not understand the two-minute clock rule.” The coach thought Dajomes had two minutes when she had one. There could be a further twist for Dajomes. Salazar was taken to hospital by ambulance when she suffered a lower back injury while warming up at the Pan American Games in Chile in October. She has not made a lift in qualifying since June. If she does not travel to Phuket and weigh in, she will not be eligible for Paris. Yudelina Meija from Dominican Republic and Laura Amaro from Brazil were second and third behind Dajomes, both lower than their best qualifying total. Mejia was second on 108-136-244 and Amaro third on 108-135-243. Dajomes’ younger sister Angie Palacios was an easy winner of the women’s 71kg on a day when nobody made any gains in the rankings. Snatch world record holder Palacios made four good lifts and declined the other two, finishing with a sweep of golds on 110-130-240. Neisi Dajomes after the snatch record The silver and bronze snatch medallists both failed to make a total. Yeniuska Mirabal from Cuba, 17th In the rankings, retired at halfway because of a thigh injury, which will not be serious enough to stop her competing in the World Cup. Then 11th-placed Amanda Schott from Brazil was helped off the platform with a leg muscle injury after missing two clean and jerks. She also retired. It is a race against time but coach Dragos Doru Stanica is hopeful that Schott will lift in Thailand. Mari Sanchez from Colombia was second on 104-128-232, which is 12kg lower than her best qualifying total. She remains seventh. Third place went to Diana Garcia from Mexico on 93-126-219. Nataly Geerman (ARU) with her medals Nataly Geerman made a little bit of history when she finished second in the 76kg to win Aruba’s fist ever medal at the Pan American Championships. “I didn’t expect to win anything against these athletes,” said Geerman. “I’m not a full-time weightlifter. I have a job in security at the airport, so it’s difficult. I’m going out to celebrate with a big meal – Angus steak.” Geerman, 25, has improved since working with Ecuadorian coach Walter Llerena, who was Dajomes’ coach for years before being replaced by Ignatov. Hellen Escobar from Colombia won on 95-126-221, declining her final attempt. Geerman made a career-best 90-125-215, and Bella Paredes from Ecuador was third on 95-115-210. Yeison Lopez from Colombia continued his run of impressive results and underlined his Olympic medal potential by winning the men’s 89kg. Lopez, 25, made five good lifts on 175-207-382. Yeison Lopez (COL) It might have been six from six and a world record at the José ‘Papa’ Carrillo Gymnasium. The number 181 went up for his third snatch attempt. That would have given him at shot at Li Dayin’s world record, but the 181 soon changed to two yellow lines signifying that Lopez had declined the attempt. “Maybe next time,” he said, looking ahead to the World Cup. “My results show that things are going well. I hope to break the world and Pan American snatch records in Thailand.” The popular Venezuelan Keydomar Vallenilla, who beat Lopez by 1kg at the Pan American Games in October, lifts at 96kg on Wednesday, the final day of the Championships. Arley Mendez took silver for Chile on 170-205-375. He is not eligible for Paris after missing the World Championships last September. Olfides Saez from Cuba improved his best qualifying total by 4kg on 160-206-366, which leaves him 14th in the rankings. Boady Santavy from Canada, one place below the top 10, retired after missing his second and third snatches. “It’s disappointing because training has gone really well,” he said. “I don’t know why but I just didn’t feel good today, and my head wasn’t there for the 207 clean and jerk I’d have needed (to move up a few places). It wasn’t worth risking it.” By Brian Oliver You can follow the exciting Pan-American Championships in Caracas, on @panampesas official Youtube channel at:

Caracas, Day 3: Mosquera makes last lift and Mayora bombs out in dramatic battle of Olympic medallists

Luis Javier Mosquera moved into the top 10 of the Olympic rankings on a night of red lights and high drama at the Pan American Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. Julio Mayora’s noisy army of fans watched their home-nation hero fail three times to finish off a clean and jerk, leaving fellow Olympic silver medallist Mosquera to take the 73kg title for Colombia. Mosquera had also missed two jerks but he made his last one. His 153-184-337 moved Mosquera up from 14th to eighth in the Paris 2024 lists and knocked Furkan Ozbek from Turkey out of the top 10. Mayora is down one place to 12th, 3kg short of the top 10. His last chance to make up that deficit is in the final qualifier, the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand from March 31-April 11. Men's 73kg podium Mayora versus Mosquera – silver medallists in Tokyo at 73kg and 67kg respectively - was a gripping, noisy contest from start to finish, enlivened by a band of drummers among Mayora’s many fans at the José ‘Papa’ Carrillo Gymnasium. Mosquera, who will be 29 next month, missed his opener on 150kg, made it next time and finished on 153kg in snatch, his best effort by 3kg in an Olympic qualifying period blighted by injury. Mosquera had returned to training last August after a 15-month absence because of hand, adductor and shoulder injuries. Mayora made 147kg and 151kg, then took the lead at halfway after a prolonged jury review of his final attempt on 154kg. He seemed to drop the bar above shoulder height but got the benefit of the doubt. Mayora's fans In clean and jerk, Mosquera missed twice at 180kg after seemingly easy cleans. He went up to 184kg, sending Mayora out to the platform. When Mayora also failed twice, the Tokyo medallists were in big trouble. The Venezuelan Reinner Arango had finished 9kg down on his winning total at the World Juniors last November but was leading on 138-170-308 with two attempts to come. Mosquera took his final chance, making 184kg and spending a while on his knees as if in prayer after the lift. It was 4kg better than any other lift he had made in qualifying. The drummers and screaming fans raised the noise level again. For a third time Mayora could not make 184kg. Mosquera had won, 19-year-old Arango was second, and the Mexican Jorge Cardenas was third on 140-160-300. Nine lifters from four continents are within 10kg of Mosquera’s 337kg total so he cannot take anything for granted. It should be a session to savour in Thailand. There was better news for Venezuela in the women’s 59kg when Anyelin Venegas won and boosted her chances for Paris. Venegas became the only top-10 athlete to make ground in the rankings in a month when all five continental championships have taken place.  Four of the top 10 did not compete, waiting instead for the World Cup. Five others failed to improve on their best total. Anyelin Venegas (VEN) Venegas jumped from ninth to sixth by making all her clean and jerks for victory on 100-126-226. In the process she overtook Janeth Gomez from Mexico, who drops to ninth. Gomez and Genesis Rodriguez, also from Venezuela, both failed with their last two attempts and finished 5kg behind Venegas. Rodriguez, who improved her best qualifying total by 3kg, got there first on 101-120-221 for second place while Gomez made 100-121-221 in third. “That’s awesome, fantastic!” Venegas said after learning of her new ranking position. “I equalled my best snatch and it was my best clean and jerk. “It was a very hard preparation for my first international competition here in Venezuela. I couldn’t be happier.” Colombia took first and third place in the women’s 64kg, with teenager Charlotte Simoneau second in her first senior competition outside Canada. Rosive Silgado, competing internationally for the first time since 2021, made 95-125-220 for victory. Her team-mate Rosalba Morales made 94-115-209. Second-placed Simoneau, 18, missed her final two attempts in making 96-116-212. That was a career-best snatch but down 1kg on the total she made in finishing second at the World Juniors. Colombia took the men’s 81kg, in which only three lifted. Edwin Lagarejo won on 143-170-313, Richard Ollo was second for Venezuela on 137-168-305 and Ariel Galeano from Argentina third on 130-160-290. By Brian Oliver You can follow the exciting Pan-American Championships in Caracas, on @panampesas official Youtube channel at: