News and Media

News

Vasily Ivanovich Alekseyev would have turned 75

On January 7th, the greatest weightlifter of our times would have been 75 years old. The super heavyweight category weightlifter began practicing weightlifting at the age of 18; even so he reached outstanding accomplishments as a member of the Soviet Team he has two Olympics, eight- eight World and European Championships Medals. It was the beginning of a series of 80 world records Alekseyev set between 1970 and 1977. During the best 8 years of his career, he won all national competitions in the men’s category +110 kg. Alekseyev’s 1972 world record for a combined lifting total of 645 kilograms still stands, as it can’t be beaten because one of the lifts has since been removed. The 186cm tall, 160kg giant who had long suffered heart problems died of a heart attack in 2011 at the age of 69 in a clinic in Germany; where he won his first Olympic Gold medal at the 1972 Munich Games. In Montreal, Alekseyev’s clean-and-jerk, combined with his Olympic Record 185 kg in the Snatch, gave him his second consecutive Olympic Gold in 1976. The strongest man in the world - as Sports Illustrated magazine called him - failed to defend his Olympic title in Moscow in 1980 after being hampered in the snatch by an old injury. He retired, but went on to coach a unified team of former Soviet weightlifters at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where the team won ten medals - five golds. The big Russian who popularized the sport was elected to the weightlifting Hall of Fame in 1993 by the IWF and voted as the all-time best sportsman of his country. He lived quietly in Shakhty, located on the south-eastern spur of Donetsk mountain ridge, 75 kilometres northeast of Rostov-on-Don; and in the centre of the town next to the stadium there is a 5,6 m tall Vasily Alekseyev

Trinidad and Tobago Development Program

In October 2015, the Trinidad and Tobago Weightlifting Federation working in partnership with University of Trinidad and Tobago was pleased to announce the first credited weightlifting foundation research course recognized by the International Weightlifting Federation. The event was a huge success. Going for gold has been sponsored by the IWF in October 2016. The outcome of the course is to give students the tools through education to set up clubs around the island. The course`s long term goal is to have representation of Trinidad and Tobago both nationally and internationally. The lack of qualified coaches is the biggest challenge Trinidad faces regarding Olympic weightlifting development. TTOWF through education aims to implement the correct training mindset and health thru safety approach to the sport. The support of the International Weightlifting Federation has made it possible, to reach those in need of having an expert teach them coaching skills. Trinidad and Tobago Weightlifting Federation is able to demonstrate the benefits of weightlifting and involve everyone in the community.

Rebeka Koha, Rising Sports Star of the Year

NBA basketball club New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis and heptathlete Laura Ikauniece-Admidina were named the Athletes of the Year at the 12th Latvian Annual Sports Awards ceremony in December, 2016. The other contenders were skeleton racer Martins Dukurs and his brother Tomass Dukurs, boxer Mairis Briedis, bobsledder Oskars Melbardis, and sprint canoer Aleksejs Rumjancevs. Rebeka Koha, the weightlifter who took fourth place at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, was named the Rising Sports Star of the Year. The national men's basketball team received the award as Latvia's Team of the Year even though they failed to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics. The Lattelecom Riga Marathon was named Mass Sporting Event of the Year. Source:

Ken Carr-Braint passed away

In 1954, Ken Carr-Braint founded the Apollo Barbell Club in an empty garage. As of today, the club became one of the most respected weightlifting training centres in Canada, producing international and national champions. Founder of the Ontario Weightlifting Association and the Ontario and Canadian youth championships, Carr-Braint also tackled the administrative side of the sport when he became president of the Canadian Weightlifting Federation and served on the organizing committee for several world championship events. He was also a weightlifting official, presiding over competition at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Later, Carr-Braint helped physically challenged individuals through weightlifting. "That,” he once said, “is another kind of victory.” In 1992, Carr-Braint was inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame. Two years ago, the Apollo club was recognized with a special award presented by the Ontario Weightlifting Association for more than 60 years of outstanding service to the sport. He passed away on December 25th, 2016 at the age of 88. Ken Carr-Braint contribution to the sport of weightlifting is worthy of recognition and it is with deep sorrow that the IWF presents its condolences to his Family. Source: Moira