NR.136 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF INTERNATIONAL WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION WEIGHTLIFTING WITH 2 WORLD RECORDS KOSTOVA BEST OF 2015 HOUSTON WORLD BOYANKA CHAMPIONSHIPS JÓZSEF SZAKA JÓZSEF PHOTO 2015 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS HOUSTON SPECIAL for champions since 1957. Eleiko Sport AB • Korsvägen 31, SE-302 56 Halmstad, Sweden • Phone: +46 (0) 35 17 70 70 • [email protected] • www.eleikosport.com Published by International Weightlifting Federation DR. TAMÁS AJÁN IWF President IOC Honorary Member MA WENGUANG IWF General Secretary Editor-in-Chief KORNÉL JANCSÓ Senior Editor ANIKÓ NÉMETH-MÓRA Communication Director LILLA ROZGONYI Photos JÓZSEF SZAKA Art Editor IVETT TÓTH GALVAN A. STEPHEN PHOTO Graphic Design Marcell Studio (www.marcelltamas.hu) CONTENTS No.136 Spanish & Russian Editions DAVID COLON ARROYO MARINA SHAFIT 02 | Foreword ÁGNES LUKÁCSFALVI 04-41 | 2015 IWF World Championships Printed by TypoNova – Houston, USA (www.typonova.hu) All communications: 06-19 | Women’s categories [email protected] 20-21 | Faces - Photo pages www.iwf.net facebook.com/iwfnet twitter.com/iwfnet 22-41 | Men’s categories instagram.com/iwfnet youtube.com/iwfmedia 43 | Interview with Dr. Patrick Schamasch Any articles, results or photos published in 44 | Russian Federation President’s WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING may be reproduces without Cup 2015 Grand Prix the written consent of the IWF, however, reference should be made to this publication. 47 | Rio 2016 Update CHAMP LD IO R N O S W H I F P S W 20 ISSN 0230-3035 I 15 H O T X U S T O N , WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 1 › EDITORIALFOREWORD FOREWORD BY THE IWF PRESIDENT created, albeit it might give a power- important landmarks in our calendar ful impetus to the popularization and but there should be absolutely no spreading of weightlifting in North- doubt about it: the Olympic Games America. The problem seems to me are the ultimate summits in our life. the lack of a dedicated senior official Rio 2016 has to face high expecta- in the USA Weightlifting Federation, tions. The Southern part of the someone who would consider it as a Pan-American continent has never life mission. I am slightly disappoint- hosted the Olympic Games before; ed because I thought that the success eventually, this fact shifted the ballot ear Friends, of Houston 2015 would motivate the heavily towards Rio when the IOC dear Readers, leaders of the American Federation decided about the Games organiser in I look back on the year of to be active internationally, ultimately Copenhagen. In the present context of 2015 as a very successful perhaps making their way to the lead- expectations and delivery, we can say one in weightlifting. The ership of the International Federation that weightlifting is lucky because the Dfocus was undoubtedly on the second in the next elections. To my regret, in venue situation is settled. Our venue, main Olympic Qualification event, the contrast, shortly after the conclusion an Exhibition Hall is ready, waiting World Championships in Houston. of the World Championships even the for the weightlifting stage to be set From many points of view, Houston Chief Executive Officer – whom I had alongside some other sports. We 2015 was one of the most success- regarded as a potential international also have a very capable colleague in ful in history and certainly it was the candidate – left the Federation and at place with Pedro Meloni, Weightlift- most spectacular ever held. That the moment I cannot see who can fill ing Sport Manager of Rio 2016. Pedro should be recognised since the stag- the void, who will guide the vessel of has been very active, busy coming to ing of this World Championships will the USAW forward on the wind raised all our major events for the last three serve as a benchmark for all future by the world event. years, learning constantly, who has organisers and we owe gratitude to The other subject I need to address is truly become an expert in weightlift- the American hosts in Houston. Rio de Janeiro. We have a number of ing events. I know he and his staff The level of the performances on stage equalled the presentation: we saw many outstanding lifters and results. The World Championships, our “crown jewel” event, was hosted by the United States last year. I have been speaking my conviction for decades that by elevating the stand- ard of weightlifting in the US, if that country achieved better results the whole sport would gain a lot. Success and popularity of weightlifting in the US would enhance weightlifting on a global scale in its presentation, mar- keting, communication, TV broadcast- ing, etc. A good event in the US may have an impact and the US Federa- tion can contribute significantly. The fact that the number of countries broadcasting the WWC exceeded all previous records is remarkable. What is, however, regrettable for me is that I’m afraid USA Weightlifting is unable to draw due benefit from hav- Dr. Tamás Aján with Ms. Janis Burke, CEO of Houston County Sports Authority and the ing hosted such a successful major “head-and-heart” of the organisation event. They cannot ride on the waves 2 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING will their best to tion to each of these competitions and secure the best condi- makes sure they are staged as per the tions. And of course he required standards. In Europe Norway, has the backing and in Africa Cameroon, in Oceania Fiji, the advice from both in Pan-America Colombia and in Asia Technical Delegates Uzbekistan will be the organisers. All of the IWF: Sam Coffa, of them have the potential to meet the Vice President and qualification event’s requirements. Chairman of our Tech- There are two further opportunities nical Committee, and Attila Ádámfi, for individual lifters to earn their Director General. So, I am not worried tickets to Rio through the ranking list: about the weightlifting events in Rio. the Russian President’s Cup in March I am saying this knowing that the in Kazan and the International Fajr Organising Committee is rationally Cup in Teheran at the end of May. The reducing the budget and the costs, but IWF is trying to be fair and enables I believe what we need for weightlift- all those athletes deserving to get to ing we shall get; therefore our sport the Olympic Games. Everybody has a will not be affected by the budget cut chance to win eligibility to participate as gravely as eventually and regretta- this summer. To make sure that hap- bly some other sports might be. pens the IWF relies on the collabora- In order to establish the final en- tion of the five Continental Federa- try list for Rio 2016 – now past the tions, the five host Federations as Almaty and Houston Qualification well as with the hosts of both primary World Championships – Continental Grand Prix: Russia and Iran. Qualification events will take place on each of the five continents, as some The IWF President opening the 2015 IWF WWC additional slots are still “on sale”. The DR. TAMÁS AJÁN IWF devotes equal and great atten- IWF PRESIDENT Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend, retired Houston Rockets star lit the flame at the Opening Ceremony and familiarized with IWF leaders WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 3 › 2015 IWF WWC - HOUSTON TEXT: ANIKÓ NÉMETH-MÓRA PHOTO: JÓZSEF SZAKA CHAMP LD IO R N O S W H I F P S W 20 TEXAS STAGES BIG I 15 H O T X WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS U S T O N , 2015 IWF WWC - HOUSTON ualification Weightlifting World Championships its spectacular and amazing presentation, marketing, in the USA? In a country where – excuse my media response, television broadcasting and, last but not words – you have to add the attribute “Olympic” least, a new record in the number of countries participat- to the sport discipline’s name to differentiate ing (94). The compact location of the spacious competi- it from its better known relatives, e.g. power- tion and training venue, the George R. Brown Convention Qlifting? And why in Houston, Texas, of all places, where Center, and the 5-star accommodation next door with this sport has no real traditions? Those were justified quality meals made it possible for athletes to bring their questions when the IWF Executive Board allocated 2015’s maximum onstage. Against the coulisse of the astonishing peak event, the last major stop prior to the 2016 Olympic gigantic led walls spectators could enjoy exciting competi- Games, to the USA Federation and to the city of Houston, tions with world records. Thank you to Houston, thank you in particular. However, the IWF is not afraid of challenges, to USA! and – luckily – those who undertook the organisation of the 2015 IWF WWC expressly like challenges; moreover, they are inspired to create something that did not exist before. And once they are doing something in the US they want it to be the biggest ever, the most successful ever. Indeed, the creative team under the baton of Ms Janis Burke, CEO of the Houston County Sports Authority and of the Organising Committee did manage to produce something unprecedented and leave a legacy for the sport in one of the “most American” States. Right from the moment they started to design the event in col- laboration with USA Weightlifting, their ambition was “to make the Dream come true”. We can state with apprecia- tion and at the same time with gratitude that Houston managed to bring into being an unprecedented event with At the Congress two new Members were inducted to the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: Karyn Marshall, 1st USA World Champion 1987, and Tara Cunningham-Nott, USA, the 1st Female Olympic Champion 4 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING › 2015 IWF WWC - HOUSTON As in combination with the 2014 Almaty WWC altogether 108 precious men’s and 67 women’s Rio 2016 spots were on offer, the stake was high and some countries and ath- letes took risks they should not have.