On Saturday evening, the 4 th of January, 2025, over 7000 spectators gathered to honor Norwegian sports stars, coaches and enthusiasts from all over the country in the multi-purpose indoor arena Trondheim Spektrum.
“Now I felt my voice tremble a little. I didn’t expect that. Of course, I want to thank the jury for voting for me. This means an incredible amount to me.”
Solfrid Koanda stated this from the Norwegian Gala’s stage, when she was named with the title of “Female Athlete of the Year”, during the national Sports Gala. The 26 years old from Grimstad presented herself in earnest to the Norwegian people with her Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 Summer Games. It was Norway’s first gold medal in weightlifting since Leif Jenssen won in Munich 1972 and first female Summer Olympics gold in any sport since Athens 2004. Koanda also won three European Championships gold medals last year. That’s just four years after she began to fully focus on weightlifting.
Koanda thanked her closest supporters:
“I can never show up to a training session or competition alone. Because it takes a team, and I have really succeeded with the people who have been around me.”
With this message, Solfrid Koanda, who broke two Olympic records in Paris to win gold in the women’s 81 Kg category, with a total of 275 Kg, specifically addressed coach Stian Grimseth, who was next to her on this journey and who could not hold back his tears of joy and emotions for this recognition.
Grimseth reacted with pride to his athlete’s words: “It was a beautiful adventure and the outstanding performance managed to give meaning to all the challenges that the small technical team, as Solfrid said, faced during the preparation period. I thank everyone who supported us and especially the Norwegian Olympic Committee. I am very proud.”
Solfrid was equally sincere and grateful on August 10, 2024, in the South Paris Arena and where stood out on the day of her supreme victory and she seemed unaware that she had won the gold and left dejected after failing to lift a world record attempt at 162 Kg, in the clean and jerk. But moments later, the 2022 world 87 Kg champion received the nod and screamed with delight, breaking down in tears as she hugged her team.
“I didn’t do this alone,” she said after receiving her medal. “I have a small team, but I am very grateful that we succeeded together. I don’t feel like I’m alone on that podium.”
EWF extends its sincere congratulations to athlete Solfrid Koanda, coach and President of the Norwegian Weightlifting Federation, Stian Grimseth, as well as to everyone involved for this historic achievement in this Nordic country’s sport.
Norway is organizing this year the World Weightlifting Championships, in Forde, from the 3 rd to the 12 th October, 2025 and Solfrid’s performance could not be a better invitation to take part in this world weightlifting show.