The European Weightlifting Federation is pleased to publish a historical and strategic reflection on the development of European junior weightlifting, authored by Gerhard Peya, President of the Austrian Weightlifting Federation and Member of the European Weightlifting Federation Historical & Statistical Commission.
This contribution highlights key milestones in junior weightlifting and examines the profound structural transformation the sport has undergone—particularly with regard to equality, governance, and modernization.
The EWF expresses its sincere thanks to Mr. Peya for sharing his expertise and insights, which help preserve the history of our sport and inspire its future development.
Prepared by Gerhard Peya, President of the Austrian Weightlifting Federation; Member of the Historical Commission of the European Weightlifting Federation
The Structural Transformation of Weightlifting in Europe
For decades, weightlifting was considered a male-dominated sport. However, this dynamic is changing significantly. The structural transformation taking place in European weightlifting is evident. The European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) has placed equality and modernisation at the heart of its strategic priorities—an approach that has been reinforced under the leadership of President Dr Astrit Hasani, whose vision has driven new internal dynamics that expand female participation at all levels.
His tenure has been marked by a clear intention to open up new avenues, renew structures, and promote a more diverse ecosystem capable of meeting current challenges. Thanks to this momentum, more and more women are taking on influential roles, shaping technical criteria and making decisions that will shape the future of the sport—creating a way of working that is more open and better prepared for global developments.
50 Years of History
We can look back on more than 50 years of junior weightlifting history. European athletes have always been strongly represented. Many renowned European medal winners later became world champions in the senior category, or even Olympic champions. The introduction of these championships can therefore be regarded as an epoch-making achievement.
First Junior World and European Championships in Marseille (1975)
The first Junior World and European Championships marked the beginning of a new era in weightlifting. The attached file shows how participation numbers have developed—rising year after year, especially from a European perspective.
For several years, when the championships were held in Europe, they served as both the World and the European Championships. This tradition continued, with a few exceptions, until 1990. From 1991 onwards, the EWF organised the European Junior Championships independently.
A New Era
1998 was a milestone year, as female competitors took part for the first time. The steadily growing share of female participants is clear: it was around 30% in the early years, gradually increased to 40%, and today stands at 50%.
In 2010, another age group was added: the U23, a European speciality. This format—European Junior & U23 Championships—remains in place today.
Changes to the Categories
At the beginning, there were 9 categories. From 1977 to 1997 (20 years), there were 10 categories. From 1998 onwards, there was a longer period with 8 categories for men and 7 for women.
The 10 categories used in 2024 are not directly comparable with earlier systems. It is to be hoped that the now fixed 8+8 categories will remain valid for a long time to come. — © GP
You can view the results and medals from the first European Junior Championships, held in Marseille, France, from 5–12 July 1975. The results were prepared by Zbigniew Gorlewski and will soon be incorporated into the EWF Sports results database.
