Author: ewfAdmin

By Brian OliverKarlos Nasar made a sensational start in his new weight category of 96kg at the European Championships in Moldova. Within six minutes he had taken the snatch world record from Lesman Paredes, and with the last of his six good lifts he bettered the record on total, which had been set six and a half years ago by Sohrab Moradi. That just leaves Tian Tao’s 231kg clean and jerk to complete the set, which will no doubt be one of Nasar’s targets at the World Championships in Norway in October. He took the European clean and jerk record…

By Brian OliverGermany had its best European Championships result for seven years when Raphael Friedrich surprised the home favourite Marin Robu in front of a noisy audience at the Chisinau Arena. Genna Toko Kegne won the women’s 76kg for a second time. Her only two international results have produced senior European titles for the 22-year-old Italian.The tight 89kg contest between Friedrich and Robu was arguably the best men’s session to date at these Championships. Robu earned the loudest cheer of the week when he edged ahead at halfway with his final snatch, but he could not match Friedrich in clean…

By Brian OliverEyglo Sturludottir lived up to her billing when she won her country’s first ever medals at the European Championships in Moldova. She did it in style by making all six lifts for victory at 71kg, and was presented with her medals by her mother. After a run of consistent improvement, Eyglo was fourth at the World Championships four months ago in Bahrain. Iceland’s national TV station took an interest, and broadcast the session at the Chisinau Arena live.“Everybody was expecting me to win because of all the publicity”, said Eyglo. “That was pressure I didn’t really want. There…

By Brian OliverSarah Davies from Great Britain claimed the best result of her career at the age of 32 when she made all three clean and jerks for victory at 64kg at the European Championships in Chisinau, Moldova.“It’s the first time I’ve heard the British anthem on the podium,” said Davies, who had to fly home overnight because she is now working full time, in an athlete sponsorship programme. “I’ve never had gold medals at world and European competitions, only the Commonwealth Games (for England). “I’ve definitely reframed my mindset with weightlifting because I’m working now. I’m trying to treat…

By Brian OliverAndreea Cotruta held on for victory in a dramatic finish to the women’s 59kg to become Romania’s second female winner at the 2025 European Championships in Chisinau, Moldova. The day’s other champion was Kaan Kahriman, who earned his first senior victory and a third title of the week for Turkiye.There was also a remarkable, medal-winning return to the international stage for a multiple European champion from Latvia. In the five and a half years since her last competition, Rebeka Ibrahima (formerly Rebeka Koha) married, converted to Islam, moved to Qatar and had two children. Ibrahima made all six…

By Brian OliverBulgaria had two champions on the second day of the 2025 European Championships at the Chisinau Arena in Moldova when Angel Rusev and Ivan Dimov won the opening men’s contests at 55kg and 61kg.Garence Rigaud from France won the third medal event of the day, the women’s 55kg, when she made all six attempts to beat last year’s winner Aleksandra Grigoryan from Armenia, who made only two good lifts.Rusev failed twice in snatch and was eighth at halfway but was always confident of victory. He declined his final attempt, shouting “I’m number one!” as he left the platform…

By Brian OliverCansu Bektas from Turkiye won her third straight continental senior title in the first medal event of the 2025 European Championships at the Chisinau Arena – and three hours later the Olympic silver medallist Mihaela Cambei from Romania repeated the feat.Cambei had a scare when she failed with her first two attempts, but she then made four good lifts to finish well clear of the youth world champion Lucia Gonzalez from Spain at 49kg. Bektas and Cambei, both 22, have now been crowned European champion six times including their wins in the youth and junior ranks. Bektas won at…

2025 EWF Electoral Congress was held in Chisinau, Moldova. Delegates from 43 EWF members federations participated and elected new EWF leaderships.Dr. Astrit Hasani is elected as EWF President, Dr Milan Mihajlovic will serve as General Secretary, and Tina Beiter as First Vice-President. The three Vice-Presidents are Jesmond Caruana, Stian Grimseth, Nedim Masic. Other EB elected members are Patrick Helgesson, Dusan Kovac, Tomas Chovanec, Ilva Alushaj, Triin Podersoo, and Patrick Fassott.RESULTSCongratulations to newly elected EWF Leadership. EWF President, 1st Vice President and General Secretary

By Brian OliverAll three of Europe’s Olympic champions were winners on the platform at the opening ceremony for the 2025 European Championships in Chisinau, Moldova on Saturday evening.Karlos Nasar from Bulgaria and Solfrid Koanda from Norway won the 2024 EWF-AIPS Weightlifter of the Year awards and super-heavyweight hero Lasha Talakhadze from Georgia was presented with an EWF gold award for sporting merit. EWF AIPS Europe award winners Solfrid Koanda from Norway won the 2024 EWF-AIPS Weightlifter of the Year award Super-heavyweight Talakhadze, who was male weightlifter of the year in 2021, 2022 and 2023, was recently elected President of the…

By Brian OliverDr Astrit Hasani from Kosovo is the new President of the European Weightlifting Federation. In a head-to-head between two candidates, Dr Hasani polled 24 votes against 19 for the incumbent italian Antonio Conflitti from Moldova.“I am deeply honoured and truly humbled by your confidence to elect me as the President of European Weightlifting Federation,” Dr Hasani told delegates at the EWF Electoral Congress in Chisinau, Moldova, host city for the senior European Championships which begin on Sunday.“I will lead a team who will show genuine transparency. Europe will be truly united and we will choose the best people…