News

[strapping]

I'm not sure what to make of this but we appear to have our answer on the metric that will be used to determine the 'best lifter of the quad', and with it the earning of the extra slot for that country at the LA Games.

https://iwf.sport/2026/04/22/iwf-introd ... ts-system/

The methodology is slightly different but it's essentially Q points in new clothing.

Superheavyweights are not as good at weightlifting if they are fat and tall (i.e. Lasha 492@182.9, GAMX = 1170.94), even if they lift more than skinnier superheavyweights (Djuraev 446@121.6, GAMX = 1274.4)

Lasha, despite breaking ATWRs, is not as good as Li Fabin or Karlos Nasar, who do not break any ATWRs.

Chen Lijun 339 @ 66.92 is better than Lasha, despite adding only about 6kg to his own 62kg WR (probably because he was getting older), and 16kg behind the 67.5kg WR.

Lalayan (467@153.15, GAMX = 1179.54), is inferior to Liu Huanhua at the World Cup (413@101.84, GAMX = 1201.61) and superior to Lasha. Who he loses to every time.

The attempt to develop a theory of everything is foolish, and the junior dataset is extremely limited (USAW junior competitions only? Really?).
I wish people would actually look at this critically and realise it's not representative how anyone actually looks at weightlifting results.

Sinclair works well enough, because it doesn't get bloated trying to be everything for everyone.

[erpel]

It never works because no SHW wants to lift 450@140 if he could do 455@160 instead.

[strapping]

https://iwf.sport/2026/05/21/media-statement/

Moving back to the IOC?

[Hawkpeter]

https://iwf.sport/2026/05/21/media-statement/

Moving back to the IOC?

Is it really a CEO position when there is an Executive Board? It seems unclear what his role has been, and if its actually a COO position.

[Hawkpeter]

I can see arguments for and against this.

https://iwf.sport/2026/06/26/iwf-execut ... wf-events/

[strapping]

I can see arguments for and against this.

https://iwf.sport/2026/06/26/iwf-execut ... wf-events/

The IWF is essentially just following the IOC's directives behind closed doors. Regardless of opinions pulling this or that direction internally, the IWF must follow the IOC to keep itself in the Olympics.

The IOC president opposes national bans. In part, it is not great PR to ban Russia and Belarus when Israel and the USA are killing and ruining the lives of so many (more) civilians. From the perspective of the IOC, it is an unnecessary risk to their image and profits ahead of the LA Olympics.

The IOC has probably learnt the business (rather than ethical) lesson of losing your image affecting profits after it hosted the 1936 Berlin Olympics. But clearly the profits from selling the Nazi Olympics shirt 90 years later were too good to pass up this year.

I think it shows (a)moral consistency if RUS/BLR are not banned, when the USA/ISR are not banned. I'm not under any illusion that anyone in the IOC is in it for anything other than self preservation of their power and money.
If I'll be honest, it has soured my enjoyment of the Olympics a lot and I feel conflicted.

[Hawkpeter]

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/genera ... 305f0.html

Nino convicted of rape. Given the nature of what was at the time an accusation, his participation at the Paris Olympics and winning of the bronze medal looks particularly bad. I wonder how the Italian Olympic Committee feels about it.

[strapping]

I wonder how the Italian Olympic Committee feels about it.

They won't care at all.

Sexual assault and other sex crimes are treated very lightly in Italy and many other countries, and there are many cases that are swept under the rug.
Steven Van de Velde was thoroughly endorsed by the Dutch Olympic Committee after he raped a 12 year old, and served 13 months of his four year conviction.

There are many such cases that are not reported too, because coaches or officials are politically well connected. I can think of a few coaches who have coerced athletes into sex, or engaged in other abusive behaviors. It's just not my story to tell when some of those people have enough power to ruin the lives of their victims, after the fact.

It's often the ones you most expect (seeking power, complaining about women, love for the military etc.), and the occasional ones who aren't.

[Elle]

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/genera ... 305f0.html

Nino convicted of rape. Given the nature of what was at the time an accusation, his participation at the Paris Olympics and winning of the bronze medal looks particularly bad. I wonder how the Italian Olympic Committee feels about it.

I don't think his medal in Paris is in danger.

From what the officials say, no one knew about it. They all "sono caduti giù dal pero" as they say in Italian ("fell off the pear tree", they were shocked).

I don't believe it; they knew, and since Pizzolato was a major asset, they pretended nothing happened, hoping the situation would blow over.

Pizzolato, however, also competed regularly at the national championships last month.

In Italy, there are three levels of jurisdiction, so we'll have to wait to find out if he's truly guilty. However, I think the FIPE has no choice but to freeze his membership.

[Elle]

I wonder how the Italian Olympic Committee feels about it.

Sexual assault and other sex crimes are treated very lightly in Italy and many other countries, and there are many cases that are swept under the rug.

I half agree with this statement of yours.

It's true that some cases aren't prosecuted, but very often because they're unfortunately not reported.

In Italy, especially in recent years, there's been a great deal of attention paid to women who claim to be victims of abuse, to the point that often their word is enough to start a trial.

Take the Pizzolato case. This drunk Finnish tourist voluntarily followed the four boys into their home. This is the only thing that's certain, along with the fact that they later took her home and that the hospital emergency room report showed no injuries from sexual assault.

What happened in that house? She says she was raped; they say she consented. Where's the truth?

It makes me think that what started out as consensual then became non-consensual. She, under the influence of alcohol, was consensual, then she recovered, withdrew her consent, and they stopped.

I don't want to be Pizzolato's lawyer, however, I wonder how he can be legally convicted under these circumstances.

(All the information I have is based on newspaper reports; I may be missing something.)