Happy Birthday Sam Coffa!!!🎂
The IWF family sends its warmest and best wishes to a man who devoted seven decades of his life to the development of weightlifting on a local, regional, national, and international level!!! ✨🏋️♀️🏋️♂️
Read the full story in the IWF website 🙏🏻
@awfcomau
The Oceania Weightlifting Federation has confirmed the dates of the 2026 Oceania Championships. The Oceania Championships will be held in conjunction with an IWF World Cup event and the Commonwealth Junior & Youth Championships on 27th April – 2nd May 2026 in Apia, Samoa.
Please refer to the AWF Athlete Selection Policy and note the following dates applicable to the selection of Australian athletes for these events:
2026 Oceania Senior/Junior/Youth Championships; IWF World Cup; Commonwealth Junior/Youth Championships
Qualifying Period: 17 October 2025 – 18 January 2026
Preliminary Entry deadline: 26 January 2026
Final Selection period: 19 January – 15 March 2026
Final Entry deadline: 22 March 2026
Competition Start date: Friday 27 April 2026
Athlete Whereabouts Information period: 26 January – 2 May 2026
Salvatore ‘Sam’ Coffa is a living legend in the weightlifting world. At almost 90, he is a privileged witness of our International Federation’s rich history. For more than seven decades involved in our Sport, as an athlete, coach, official, and successful administrator, Coffa is also a remarkable storyteller. With his outstanding vitality and prodigious memory, he sat down for a couple of hours and recalled his life. An existence marked by initial difficulties in his homeland (Sicily, Italy) but also with many achievements in his adoptive country, Australia.🇮🇹🇦🇺
As part of the IWF’s 120 years celebration, this exclusive interview comes back to his childhood and teenage years, his introduction to weightlifting, and his athletic career, culminating in the dream of his life, the participation in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. It also recalls his entry into politics, his tireless work within the IWF sphere, namely his pivotal role in the integration of women in weightlifting and his expertise on technical matters.✨🏋️♀️🏋️♂️
The Chair of the IWF Technical Committee also shares some personal details of his current life. A true globetrotter (he has been in 102 countries), Coffa still makes a daily walk in the morning and enjoys being with his four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.👍🏻👏🏻
Read the third and final part of this interview by clicking in the link in our bio (links to the Part 1 and 2 are available in the text) 🔝
@awfcomau
Calculated risk. Raw power. Relentless pursuit. 🇦🇺🔥
Jackson Young isn’t here to play it safe. The Australian weightlifter made waves at the Commonwealth Games, risking it all on a record-breaking lift, and now he’s back at the Pacific Mini Games with even more fire. 💪🏽
From American football to international platforms, Jackson’s rise in the sport has been nothing short of explosive: medals at the Pacific Games, Oceania Championships, and top finishes on the world stage. Coached by Peter Upham, he continues to chase perfection with every lift.
When Jackson steps up to the bar, expect big numbers and bold moves.
#TeamAustralia #PacificMiniGames #Palau2025 #AthleteSpotlight #Weightlifting #OceaniaSport #ANOC #ANOCTV #PowerAndPrecision #JacksonYoung #LiftBigDreamBig
🎤 Read & React with Eileen Cikamatana 🏋️♀️🇦🇺
Big lifts, bigger energy 💥
Australia’s Eileen Cikamatana knows how to win, but don’t ask her about the victory dance… that’s staying a secret (for now) 🤫🕺
She also shares a pre-comp ritual that might just put you to sleep 😴
✨ Power, personality, and just the right amount of mystery!
#ReadAndReact #Weightlifting #TeamAustralia #PacificMiniGames #PMG2025 #AthleteSpotlight #OceaniaSport #ANOC #ANOCTV
🏋️♀️ Kiana Elliott | Lifting with Pride for Australia 🇦🇺💪
Meet Kiana Elliott, representing Australia in weightlifting at the Pacific Mini Games!
Team Australia’s Kiana Elliott is in Palau with pride, passion, and purpose! Representing her country on the international stage means everything, and she’s here to lift big and aim high.
🌟 She shared how grateful she feels to be in Palau, soaking in the warmth, beauty, and incredible hospitality of the Palauan people. 🌴🤍 Let’s go, Kiana! 🌟
#TeamAustralia #PacificMiniGames #Palau2025 #Weightlifting #AthleteSpotlight #OceaniaSport #ANOC #ANOCTV
Sunshine, good vibes, and gold on her mind. ✨
Tess Rim of Australia is soaking up the Palau weather and lighting up the Pacific Mini Games with her fearless spirit and winning smile. 🇦🇺🌞
She’s here to compete, to dance, and to chase greatness, because for Tess, fun and fire go hand in hand. 🔥
#TeamAustralia #PacificMiniGames #Palau2025 #AthleteSpotlight #OceaniaSport #ANOC #ANOCTV #GoldGoals #SunshineAndSport #TessOnFire
🏋️♀️ Representing Team Australia in weightlifting, Eileen Cikamatana brings pure passion to the platform, no pressure, just love for the sport.
Being in Palau reminds her of home, and she’s embracing every moment. Her message? Don’t stop chasing your dreams. 💫💪
#TeamAustralia #EileenCikamatana #PacificMiniGames #Palau2025 #Weightlifting #AthleteSpotlight #OceaniaSport #ANOC #ANOCTV
2025 Pacific Mini Games and Oceania Championships
Best of luck to the athletes competing this week at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games and Oceania Championships, competition commences Wednesday.
