The 2017 International Weightlifting Federation Electoral Congress wrapped up last week in Bangkok, Thailand. The results of the congress included the acceptance of more leadership positions for USA Weightlifting within the International Federation. IWF members selected USAW Board Chair Ursula Garza-Papandrea to the position of IWF Vice President. She is the first woman ever elected to the position!

“I am honored beyond words by the support of the international Weightlifting community, I had much encouragement by so many of the Weightlifting family and I am proud to serve Weightlifting at this level,” Garza-Papandrea told USA Weightlifting.

There were three other accepted positions from USA Weightlifting members as well. Under his home country of Greece, USA Weightlifting Technical Director Pyrros Dimas won re-election to the Executive Board of the IWF. 

Dr. Kyle Pierce, Kendrick Farris' long time coach, had the most votes with his re-election to the IWF Coaching and Research Committee with 102 votes.

The last USA member elected was Dr. Mark Lavallee, who won a spot on the IWF Medical Committee.

"As a Federation, we are proud to have such talented individuals among our ranks,” stated USA Weightlifting CEO, Phil Andrews. Here is the full list of elected officials and their positions:

• ​President: Dr. Tamas Ajan (HUN) with 86 votes
  
• General Secretary: Mohammed Jaloud (IRQ) with 88 votes
  
• 1st Vice President: Intarat Maj. Gen. Yodbangtoey (THA) by acclamation
  
• Woman Vice President: Ursula Papandrea (USA) with 87 votes
  
• Vice Presidents: Nicu Vlad (ROU) with 109 votes, Jose Carlos QUINONES (PER) with 99 votes, Zhanat TUSSUPBEKOV (KAZ) with 85 votes, Petr KROL (CZE) with 81 votes
  
• Woman IWF Executive Board Member: Karoliina Lundahl (FIN) with 78 votes
  
• Executive Board Members: Pyrros Dimas (GRE) with 104 votes, Birendra Prasad Baishya (IND) with 83 votes, Maxim Agapitov (RUS) with 81 votes, Shakhrillo Makhmudov (UZB) with 81 votes, Mahmoud Mahgoub (EGY) with 71 votes, Luis Oswaldo Zambrano Andrade (ECU) with 71 votes, Michael Irani (GBR) with 66 votes.
  
• IWF Technical Committee: Reiko Kato Chinen (JPN) with 107 votes, Alexander Kurlovich (BLR) with 95 votes, Milan Mihajlovic (SRB) with 89 votes, Karl Rimbock (GER) with 85 votes, Abdullah Al-Jarmal (YEM) with 83 votes, Italo Barattini (CHI) with 58 votes, Jean-Alex Randriamanarivo H. (MAD) with 51 votes
  
• IWF Coaching and Research Committee: Kyle Pierce (USA) with 102 votes, Su-Kuan Yang (TPE) with 72 votes, Aveenash Pandoo (MRI) with 70 votes, Mohsen Biranvand (IRI) with 65 votes, Junichi Okada (JPN) with 63 votes, Lyn Jones (AUS) with 59 votes, Mohammed Ahmed Alharbi (KSA) with 58 votes
  
• IWF Medical Committee: Dogan Atlihan (TUR) with 96 votes, Marc Lavallee (USA) with 95 votes, Roxanna Vargas Bruzzo (DOM) with 91 votes, Lisimoni Kami (TGA) with 82 votes, Georgios Tsikouris (GRE) with 81 votes, Maria D. RUBIO y Lleonart (ESP) with 79 votes, Zurab Kakhabrishvili (GEO) with 77 votes
  

Congratulations to all officials!