Cyrille Tchatchet: first lifter to sign the IOC Olympian Wall

Cyrille Tchatchet became today the first weightlifter to sign the prestigious Olympian Wall at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI), a ceremony that coincided with his participation in the WADA Athlete Council meeting and WADA Symposium. With around 700 signatures from Olympians from all continents and Sports, the IOC Wall’s goal is to pay tribute to all those who make the value and create emotions at the Games.

“I am very honoured and pleased to be here. I didn’t expect such a nice ceremony and attention. It’s a great initiative and I am naturally glad to have my name on it. The Games are a great experience for all athletes and the International Olympic Committee wants to preserve that spirit and heritage,” commented Tchatchet.

Olympian at the Tokyo 2020ne Games as a member of the Olympic Refugee Team, the Cameroon-native lifter (presently living in England and holder of a British passport) also enjoyed a tour of the Olympic House in Lausanne. “It is an impressive building, very modern and functional. Its location next to the lake also makes it special,” noted Tchatchet after taking a photo next to the statue of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, at the entry of the IOC headquarters.

Cyrille Tchatchet was elected last December to the World Anti-Doping Agency Athlete Council and came to Lausanne to attend the first meeting of that body in 2025. In this quality, he is attending the WADA Symposium, being held today and tomorrow in the Olympic capital.

Also an IWF Athlete Commission Member, Tchatchet recently re-started training with one objective: to take part in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In a recent interview with the IWF, he highlighted the importance of this competition: “My goal is to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and earn a medal there. As they are also in Glasgow, it would be a good way to close somehow the circle since 2014”. Explanation: the 2014 edition marked a turning point in Tchatchet’s life. Competing for Cameroon, he never returns home and seeks asylum in England. The rest is history.  

After the IOC ceremony, Tchatchet also enjoyed a visit to the IWF headquarters. “I finally know from where all the hard work is done – it’s nice to see you have so many photos of weightlifters on the walls. You need to put mine…” he concluded, smiling.

Pedro Adrega
IWF Communications