IWF celebrates International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day, the IWF celebrates the women who are changing the sport – as athletes, leaders, mentors and advocates. Today and every day is about recognising their achievements, highlighting their stories and reaffirming the IWF’s commitment to creating opportunities for women at every level, from grassroots participation to elite competition and leadership roles.

The work of these inspirational women has meant that female participation in strength training is growing worldwide. A 2023 global study, Move Every Mind, surveyed more than 37,000 women across 16 countries and found that 40% of respondents were engaging in regular strength training.

The IWF spoke with key voices in the sport to hear their reflections on what weightlifting means to them and the importance of supporting women across the sport.

Emily Campbell (GBR)

Emily Campbell (GBR) – 5x European Champion, 2x Olympic and 2x World Medallist
Emily Campbell is one of Britain’s most accomplished weightlifters, having secured her fifth consecutive European title at the 2025 European Championships in Chisinau, Moldova. Beyond her achievements on the platform, she is widely recognised for her advocacy work, mentoring young athletes, promoting inclusivity and supporting community programmes that encourage girls and women to take up weightlifting.

When speaking to the IWF about International Women’s Day, and what women in weightlifting means to her, she stated:

“Weightlifting has given me so much. It has taught me resilience and discipline, but above all, it has shown the impact sport can have when it is truly welcoming and inclusive. Every young woman and girl should feel they belong in weightlifting, whether they aspire to compete internationally or simply enjoy the sport. Empowering women and creating real opportunities at all levels is what will make the sport stronger for everyone. It is such a passion of mine, and it is incredibly rewarding to see even more young girls getting involved and benefiting from the sport.”

Solfrid Koanda (NOR)

Solfrid Koanda (NOR) – Olympic Champion, 4x European Champion, 3x World Medallist
Solfrid Koanda is one of Norway’s standout weightlifters, having captured the 86kg world title at the 2025 World Championships in Førde, Norway. Competing in front of a home crowd, she not only demonstrated her incredible talent but also embodied the growing visibility and influence of women in the sport.

She explained:

“Winning in front of a home crowd last year at the IWF World Championships was an unforgettable experience. Seeing young girls in the audience reminded me how important it is to show what is possible. Weightlifting has given me confidence, independence and a sense of purpose, and I hope my journey encourages other women to pursue their goals and see that this sport is open to them too.”

Hidilyn Diaz (PHI)

Hidilyn Diaz (PHI) – 2x Olympic Medallist, 4x World Medallist
Hidilyn Diaz is a national hero in the Philippines after being the first Olympic champion (all sports included) for her country – gold at the Tokyo 2020ne Games, in the 55kg category. In 2022, she was also first at the IWF World Championships, and has also been since then a very active member of the IWF Athletes Commission.

She underlined:

“Weightlifting has brought so much joy, discipline, and purpose into my life. I basically grew up with this sport, and it helped shape who I am today. I can also say, in my own small way, that through my journey and my Olympic achievements, weightlifting has grown more in the Philippines too. The days of discrimination are behind us. Today, weightlifting is a sport where both men and women can stand equally strong. More and more girls and women around the world are getting into it, and that’s something really inspiring to see. For me, celebrating women isn’t just about March 8. International Women’s Day should be felt every day of the year, everywhere in the world.”

Ursula Papandrea (IWF First Vice-President)

Ursula Papandrea (USA) – IWF First Vice-President
Ursula Papandrea has long been a driving force in international weightlifting governance and a passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. As IWF First Vice-President, she works across programmes and initiatives that support women from grassroots participation to elite competition, and in leadership, coaching and technical roles.

She stated:

“Weightlifting has been such an important part of my life, and something I love about my role as First Vice-President is that I get to meet other female weightlifters from across the world and see the communities they form. Weightlifting can be practised across all ages, which makes it uniquely accessible, and at the IWF, we are committed to building the systems that allow women and girls to thrive. Like in Paris 2024, at the Olympic Games LA28, men and women will compete in equal numbers. This is something extremely important to us and is something we continue to advocate for across the global weightlifting community. And this is just one part of the IWF’s wider work to strengthen inclusion, support leadership pathways and ensure the sport grows sustainably for future generations.”

The IWF remains dedicated to supporting women in weightlifting – providing pathways, creating opportunities and empowering the next generation of athletes to compete, lead and shape the future of the sport.

Happy International Women’s Day!

IWF Communications