Masters Weightlifting (Olympic Lifting) organizations and competitions are in the midst of a big shift right now. In short, USA Masters WL as a component of USA Weightlifting is splitting off to form a newly formed entity (corporation) as USA Masters Weightlifting, which is now recognized, not by the International Weightlifting Federation as USAW is, but by a new international-level Masters organization called International Masters Weightlifting Association (IMWA). This will affect meets, records, membership, and more. So the shift is international but also very much happening here too, in the US.
View attachment 21418
FYI, "Masters" in weightlifting are age 35 and older.
The larger issues -- For a sport that is part of the Olympics, isn't the country's primary organization mostly about recruiting and developing competitive athletes to win in Olympic and other international competitions? If so, how much attention should that organization pay to the masters athletes in the sport, who are no longer competitive towards that end goal, but are very much part of the sport overall? Will the picture change if/when weightlifting is no longer an Olympic sport (as seems likely after 2024) and USAW loses that focus and mission? What is the future of competitive weightlifting on a local, state, national, international, and Olympic stage? Who will make the rules, control the money, certify the coaches, and organize the meets? And lastly, based on all the online firestorms, how much say should members have in all of this? We pay dues and fees, we compete and participate... but most of us don't put our hearts and souls and endless resources into the game like some who are directly involved do. I always hate to see potshots by people who "feel" like they have the right to say anything they want criticizing those who have much more skin in the game, and for whom the issues are a lot more "life's work" than "hobbies." Social media, particularly FB, is awful that way. I feel like the discussions on forums is a bit more productive... and at least here, more respectful.
I've been weightlifting since late 2019 and competing since 2021, and headed to IWF Masters Pan American Championships next week in Orlando, FL as my 7th meet. Of the 6 meets I've done so far, 1 was unsanctioned, 3 were local/state USAW meets with mostly young lifters, and 2 were Masters events, with one of those being Masters Worlds. So I'm fairly new in this world but also somewhat invested in it and its future. Interested to see what happens... Although I'm just grateful that opportunities exist, and I hope they continue to exist. Even if the whole thing implodes, well, I still have my barbell, and can train. They're not coming for that. (And even if they do, I have my kettlebells
)
Even though most of you aren't weightlifters in the Olympic lifting sense of the word, I'd be interested in thoughts on this situation from all perspectives.