USA Weightlifting Sees Three Members Elected for International Weightlifting Federation Roles

USA Weightlifting saw three of its members win elections during the International Weightlifting Federation’s conference May 23–25 in Riyadh as Ursula Papandrea, Paula Aranda and Kyle Pierce all have been selected to key roles with the IWF.

Papandrea will remain in her position of first vice president, Aranda will serve on the Development and Education Commission and Pierce will serve on the Coaching and Research Committee.

“Our sport has made critical progress over the last five years in international governance, ensuring that weightlifting remains on the Olympic program,” said Matt Sicchio, president and chief executive officer of USA Weightlifting. “USAW’s voice has been essential to that progress as a leading advocate for ethical governance, clean sport, and empowerment of athletes. Our commitment to these principles remains, and our dedicated advocacy continues. I am grateful for the mission-driven service of Ursula, Paula and Kyle as they represent USAW and the American weightlifting community with great skill and strength of purpose.”

Papandrea has been involved with weightlifting since 1987. As an athlete, she competed at World Championships from 1992–1996. She is currently USAW’s general secretary and has served as the IWF interim president, first vice president, vice president, and was chair of the USAW Board of Directors from 2016–2020. Papandrea also served on the USAW Board for three terms from 2009–2020 and the IWF Executive Board from 2017–2020 and 2022–2025.

Aranda served as USAW Board chair and president from 2020–2022 and currently serves as USAW’s deputy general secretary. She also currently serves on the executive board of the Pan Am Weightlifting Federation and has served on the IWF’s Development and Education Commission and the Pan American Federation’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission.

Pierce is a professor of kinesiology and health science at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, where he also built one of the most successful collegiate weightlifting programs in the country. He currently serves as USAW’s director of international relations and has previously served on the IWF Coaching and Research Committee.

Mohammed Jalood was re-elected as the IWF president. José Quiñones of Peru was elected as general secretary and will leave the presidency of the Pan American Weightlifting Federation. Mohammed Al-Harbi of Saudi Arabia, a former IWF board member, and Chengliang Liu of China were elected to their first terms as IWF vice presidents.

In the election for IWF board members, Pyrros Dimas of Greece, who is a national coach for the United States, received the most votes with 156. The four-time Olympic medalist has been on the IWF executive board since 2013.