IWF Elections: Papandrea Re-Elected First Vice President, Aranda & Pierce to Represent USA on 2025-29 IWF Committees
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – In an important election that ran May 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, USA Weightlifting retained critical leadership roles in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). USAW is a leading advocate for the IWF’s continued commitment to good governance, athlete voice, and clean sport, and will be represented in three critical areas of IWF leadership by Ursula Papandrea, Paula Aranda, and Kyle Pierce. 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. Notably, Aranda and Pierce received the most votes in their respective elections.
IWF 2025-29 Committees and Commissions
After a successful term that showed international weightlifting is moving in the right direction, 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 ordinary 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.
“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 CEO 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 elite athlete, she competed at World Championships from 1992-1996. She is 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 2009-20, and the IWF Executive Board from 2017-20 and 2022-2025. While on the IWF Board, she initiated the creation of a Reform and Governance Commission, a Safeguarding Policy, the IWF Athletes’ Commission, and took various steps to improve governance in the IWF.
Aranda served as USAW Board Chair and President from 2020-22 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.
Dr. 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 is a prolific international ambassador for the sport, dedicating countless hours to supporting and developing the sport in underserved communities around the globe. Dr. Pierce currently serves as USAW’s Director of International Relations, and has previously served on the IWF Coaching and Research Committee. This marks Pierce’s seventh time being elected to a leadership role in the IWF.
