Olympic champion Dmitry Vasilenko has been elected president of the Russian Weightlifting Federation (FTA), replacing Maxim Agapitov, who held the role since 2016.
Key Points:
- Fresh Leadership: Vasilenko, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist, brings athlete-focused experience to the FTA.
- Controversial Past: Agapitov faced criticism for being part of the “old guard” blamed for nearly getting weightlifting removed from the Olympics due to corruption and doping scandals.
- Focus Ahead: Vasilenko is tasked with modernizing Russian weightlifting, addressing sanctions, and rebuilding the sport’s reputation internationally.
This leadership change is seen as a step toward reform, but significant challenges remain for Russian weightlifting.
