These outstanding performances helped both athletes secure their nominations and victories for the awards.
The results were determined by an online voting system set up by WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING, and closed at the end of the January. The award has been running since 1982, but it was only in 1991 that the women’s section was also added.
Ilya Ilyin from Kazakhstan took the title for the second year in a row, whilst Hsu Shu-Ching from Taiwan, took the award from Russian lifter Tatiana Kashirina. Both athletes each received over 2000 votes higher than their fellow lifters, clearly marking them as the rightful winners.
ILYA ILYIN
Ilya Ilyin was born on May 24th 1988. His records include:
- 246 kg Clean & Jerk World Record in the 105 kg category in 2015
- Gold medals at two Olympic Championships (2008, 2012)
- Gold Medals at four World Championships (2005, 2006, 2011, 2014)
- Ilyin has now won IWF World Championship titles at three weights – 85 kg, 94 kg and 105 kg. His Olympic golds in 2008 and 2012 were both at 94 kg.
The Kazakh powerhouse is also a recent convert to vegetarianism. “I feel lighter, freer, and I exercise more efficiently,” he said. “I base my diet on my feelings. It helps and it works.”
“I am a regular athlete who knows that a talented person is one who can sustain the amount of work necessary to achieve the goals. If you can’t handle the work, you are not talented. I love work.”
In addition to his weightlifting training, Ilyin swims, boxes, and also does a little Crossfit to round off his overall physical abilities. This is very unusual for a weightlifter, but he has also been quoted as saying that ‘ a weightlifter should be able to do everything’, and there is no denying that his methods work.
HSU SHU-CHING
Shu-Ching is renowned for being exceptionally dedicated to her training. She firstly encountered difficulties with her family when she wanted to begin weightlifting, but has overcome any prejudices by winning glory for her country. ‘I treat every training session like a competition..even if you are not 100% you stil have to lift, no-one will feel compassion towards you.’
‘In order to have good results, you need to give up what other people are not prepared to give up.’
‘Making sacrifices, that is the only way to achieve your dreams and aspirations.’
Hsu Shu-Ching was born on 9th May 1991, her records include:
- Winning a silver medal in Women’s 53 kg at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Setting a world record in the Women’s 53 kg at the 2014 Asian Games with a lift total of 233 kg
- Gold Medal title in Women’s 53kg at the Houston World Championships 2015
Featured Image © unikaz.asia
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