W69 – 2025 IWF World Championship Recap: Power, Precision, and a Record Show in Førde
Author:
A Historic Stage in Norway
The 2025 IWF World Weightlifting Championships, held in Førde, Norway, marked the federation’s 120th anniversary – a celebration of heritage, strength, and the future of the sport. In the scenic fjord city, the atmosphere inside Fordehuset was electric.
The Women’s 69 kg Group A session delivered exactly what fans hoped for: technical perfection, fearless strategy, and a commanding champion who left no doubt about her supremacy.
The 69 kg Category – A Return to Classic Weightlifting
The women’s 69 kg division, reintroduced under new category alignments, bridges speed and raw power. It’s where athleticism meets precision – lifters agile enough to move like lightweights yet strong enough to challenge totals near 270 kg.
This group brought together a global blend of champions and newcomers – from Canada and New Zealand to Colombia, Bahrain, and beyond – ensuring every lift mattered.
Meet the Athletes
RODRIGUEZ QUINTERO Juliet (COL) – the fiery Colombian lifter known for attacking the bar with explosive power. She came into Førde as the Pan-American silver medalist and a podium hopeful.
SEGURA GRUESO Vanessa (BRN) – formerly a Colombian junior world champion, now lifting for Bahrain. At just 22, she’s considered one of the sport’s brightest prospects.
SIMONEAU Charlotte (CAN) – Canada’s national record holder, analytical and composed, coming off an impressive 6-for-6 run at the Pan-Ams.
MATIAS MARCIAL Maria F. (DOM) – resilient and emotional on stage, representing the Caribbean with a trademark aggressive pull.
SELEMAIA Olivia S. (NZL) – the youngest in the lineup, a former Commonwealth Youth champion making her senior-world debut.
MACROHON Kristel (PHI) – the veteran Filipino lifter with years of international experience, known for her rhythm and explosive turnover.
GUDE Line Ravn (DEN) – Denmark’s quiet fighter, a European circuit regular whose smile and composure make her a crowd favorite.
The Snatch Session
From the opening attempt, Line Ravn Gude set the tone with a confident 95 kg lift, followed by a successful 98 kg – her best international performance to date.
The tension rose quickly as athletes began battling around the 100-kg mark.
Maria Matias Marcial came out aggressively, opening with 97 kg and hitting it cleanly. Building momentum, she jumped to 102 kg and nailed it on her second attempt, drawing cheers from the crowd for her confident execution.
Kristel Macrohon recovered well after an early miss at 101 kg, nailing it on her second attempt before narrowly missing 104 kg – an aggressive but familiar start for the Filipino veteran.
Charlotte Simoneau displayed sharp technique but struggled for rhythm. She registered one good lift at 106 kg, failing to add more but still securing a respectable mark in her world campaign debut.
Olivia Selemaia of New Zealand had a shaky series, missing her opener at 102 kg, making the same weight on her second, but failing to stand up with 107 kg – still a spirited showing in her senior-world debut.
Then came the heavyweights. Vanessa Segura Grueso opened confidently at 102 kg, nailed 105 kg, and added 107 kg to finish flawless – her timing impeccable and composure earning her the bronze medal in the snatch.
Juliet Rodriguez Quintero electrified the session with her trademark explosiveness, hitting 107 kg smoothly before closing at 110 kg – a lift that brought the Colombian fans to their feet and secured her the silver medal in the snatch.
When SONG Kuk Hyang finally appeared, the crowd knew history was near. Opening at 112 kg, she moved like clockwork – then followed with a stunning 120 kg world record snatch, sealing gold without needing her final lift.
Snatch Medalists:
🥇 SONG Kuk Hyang – 120 kg (World Record)
🥈 RODRIGUEZ QUINTERO Juliet (COL) – 110 kg
🥉 SEGURA GRUESO Vanessa (BRN) – 107 kg
The Clean & Jerk Session
The clean & jerk phase of the Women’s 69 kg Group A at the 2025 IWF World Championships was a thrilling blend of precision, pressure, and power. With medals still wide open after the snatch, the session tested every athlete’s endurance and tactical awareness.
Line Ravn Gude opened her clean & jerk with 120 kg and made it decisively on her first and only attempt. Her confident lift and calm demeanor earned warm applause from the Nordic crowd, capping a solid overall performance.
Kristel Macrohon opened at 122 kg and made the lift on her second attempt after missing her first. She opted not to continue heavier, ensuring a safe total. While not her top performance, the successful lift showed her composure and ability to recover under pressure.
Olivia Selemaia continued to impress with her calm focus, successfully lifting 124 kg on her first attempt. Though she couldn’t manage her following attempts, that opener was enough to secure a new Oceania junior mark and her best total yet on the world stage.
Maria Matias Marcial brought her trademark fire to the platform, opening confidently at 128 kg and making it cleanly. Though her next two attempts were missed, that single successful lift reflected her determination and fighting spirit, keeping her solidly in the middle of the pack with 230 kg in total.
Charlotte Simoneau displayed her trademark technical precision, successfully completing 126 kg on her first attempt. Although she couldn’t manage the heavier attempts that followed, her opener was solid and clean, contributing to a respectable 232 kg total for the Canadian lifter.
Chen Wen-Huei was one of the standout performers of the session. Competing from the B group, she executed 127 kg with precision and followed it up with a strong 132 kg to secure the bronze medal in the clean & jerk. Her calm, controlled lifting brought her to a solid 232 kg total and earned well-deserved recognition on the world stage.
Vanessa Segura Grueso continued her strong form from the snatch, successfully lifting 130 kg and 134 kg with sharp execution. Though she missed her final attempt, her precision and power earned her the silver medal in the clean & jerk and secured a tie for silver in the total with 241 kg.
Juliet Rodriguez Quintero fought bravely in the clean & jerk, making a strong 131 kg on her first attempt. Though her following lifts didn’t go as planned, that opener was enough to keep her ahead on bodyweight and secure the silver medal overall – a testament to her consistency and composure under pressure.
SONG Kuk Hyang opened at 140 kg – already enough to secure victory – before moving to a monumental 150 kg, setting a new world record in the clean & jerk. Combined with her earlier 120 kg world record snatch, her 270 kg total also established a third world record, completing a historic sweep.
Clean & Jerk Medalists
🥇 SONG Kuk Hyang – 150 kg
🥈 Vanessa Segura Grueso (BRN) – 134 kg
🥉 Chen Wen-Huei (TPE) – 132 kg
Total Results
Records & Highlights
This session reshaped the record landscape of the women’s 69 kg division. Coming in, the world standards stood at 119 kg in the snatch, 149 kg in the clean & jerk, and 268 kg in the total, all previously set by Olivia Reeves.
But SONG Kuk Hyang shattered every one of them – lifting 120 kg in the snatch, 150 kg in the clean & jerk, and totaling 270 kg – establishing three new world records.
Vanessa Segura Grueso made history of her own with a new Asian record at 134 kg in the clean & jerk, while Olivia Selemaia broke the Oceania junior record with a 226 kg total – an outstanding achievement for her senior-world debut.
Segura’s transition from Colombia to Bahrain paid off with a historic medal and personal bests in both lifts. Selemaia and Matias proved that junior graduates can thrive under senior-world pressure.
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We will continue our 2025 IWF World Championship coverage here on the blog and on Torokhtiy Media’s Instagram and YouTube channels. Don’t miss our special Championship Sale on training programs available throughout the event – the perfect time to train smarter and lift stronger.
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Author: Hladkova Vladyslava
Media Team Member
Best Results: Snatch – 57 kg,
C&J – 73 kg
I’m Vladyslava, and sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the past 10 years, I’ve explored it all – from CrossFit and powerlifting to running a half marathon. But my true passion found its home in Olympic weightlifting.
I’m proud to be a Ukrainian Weightlifting Champion (2018) and a prize winner of national championships in 2018–2019. My best lifts? A 57 kg snatch and a 73 kg clean & jerk in the 51 kg weight class. I’m also a Candidate for Master of Sports in weightlifting – and I’m still chasing new goals every day.
Beyond training, I’ve earned two Master’s degrees: one in Sport Management and another in Physical Education. Whether I’m lifting a barbell or helping others grow in sport, I’m all in – because for me, sport isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.