Solfrid Koanda

Solfrid Eila Amena Koanda was born on November 13th, 1998, and she’s a Norwegian weightlifter. She’s known for her outstanding achievements in the women’s 87 kg weight category. Koanda clinched the gold medal at the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia, and is a three-time gold medalist at the European Weightlifting Championships. She has a background in functional fitness and has transitioned to weightlifting at the age of 21. She’s come very far very quickly, and she’s known for her strength, dedication, and of course, impeccable technique. 

Koanda started strength training at 15, then transitioned to functional fitness at 18, and then focused solely on weightlifting at the age of 21. Her progress was exceptional and that was obvious when she qualified for the European Championships in February 2021, setting a Norwegian record with a 96 kg snatch and a 125 kg clean and jerk.

In April 2021, she set a new Nordic record of 135 kg in the clean and jerk and earned a bronze medal at the European Weightlifting Championships. She then got another bronze in the women’s 87 kg event at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

She continued being successful and won a gold medal at the 2022 European Weightlifting Championships in Tirana, Albania, and again at the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan, Armenia. Her dedication and skill have earned her the place of the leading athlete in her weight class. 

Koanda was born to a Finnish mother and an Ivorian father in Finland, and then moved to Grimstad, Norway, when she was 9 years old. Although she spent her teenage years in foster care, she went after her passion for weightlifting. Now, she resides in Arendal, Norway, works as an electrician, and represents the Kvadraturen Weightlifting Club. Her story is very inspiring and shows the power of dedication, determination, and resilience.