Women’s 63 kg Category Recap – 2025 IWF World Championships

Førde, Norway – October 2025

Day four of the 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde marked the highly anticipated return of the Women’s 63 kg category – a session that balanced explosive power with tactical precision. The field was one of the most competitive of the tournament so far, featuring Olympic medalists, continental champions, and rising talents all vying for the podium under the electric Norwegian lights.

Context: A Category of Transition

The reinstated 63 kg class has rapidly become one of the most exciting divisions in women’s weightlifting. Many lifters transitioned from the 59 and 64 kg categories, bringing together seasoned champions and ambitious newcomers adapting to new limits.

With world standards set at 110 kg in the snatch, 139 kg in the clean & jerk, and 246 kg in total, expectations were sky-high. The packed Førde arena buzzed with anticipation – every lift met with sharp gasps, rhythmic claps, and thunderous applause as the session promised both power and history.

Meet the Athletes

The Women’s 63 kg field featured 11 lifters from across five continents, representing the full spectrum of the sport’s global reach.

CHARRON Maude G (CAN) – Olympic champion from Tokyo and silver medalist in Paris, the Canadian veteran entered as one of the most decorated lifters in the field. Known for her textbook technique and consistency, she has medaled in every major event since 2019.

SINISTERRA TORRES Yenny (COL) – Colombia’s powerhouse and one of the youngest Olympic medalists in the sport’s history. Compact, aggressive, and fiercely competitive, she brought the same energy that earned her Pan American titles.

COTRUTA Andreea (ROU) – European Champion in 2023, famous for her resilience and flamboyant celebration dances. Moving up from the 55 kg class, she’s known for bold attempt selections and fiery charisma.

ESTEP Katharine Emily (USA) – A Youth and Junior World Champion, Estep continues to mature into one of America’s most technically precise lifters. At only 22 years old, her calm demeanor hides a fierce competitive drive.

SHAFT Sophia Plum (USA) – The second American lifter in the session, Shaff is recognized for her clean lines and high catch positions. She had shown promising numbers in training, hinting at a breakout performance.

SERAM Nirupama Devi (IND) – Making her first international appearance since 2019, the Indian lifter’s return drew attention for her classic technique and upbeat stage presence.

CHIACCHIO Martina (ITA) – Representing Italy’s new wave of female weightlifters, Cacao is known for Italy’s trademark aggressive attempt selection—often opening close to personal bests.

GOMEZ VALDIVIA Janeth (MEX) – A veteran of Pan-American and World stages, Gomez’s unshakable determination has earned her admiration worldwide. Her fighting spirit and gritty saves are crowd favorites.

ANDO Elreen Ann (PHI) – The Filipino athlete has become a symbol of consistency for her federation, steadily improving across international meets.

The Snatch Session

The snatch session began with a flurry of confident openers and early nerves. Nirupama Seram kicked off the action at 90 kg, setting a calm tone with a smooth, technically sound opener. She followed it with 93 kg but narrowly missed 95 kg, leaving her with 93 – still a strong return after years away from the international stage.

Martina Chiacchio, true to Italy’s fearless style, opened high at 93 kg and improved to 96 kg before sealing 100 kg for a personal best, drawing loud cheers from her teammates.

Andreea Cotruta opened confidently at 94 kg, matching her best from the European Championships. Though she attempted heavier weights, 94 kg remained her only successful lift. 

The Americans followed with power and precision. Estep Katharine opened strong at 95 kg and followed with a clean 98 kg, both lifts executed with calm control and sharp technique. Sophia Shaft also impressed, showing composure under pressure. She failed the first attempt then successfully lifted 101 kg on her second attempt with excellent speed under the bar and failed to lift 103 on her third attempt.

Janeth GOMEZ delivered one of the session’s highlights – a sensational save at 95 kg, duck-walking the bar into stability. She carried that momentum into her final lift, successfully completing 98 kg on her third attempt to close a strong snatch series.

Ando Elreen delivered one of the session’s most dramatic moments with her 100 kg snatch – recovering from a backward lean to steady the bar just before the platform’s edge. The crowd erupted as she fought for balance and secured the lift, a true display of grit and control.

Ozkan Aysel displayed precision and power, completing 99 kg and 102 kg with solid technique. Her confident lifting secured her a strong fourth place finish in the snatch.

As the weight approached triple digits, the intensity sharpened, and two athletes rose to the occasion. Yenny Sinisterra was electric on stage, attacking each lift with her signature aggression. After a confident opener, she secured 103 kg with impeccable timing and speed under the bar – a lift that drew cheers from both fans and fellow athletes. Her energy and fearless approach made her one of the standout performers of the snatch session, keeping her firmly in medal contention.

Maude Charron followed with her trademark calm and precision. Opening conservatively at 99 kg, she moved smoothly through her attempts, each one executed with textbook technique. Her final 103 kg lift looked effortless – a perfect display of balance, patience, and control that highlighted her experience at the highest level.

The Canadian veteran’s performance was a masterclass in composure under pressure, setting her up perfectly for the clean & jerk battle ahead.

Snatch Medalists

🥇RI SUK – 111 kg (World Record)
🥈SINISTERRA TORRES Yenny (COL) – 103 kg
🥉CHARRON Maude G (CAN) – 103 kg

The Clean & Jerk Session

If the snatch tested grace and timing, the clean & jerk was a battle of pure power and nerves.

Early lifters like Nirupama Seram and Martina Chiacchio made their marks with steady second attempts – Seram at 123 kg and Chiacchio at 115 kg – respectable lifts that kept them in the competition, though short of medal contention.

Andrea Cotruta showed her trademark aggression, making 115 kg on her opener, 120 kg on her second, but narrowly missing 123 kg overhead. Ozkan Aysel showed determination in the clean & jerk, successfully lifting 120 kg on her second attempt before falling short on the heavier bar.

Janeth GOMEZ delivered one of the most composed performances of the evening, going three-for-three with 118 kg, 121 kg, and 125 kg. 

Sophia Shaft made a solid 126 kg on her first attempt, while Estep Katharine matched the composure of her teammate, completing 125 kg on her opener before bowing out early.

Yenny Sinisterra continued her strong performance, successfully lifting 128 kg in the clean & jerk with trademark aggression and precision. Though she failed on heavier attempts, that single lift was enough to secure her a podium finish in total.

Ando Elreen electrified the arena with two powerful lifts at 129 kg and 131 kg, the latter earning her the bronze medal in the clean & jerk. Her explosive power and emotional celebration after securing third place made her one of the crowd favorites of the session.

Maude Charron, ever the technician, delivered a flawless clean & jerk series – successfully lifting 128 kg, 131 kg, and 133 kg with precision and confidence. Each lift drew louder applause, her composed execution securing her a commanding position for silver.

Clean & Jerk Medalists

🥇 RI SUK – 142 kg (World Record)
🥈 CHARRON Maude G (CAN) – 133 kg
🥉 ANDO Elreen Ann (PHI) – 131 kg

Total Results

Records & Highlights

Janeth GOMEZ wowed the crowd with a gritty save at 95 kg, duck-walking the bar into control before standing tall for the down signal.

Ando Elreen  matched that intensity with a remarkable recovery at 100 kg, steadying a backward-leaning bar just before the platform’s edge – a moment that drew one of the biggest cheers of the session.

Maude Charron showed trademark precision and composure, going three-for-three in the clean & jerk to secure silver with flawless technique.

Ri Suk set the 3 world records – 111 kg in Snatch, 142 kg in Clean & Jerk and 253 kg in Total.

Closing Thoughts

The Women’s 63 kg category in Førde encapsulated everything weightlifting fans love – strength, precision, and emotion. From RI Suk’s record-breaking dominance to Maude Charron`s veteran composure and Yenny Sinisterra`s relentless passion, the session delivered world-class drama and unforgettable moments.

This competition proved that the 63s are not just back – they’re stronger, deeper, and more competitive than ever.

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