Campbell edges Koanda, as Lalayan dominates at European Weightlifting Championships

The EWF Senior European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi concluded with a world-class duel between two of the sport's most decorated women and a dominant display of strength in the men's heaviest category.

The women's super-heavyweight (+86 kg) session produced the most intense head-to-head of the week as Great Britain's double Olympic medallist Emily Campbell faced off against Norway's Solfrid Koanda. The contest was a clash of champions, with Koanda entering as the reigning Paris 2024 Olympic champion in -81 kg and reigning World champion in -86 kg stepping up to challenge the British icon.

The lead changed hands throughout the afternoon as both athletes pushed the continental limits. Koanda asserted her strength early in the snatch, setting a new European Senior Record with a successful 119 kg lift to take the discipline gold.

However, Campbell responded with a her strong clean & jerk. The British lifter successfully cleared 159 kg, establishing a new European Senior Record in the discipline. This lift propelled her to an absolute total of 276 kg, which also stands as a new European Senior Record.

Koanda secured the overall silver with a 275 kg total, while the bronze in the snatch and in the total was claimed by the host nation's Anastasiia Hotfrid, who delighted the local crowd with a consistent 262 kg performance. Turkiye's Tuana Suren won bronze in the clean & jerk.

The championships reached their final conclusion with the men's +110 kg category, where Armenia's Varazdat Lalayan reinforced his status as Europe's premier heavyweight. Lalayan secured all three gold medals with a clinical series of lifts, finishing with a total of 451 kg.

Lalayan took the snatch gold with 210 kg, establishing a significant 18 kg lead over his nearest rival. In the clean & jerk, he secured the title with a 241 kg opening lift. With the absolute gold already guaranteed, the Armenian star turned his attention to the record books, attempting to break the existing European clean & Jerk record of 250 kg. Lalayan twice attempted a massive 253 kg, but despite showing immense power, he was unable to complete the lifts on this occasion.

The absolute silver medal went to Daniil Vagaitsev (AIN) with a total of 425 kg, while Timur Naniev (AIN) completed the podium with 418 kg. Ukraine's Vladyslav Prylypko won the bronze in the clean & jerk.

Armenia topped the medal table with three total gold, four silver and one bronze medals ahead of Bulgaria, Turkiye and Great Britain who had two gold medals. Armenia also won combined (in total, snmatch and clean & jerk) of nine gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals, once again assuring their continental dominance.