IMWA World Championships 2025 – Las Vegas, Nevada

Elders of the Bar: Why Masters Lifting Matters

In weightlifting, much of the spotlight tends to fall on the youngest, strongest, and fastest. Olympic Games, senior world championships—these are showcases for athletes in their 20s, whose numbers bend belief and push human limits. But the sport would be far poorer without its Masters. Masters weightlifting is organized in 5-year age brackets, starting at 35 and extending upwards into the 80s and beyond. It’s easy to see this as a “second chance” or a “consolation prize,” but the truth is quite the opposite. Masters lifting is the bridge that keeps the sport whole. It shows that weightlifting isn’t a fleeting fling with strength—it’s a lifelong relationship.

These athletes aren’t just competitors. They are coaches, referees, mentors, volunteers, and club builders. They’re the ones who teach the finer points of balance in the snatch, the patience needed in a heavy clean, the discipline required to recover between cycles. Their presence ensures that technical knowledge is passed down, traditions are preserved, and the sport doesn’t forget where it came from. On top of that, Masters lifters expand the stage. They inspire athletes who might otherwise walk away after their twenties. They encourage people who discover lifting later in life. And perhaps most importantly, they show everyone watching that strength, resilience, and ambition don’t have an expiration date.

Moments That Stamped Their Mark

The Las Vegas championships weren’t short of drama. With nearly 900 athletes from around the globe, the meet stretched across days and platforms, each session packed with lifters chasing something personal: a record, a podium finish, a long-sought PR, or simply the satisfaction of making lifts on a world stage. Some moments stood out immediately. There were world records in multiple age groups, bars locked out overhead to the roar of a supportive crowd. In the adaptive category, lifters broke boundaries and proved yet again that the spirit of competition knows no limits. For many, the defining moments weren’t necessarily about medals—they were about resilience and personal strength.

• Kirsty Allen’s Silver-Medal Total in Women’s 35-69kg
  Kirsty Allen (Army, UK) achieved silver in the Women’s 35-69kg Masters category. She trailed the U.S. champion Samantha Kuhles by just 12 points, and it was her clean & jerk in the final session that secured her the podium finish.

• Rudolf Kotlikov’s Dominant Clean & Jerk in Men’s M85, 60 kg
  Rudolf Kotlikov (USA), competing in the Men’s 85-89 age group, 60 kg body-weight category, impressed with a clean & jerk of 45 kg on his third attempt, after solid snatches earlier, securing the top total for his class. His performance exemplified how Masters lifters combine consistency and peak attempts under pressure.

• Friedrich Faber’s Six-For-Six Day in the M85 65 kg Class
  Friedrich Faber (Germany) in the Men’s M85 65 kg weight category had one of those unforgettable “all attempts made” performances. He nailed all snatch attempts (32, 35, 37 kg) and all three clean & jerks (40, 43, 48 kg), ending with a personal best total that also won his division. The rhythm of his attempts, without misses, showed what experience and preparation look like at the Masters level.

Where Iron Meets Stage: Venue, Equipment & Setup

The 2025 World Masters Weightlifting Championships were held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, a venue well-suited for international competitions. The competition floor featured two official platforms, each with calibrated Eleiko IWF-certified bars. For the competition plates, Valor Fitness provided specially designed plates created for the Vegas event, highlighting their growing presence in Masters weightlifting. These plates were also made available for purchase after the championships, offering a unique keepsake for athletes and fans alike.

The warm-up area was carefully arranged to accommodate hundreds of competitors across multiple age and weight categories. Multiple racks, bars, and warm-up platforms were available, ensuring lifters had space and equipment to prepare safely and efficiently. Each warm-up station featured a combination of Eleiko bars and Valor plates, providing athletes with a consistent feel from warm-up to competition.

The competition floor was designed with both safety and visibility in mind. Platforms were spaced to give lifters ample room for attempts, while spectators enjoyed clear sightlines from every angle. The layout, combined with high-quality, calibrated equipment, contributed to a professional atmosphere that supported peak performance.

Beyond the platforms, the Westgate’s facilities offered full support for everyone, including on-site accommodations, dining options, and logistics services. This meticulous setup ensured that competitors could focus solely on their lifts, while the event itself ran smoothly and efficiently, providing a world-class stage for the Masters athletes to showcase their strength and dedication. The event also featured a LUXIAOJUN sales table, which became a hub for Masters athletes and fans alike. The table offered branded gear, apparel. This drew steady traffic throughout the competition. Many lifters took the opportunity to pick up specialized bars, weightlifting shirts, and accessories, creating a small marketplace where the Masters community could connect, celebrate the sport, and access equipment and merchandise associated with elite lifting.