Weightlifting outside the Olympic disciplines, Zanni disappointed: “We athletes will fight, it would be a serious blow to our future”

The Pordenone, bronze medal in Tokyo, comments on the decision of the IOC

PORDENONE. “This was something that was already out last year, but now that it has been made official it really makes us fearful, even if the last word is not said. But we athletes will do everything to ensure that one of the oldest sports does not leave the Olympic program ».

There is disappointment and concern in the words of the blue weightlifter Mirko Zanni, bronze in Tokyo in the 67 kg category, who commented on the IOC’s decision to exclude weightlifting from the list of disciplines for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. bad blow also for our future, because at the end of the competitive activity the hope of staying in the sector would diminish a lot », added the worried athlete from Cordenons.

At 24 he became the first Italian to win a medal at the Games in weightlifting 37 years after Norberto Oberburger ‘s gold in Los Angeles 1984, later imitated by Giorgia Bordignon and Nino Pizzolato.

Their immediate target is Paris 2024, but the shadow of exclusion cannot help but weigh. “We all want to continue to set a good example, to show the world what this sport is and in the meantime to hope for a change, especially within the Iwf, the international federation – concludes Zanni -, trusting that those at the top will make the choices fair and think about the common good ”