Latvian weightlifter Rebeka Ibrahima wins bronze in Germany in first competition since last spring

Latvian weightlifter Rebeka Ibrahima competed on Friday in Germany, marking her first competition since April 2025, when she won bronze at the European Championship in the under-59-kilogram category. The 28-year-old athlete, who earlier this year was named Ventspils' best athlete for the seventh time, explained on Instagram that her absence from competition was needed to prepare for trial competitions ahead of the world championship in China.

In Germany, Ibrahima weighed in at 60.7 kilograms and competed in the 61-kilogram category. She lifted 96 kilograms in the snatch and 110 kilograms in the clean and jerk, but failed in her attempt to lift 114 kilograms. Her combined total of 206 kilograms earned her third place. Ibrahima described her performance as progress made in small steps.

Male teammates also compete

Male weightlifters from the Latvian national team also took part in the same competition. In the under-95-kilogram category, Armands Mežinskis won bronze with a total of 348 kilograms (156 kg in the snatch, 192 kg in the clean and jerk). Also competing in that category, 34-year-old Artūrs Plēsnieks posted a total of 350 kilograms (160 kg snatch, 190 kg clean and jerk), finishing tenth.

The competition in Germany served as an important step toward the world championship, which begins on October 27 in the Chinese city of Ningbo. For weightlifting, this championship marks the first stage of qualification for the Los Angeles Olympic Games, giving it particular significance for the Latvian athletes.