The Russian Magnet Weightlifting Championship competitions were concluded in Moscow, after four days full of strong competitions and sporting achievements, which witnessed the recording of 16 national records, in addition to an unprecedented technical event represented in the use of a system supported by artificial intelligence to support referees, for the first time in the history of Russian sports.
The championship was held from September 10 to 13, marking the return of the National Weightlifting Championship to Moscow after an absence of 23 years. When the capital hosted the tournament for the last time, many of the athletes participating in this year’s edition had not yet been born.
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said: “The capital has not witnessed an event like this in 23 years. Today, the sport of weightlifting is witnessing a remarkable renaissance in general. It is a landmark year for the sport, after all the unfair and illegal sanctions imposed on it were lifted. We now have the opportunity to compete under our national flag and listen to the Russian anthem after the victory of our heroes.”
Match TV, the national sports channel in Russia, broadcast competitions in all weight categories for men and women, while the total audience reached by the tournament through television, media and social networks exceeded 90 million people.
Artificial intelligence enters the arbitration system
In weightlifting, results may be decided by a difference of a few kilograms or fractions of a second, while three judges must make instant decisions that may determine the identity of the first-place finisher.
During the Russian Magnet Championship, referees used for the first time a system powered by artificial intelligence, developed by researchers in the Sber AI team of Sberbank.
The system analyzes each attempt through video recordings, and provides referees with additional information that helps them review difficult cases or decisions under discussion. The tournament marked the first use of technology of this type in a Russian sporting event at the federal level.
The new technology has already demonstrated its practical value, as it contributed to supporting an arbitration decision that decided the identity of the champion in the men’s 60-kg competition, a category in which only two kilograms separated the medalists.
The use of the system was not limited to judges only, as graphics and data based on its analyzes were included directly in the television broadcast, allowing millions of viewers to see the same information that was available to the jury.
After the end of the tournament, the Russian Weightlifting Federation will continue to use the system permanently.
16 national records
Varvara Kuzmenova, representing the Moscow region, emerged as one of the most prominent stars of the tournament, after setting nine Russian national records in the 77-kg weight category, in the U-20, U-23 and women’s categories.
Kuzminova succeeded in lifting 135 kilograms in the net competitions, and also broke the Russian record in the total twice, eventually raising it to 250 kilograms.
For his part, Sergei Plotnikov, 16 years old and representing the Novosibirsk region, gave a remarkable performance by recording five records in the under-17 category.
Plotnikov broke the record in the snatch three times, recording the best attempt with a weight of 122 kilograms. He also set a record in the clean and jerk that reached 147 kilograms, and in the total with a weight of 269 kilograms. This performance enabled him to win the bronze medal in the adult competition in the 65 kilogram weight category.
The women’s competition witnessed two additional records being set, as Elizaveta Zatkina, representing the Krasnodar region, lifted 99 kilograms in the clean and jerk in the 49 kilogram weight category, while Olga T., representing the Omsk region, succeeded in lifting 96 kilograms in the snatch in the 61 kilogram weight category. The two players were able to win gold medals in their categories.
As for the highest weight total in the championship, it was recorded by Arsene Mirdanov from St. Petersburg, after he lifted a total of 398 kilograms in the weight category of more than 110 kilograms, only one kilogram ahead of the silver medalist.