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The 2026 World Championships set the stage for the Los Angeles qualifying period.
Many of the world's best weightlifters are changing classes, offering fresh battles between top talent.
In Ningbo, Yeison Lopez (COL) meets "Abdo" Younes (EGY) for the first time. Competing against prodigies is familiar territory for Yeison. In Paris, he placed second to Karlos, but regards it nonetheless as the high point of his career, which dates back to 2015.
His battle against the young Egyptian is one of the most compelling stories of the year's biggest competition. Here's what Yeison has to say about "Abdo", his blossoming career post-ban, and how he came to the sport in the first place.
Yeison Lopez
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Weightlifting House
Below is our interview with Colombia's Yeison Lopez. This conversation was conducted through translation software and edited for clarity.
Weightlifting House (WH): As a child, your family fled armed conflict in Chocó. What was that like?
Yeison Lopez (YL): "I have memories of pain and frustration from leaving everything behind—the place where I was happy, where I was able to grow up with so little yet feel like I had so much, since my family were all together. Having to leave because of the violence there marked my life forever."
WH: Do you remember your first day learning weightlifting?
YL: "It was really very difficult. My journey began with having to do 200 sit-ups as part of the training, which I wasn't prepared for, even though I liked the sport itself."
WH: How do you feel about your 2018 doping suspension now?
YL: "It's a very complex subject that I attribute to others who contaminated my test to hurt me—I never had any intention or interest in taking substances to improve my performance. I've always been recognized for my resilience and discipline, and I believe I still show that through my results, which are better now than before."
WH: What can you say about your performance in Paris?
YL: "It was a wonderful day, one of my favorite days, because it represented a dream I built over many years. After going through five years of suspension and several injuries, I was still able to reach my Olympic dream."
WH: What's changed in your training recently?
YL: "The clean & jerk was always one of my weaknesses. But together with my coach, we've added extra work in my training program to improve. We have a plan to get better."
WH: What do you think of the new weight classes?
YL: "I think changing the categories so frequently harms us athletes more than it helps. The body needs time to adapt to a new weight. The fact that we're constantly moving is difficult and can end up harming our health. I'm trying to advocate for more concern for athlete health & safety."
WH: Do you think you can beat "Abdo" Younes at Worlds?
YL: "He's very young and very strong. To say I'm going to beat him would be very arrogant of me. I want to compete and put on an excellent competition. I wish the guy the best."
WH: Do you strategize with your coaches about other athletes?
YL: "We're always focused on our own work. It's clear we need to have some level of awareness of which athletes are in excellent condition and prepare accordingly, but our focus is on improving ourselves."
WH: Do you have a favorite weightlifter?
YL: "Everyone else seems to have one, but I don't."
WH: How is Colombia able to be so dominant in weightlifting?
YL: "We're a very resilient country. We have very good athletic development programs for young people who will end up being future champions. We work closely with the school systems to strengthen Colombian weightlifting."
