‘Weightlifting is universal’: Student athletes from 21 countries compete at FISU Championship in Doha

At the 2026 FISU World University Championship Weightlifting, 116 student athletes are finding that a shared passion for the barbell crosses language and nationality.The 2026 FISU World University Championship Weightlifting, organised by the International University Sports Federation [FISU] and hosted by the Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation [QCSF], has brought 116 student-athletes from 21 countries to Doha, competing from 8-12 September at Education City’s Multaqa Student Center.The competition, with eight men’s and eight women’s weight categories, has seen something else take shape in the training hall: a sense of community and friendship.“The language of weightlifting is universal,” said Andrea Barrows, 24, who is competing in the women’s 77kg category on Friday. It’s her fourth time representing Team USA internationally, but her first time competing outside the Americas.She noted that her team has trained alongside Finland and formed friendships with South Korea’s athletes, exchanging compliments and encouragement between lifts, saying: “hey, good lift”, sharing bars, and giving each other supportive thumbs up between lifts.“It’s been fun and cool to see weightlifting kind of unite people from literally all over the world,” she added.That pull toward connection repeats across teams. Spain’s university weightlifting squad said they’ve made friends with athletes from Puerto Rico and Poland.“Every time we go into a competition we try to speak with other people and make friends,” said Spanish weightlifter Eli Lizaso Bringas, who called cultural exchange one of the most important parts of competing internationally.For South Korea’s Eun Bee Jeong, 20, the exchange extended further when a local in Doha gifted her a traditional abaya and hijab. “It is very beautiful,” she said. Teams have also exchanged pins and keychains throughout the week.Coaches have observed this as well. “We gain an opportunity to learn from other coaches… and our athletes further develop when they see others compete,” said Kevin D’Arcy, coach at Student Sport Ireland, who described Doha as “one of the best places I’ve ever visited for competition.”Such world-class championships held in Education City make it convenient for students to attend in between busy class hours. “When I saw the signs a few days ago during one of my breaks, I thought I would come and watch,” said Hamad Bin Khalifa University first-year student Sheikha Al-Kubaisi.“Honestly I am really impressed and it’s very inspiring, especially as a new university student,” she said.Al-Kubaisi saw the championship as an opportunity to see students like her participating at the competitive level of her favourite sport. “I know a lot about lifting, mostly about powerlifting. So I just wanted to see it in real life because I usually watch these on live streams.”Pako Elseehy is a student journalist at Northwestern University Qatar whose reporting focuses on sports, human-interest stories, and visual storytelling through photography.Linh Tran is a student journalist at Northwestern University Qatar with experiences covering human-centered stories in Doha and beyond across technology, policy, lifestyle, and travel.