The History of Kettlebell Sport

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Late 1600’s -  that’s when kettlebell appears as a weight measure tool as well as  strength and agility measure and a man’s fun tool at the open markets, holiday parties and circus. Available weights 1 pud (16kg), 2 puds(24kg), 3 puds (32kg);

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1948, October 24th – the first Kettlebell Sport Games Event in Biathlon (Jerk, Snatch) 32kg, men only. Was no time limits for competitions sets and athletes was going as long as they can.

          USSR Olympic Weight Lifting Federation was in charge and responsible for this event.

Competitions took a place in Moskow, Russia;

 

1962 – first rules and regulation was established. Kettlebell Sport has been recognized and named as the Sport officially in USSR;

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First 200reps Snatches 32kg ???

1984, November 26th - the First Official Kettlebell Sport Championship of Russia in Orenburg city (exercises: Jerk, Snatch). 

        No time limits for competitions sets and athletes was going as long as they can;

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1985, November – the First Official USSR Kettlebell Sport Championship in Lipeck city (exercises: Jerk, Snatch).

        No time limits for competitions sets and athletes was going as long as they can.

First Sport Ranking Table up to MS (Master of Sport) rank;

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        100reps Jerk 2 x 32kg first time ever performed by Sergiei Mishin (Kaluga, Russia), 90kg+ weight class;

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1987 - RGSF (Russian Girevoy Sport Federation) was founded;

 

First MS (Master of Sport) in Kettlebell Sport History???   (Male/Female)

        First MSIC (Master of Sport International Class) in Kettlebell Sport History Sergei Mishin (Kaluga, Russia);

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        First HMS (Honored Master of Sport) in Kettlebell Sport History Sergei Mishin (Kaluga, Russia);

 

1989 – Competitions set duration has been reduced to 10 minutes;

 

1992 – EUWL (European Union of Weightball Lifting) was founded in Talsi, Latvia. First President Uldis Kundzinsh;

 

1992 – IGSF (International Girevoy Sport Federation) was founded;

 

1992 - First Kettlebell Sport European Championship;

 

1993 – First Kettlebell Sport World Championship in Lipeck, Russia. Biathlon 32kg (Jerk, Snatch), men only;

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1993 - IUKL (International Union of Kettlebell Lifting) founded by Vasili Ginko (Latvia);

 

1998 – First Kettlebell Sport Long Cycle Competitions (Championship of Russia in Saint-Petersburg, February 20-22);

 

      100reps Long Cycle 2 x 32kg first time ever performed by Vasili Ginko (Latvia)

      at Jerebcov Cup, Kazan, Tatarstan Republic;

 

2001 – First Kettlebell Sport competitions for Women in 10min Snatch 16kg;

 

2002 – First Kettlebell Sport Competitions in a Team Relay invented by Sergei Rachinskii. Jerk Relay, Long Cycle Relay.

       As many weight categories as many athletes in the Relay Team, each athlete performing 3min set;

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2007 – First Kettlebell Sport competitions for Women in 10min Snatch 24kg;

 

2008, January – IKFF (International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation) was founded by Steve Cotter (California, USA);

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2009 - IKLF (International Kettlebell Lifting Federation) was founded by Nico Rithner (Colorado, USA).

        BOLT Kettlebell Lifting Sport developed by Nico Rithner;

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2009, November – IKSFA (International Kettlebell Sport and Fitness Association) was founded by Aleksandr Khasin (USA) and Sergei Rachinskii (Russia);

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2013 -  IKMF (International Kettlebell Marathon Federation) was founded by Dauvergne Stephane (President and Founder). 

     After traveling across Europe, to compete in the kettlebell marathon, he decided to create IKMF with Sergei Matskévich, in order to renew the kettlebell marathon enthusiast.. 

     Also promote the human value of the kettlebell marathon : Humility + self-help + pushing the limits = IKMF

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2014 – WAKSC (World Association of Kettlebell Sport Clubs) was founded by Sergei Rachinskii (Russia), Denis Vasilev (Russia), Aleksandr Markov (Russia). Beginning of the World Grand Prix Series by WAKSC;

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First Female MSIC (Master of Sport International Class) in Kettlebell Sport History Anastasia Zolotoreva (Tomsk, Russia);

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2015, February 28th  – First Official Kettlebell Sport Championship for Women double Long Cycle

        in Costa Mesa, CA, USA by Orange Kettlebell Club as the leg of the World Grand Prix Series by WAKSC;

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2017, October – WKSF (World Kettlebell Sport Federation) was founded by Oleh Ilika (Italy);

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2017, December – IKO (International Kettlebell Organisation) and Kettlebell Sport World League was founded by Denis Vasilev (Russia). Beginning of the Kettlebell World League by IKO.

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