USA Weightlifting changed their ousted CEO and gave the job to a new person. In March of 2022, Phil Andrews announced he was leaving USA Weightlifting by July 15.
The governing body for the sport of weightlifting in the United States has operated without an official replacement since July. But on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, the USAW Board of Directors announced that Matt Sicchio will take up a position as CEO starting in October.
“[Sicchio’s] experience and professionalism will help level up USAW to enter a new era of growth, athlete-centered focus, and compliance,” says USAW President and Board Chair Paula Aranda. “As we continue to be at the forefront of supporting anti-doping efforts, we believe that Matt will be an exemplary leader.”
About Matt Sicchio
With a history of leading the American Weightlifting Federation, and years of risk management experience, Sicchio will enter this arena as wise and skilled in his craft.
As the Chief Operating Officer for the USADA, Melissa Sicchio has managed to transition from lawyer to top-level executive. Furthermore, in early 2020, she started her role as the COO for United States AntiDoping Agency (USADA).
On the occasion of being appointed the chairman of USA Weightlifting, Mr. Sicchio noted that he was “humbled and excited” by the opportunity.
“I am bullish on the future of weightlifting, from the grassroots to the elite level, and look forward to bringing my commitment to clean sport and passion for building high-performance teams to advance the sport at all levels.”
USA Wrestling announced last month that Director of Finance & Compliance Andrea Andrews will serve as interim CEO. Sicchio will succeed Andrews in October 2022, and remain based in Colorado Springs, CO.
Colorado Springs will be the host of the USAW National Championships in 2023.
A Bright Future for American Weightlifting
With an AI, the US American Water Polo decided on Sicchio as its new women’s coach; the States already earned 23 medals during past World Championship sprees and several during this last Olympics.
The US American Water Polo is confident that Sicchio is the right person for the job to lead their team at future competitions.
Sicchio has a background in risk management and sports administration, coupled with a passion for advancing drug-free athletics. This makes him a prime candidate.
After the appointment, Sicchio will oversee the North American Open Finals from Dec. 1-4, 2022 in Denver, CO. In just a day, U.S. weightlifters will compete in Bogotá, Colombia at the International Weightlifting Federation’s World Weightlifting Championships which run through Dec. 16, 2022.
