By Gary Anderson

March 26 – Ruslan Albegov has been voted IWF Male Lifter of 2013 ©Getty Images Russia's Ruslan Albegov and Tatiana Kashirina have been announced as the winners of the 2013 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Lifter of the Year trophies, after dominant displays at the World Championships in Wroclaw.

London 2012 bronze medal winner Albegov moved up the podium by two places at last year's World Championships, claiming the over 105 kilogramme title.

The 26-year-old lifted an impressive total of 464kg, which was just 8kg short of Iranian Hossein Rezazadeh's world record mark of 472kg.

Albegov, a former member of the Russian army, also defended his European title in Tirana, Albaia in 2013.

"Five years ago I was sitting in a tank, but since my military service ended I don't look at the results of my opponents, my only enemy is the weight," he said.

Meanwhile, compatriot Kashirina set a clean and jerk world record of 190kg on her way to claiming her second World Championship victory in the women's over 75kg category in Poland.

IWF Female Lifter of the Year Tatiana Kashirina won World Championship and Universiade titles in 2013 ©Getty Images IWF Female Lifter of the Year Tatiana Kashirina won World Championship and Universiade titles in 2013 ©Getty Images



The four-time European champion followed that up by setting a world record total of 334kg at the President's Cup in Moscow.

"I respect my stronger and weaker opponents equally," said Kashirina who was also crowned Universiade champion at Kazan 2013.

"Even though the toughest competition is with the Chinese lifters, my only will is to surpass myself."

Both athletes were presented with their awards at a special ceremony in Budapest, Hungary which was attended by IWF President, Dr Tamas Ajan and President of the Russian Weightlifting Federation, Sergej Syrtsov.

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