Kuukasjärvi was the clear winner in the election, receiving 78 votes, with Kukkonen claiming 27.

Following his comfortable victory, Kuukasjärvi, a personal trainer by trade, will serve a two-year term at the helm of the FWF.

He will be in charge of the governing body until 2018, when fresh elections are set to be held.

Should he choose to stand for re-election in two years’ time, he could then lead the FWF through to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“Thank you all for the trust,” the FWF President wrote on Facebook following the Congress.

“The next two years will be meaningful and challenging.

“Let us go forward together.”

During the congress, Tomi Tolsa was appointed general secretary, with Heikki Rautapuro chosen as Kuukasjärvi’s first vice-president.

Antti Everi was selected as second vice-president.

Antti Seppälä was elected to the Executive Board after receiving 69 votes in the first round.

Jenni Ruotsi, who garnered 37 votes, was successful with her bid for a place on the ruling Executive Board as she secured the place reserved for a female member.

Petri Tanninen and Santeri Siltala retained their spots on the Executive Board, while Eero Oja and Taisto Kuoppala were appointed deputy members.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has congratulated all the elected officials.

Finland sent a team of two weightlifters to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Milko Tokola competed in the men’s 85 kilograms category, finishing 19^th, and Anni Vuohijoki was 10^th in the women’s 63kg event.

Olympic debutant Tokola made headlines during the event as he collapsed when leaving the stage after lifting 175kg.

He suffered a severe drop in blood pressure and fell down the steps as he attempted to depart the arena, before he regained consciousness and joked that it “happens sometimes”.