
Welcome to USA Weightlifting's qualifying totals hub. Select an event from the list below to learn the qualifying totals for that competition. Below is a brief explanation of how qualifying totals work, and who is eligible to register for a USA Weightlifting national event.
Every athlete must post a total to qualify for a USA Weightlifting competition. That total must be posted within the qualification period specified for that event.
Take the hypothetical scenario in which the qualifying totals for the 2023 USA Weightlifting Fictional Competition are:
Men's 55kg bodyweight division: 200kg total
Men's 61kg bodyweight division: 210kg total
Taking the scenario above:
-An athlete can hit a 200kg total as a men's 55kg athlete (thus, qualifying for the Fictional Competition) and use that same result to register as a 61kg -- or any other bodyweight category -- for the Fictional Competition
-An athlete CANNOT hit a 200kg total as a men's 61kg athlete (missing the qualifying total for the 61kg class by 10kg) and use that total to register at 55kg (or any weight class) for the Fictional Competition
The rationale above is to be applied to all events listed in this hub.
Please contact USA Weightlifting at usaw@usaweightlifting.org with any questions.
Upcoming USAW National Events
View CalendarStart Here: How to Qualify for 2026 National Events
Qualifying for USAW National Competitions in 2026 ExplainedOn Nov. 21, 2025 USA Weightlifting released updated 2026 national event qualifying totals following the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) announcement of new 2026 bodyweight categories. The IWF’s new categories take effect on Aug. 1, 2026, and all IWF competitions after that date will be contested under the new categories. USAW is aligned with adopting the new categories for all domestic competitions effective August 1 as well, and released new qualifying totals that will be used for all national competitions operating after Aug.1, 2026—the first two being Virus Weightlifting Series 2 and Virus Weightlifting Finals.
We understand the existence of two pairs of qualifying totals is confusing so we have a full release available here that explains how to qualify for 2026 national competitions. Please read this release carefully, and if you still have questions or require clarification, please contact our team at usaw@usaweightlifting.org with your questions and we will help you.
Pre-Aug. 1, 2026 Qualifying Totals
View, opens in a new tabClick here to view qualifying totals for VIRUS Weightlifting Series 1, Masters National Championships, University National Championships, and National Championships Week.
On Aug. 1, 2026, updated qualifying totals take effect due to the IWF's implementation of updated bodyweight categories. Those new bodyweight categories and our post-Aug. 1, 2026 qualifying totals that are also listed on this page DO NOT affect national competitions prior to Aug. 1, 2026. The first events affected by the new qualifying totals are for the 2026 editions of the VIRUS Weightlifting Series 2 and VIRUS Weightlifting Finals.
A full explainer on how to qualifying for national events in 2026 work is available here.
Post Aug. 1, 2026 Qualifying Totals
View, opens in a new tabOn Aug. 1, 2026, updated qualifying totals take effect due to the IWF's implementation of updated bodyweight categories. The first events affected by these new qualifying totals are for the 2026 editions of the VIRUS Weightlifting Series 2 and VIRUS Weightlifting Finals. Click here to view the post-Aug. 1, 2026 qualifying totals.
A full explainer clarifying how to qualifying for Series 2 and Finals is available here.