IWF Adjusts Bodyweight Categories, Sets Categories for LA2028

COLORADO SPRINGS – On November 3^rd the International Weightlifting Federation released the bodyweight categories for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games along with the bodyweight categories that’ll be contested at IWF competitions starting after Aug. 1, 2026. USA Weightlifting will follow suit in adopting the adjusted bodyweight categories for all sanctioned local and national domestic competitions, with the first national competition operating under the new categories being Virus Weightlifting Series 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. All USAW-sanctioned competitions before August 1 will run with the current bodyweight categories. 

The IWF bodyweight categories that take effect August 1 are:

SENIOR & JUNIOR

MEN: 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 85kg, 95kg, 110kg, +110kg

WOMEN: 49kg, 53kg, 57kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg

YOUTH

MEN: 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 85kg, 95kg, +95kg

WOMEN: 45kg, 49kg, 53kg, 57kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, +77kg

NOTE: USAW will create and share new U11/U13 and 14-15 year-old weight classes soon

The bodyweight categories that’ll be contested at the LA2028 Olympic Games are:

MEN: 65kg, 75kg, 85kg, 95kg, 110kg, +110kg

WOMEN: 53kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg

The bodyweight categories that will be contested at Virus Weightlifting Series 1, Masters National Championships, University National Championships, and National Championships Week remain:

Junior & Senior men: 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 94kg, 110kg, +110kg

Junior & Senior women: 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg

Youth men: 56kg, 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 94kg, +94kg

Youth women: 44kg, 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, +77kg

USAW plans to release new qualifying totals for the 2026 VWS2 and VWF within two weeks. Qualifying totals for USAW national competitions prior to VWS2 will not change, nor can the new qualifying totals be used to qualify for national competitions outside of VWS2 and VWF.

Impacts to national team-focused athletes, selection procedures, and/or all things related to the National Team Program will be addressed by USAW’s Sport Performance Department in the coming weeks. Please reach out to Senior Director of Sport Performance Mike Gattone at mike.gattone@usaweightlifting.org with specific questions about how this change impacts National Team Program athletes or opportunities.