FISU 2026 World Championships Added to USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Calendar

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COLORADO SPRINGS – USA Weightlifting is excited to share that Senior Director of Sport Performance Mike Gattone and the Sport Performance department have added the 2026 FISU World University Championships (September 8-12) to the sport performance calendar. This addition means that USA Weightlifting, the national governing body for weightlifting in the United States, will send an official delegation to Doha, Qatar, next year to represent the U.S. at the university level.


“We are thrilled that the FISU World Championships are back on the IWF calendar,” said Mike Gattone, USA Weightlifting Director of Sport Performance. “Historically, this has been a chance for all of our best collegiate lifters to compete against their peers from around the world. With the rise of USA Weightlifting’s results, we have college student-athletes around the country who are training hard, both in and out of organized university programs. This competition and the selection procedures being used give an opportunity for all of these individuals to qualify for this competition.”


Qualifying for the team

Things to know for athletes interested in representing the United States at the FISU World University Championships:

  • Athletes must update their Sport:80 account to reflect their university status
    • Go to "Collegiate Eligibility" on their profile, select "Add", and then upload their transcript and school information.
    • Contact usaw@usaweightlifting.org if you have issues.
  • Team selection will be based off the 2026 Junior A/B standards. Those will be published by January 31, 2026.
  • ATHLETES MUST FILL OUT THIS ENTRY FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE TEAM.
  • Qualifying events for the team are listed out in the Selection Procedures Policy document linked here. The 2026 University National Championships is the final domestic qualifying event. The true final qualifying event is the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships.
  • Athletes who qualify for the team will be self-funded to competition. All athletes will receive official Team USA outfitting.

Any questions regarding qualifying for this team should be sent to National Teams Operations Lead Jenna Bohanski at jenna.bohanski@usaweightlifting.org