The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has announced a significant reduction in the number of weight categories for both men and women, decreasing from 10 to 8 categories effective June 2025. This decision follows a proposal put forth by the IWF’s Innovation Commission.
In the men’s section, the 55kg category will be eliminated, with competitions starting from the 60kg category. The new weight categories for men will be 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 98kg, 110kg, and 110kg. This marks a change from the previous categories of 55kg, 61kg, 67kg, 73kg, 81kg, 89kg, 96kg, 102kg, 109kg, and 109kg.
In women’s section 45kg category will be removed
For the women’s section, the 45kg category will be removed, and a new 48kg category will be introduced. The updated weight categories for women will include 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, and 86kg, replacing the former categories of 45kg, 49kg, 55kg, 59kg, 64kg, 71kg, 76kg, 81kg, 87kg, and 87kg.
Notably, the 49kg category, in which Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will also be discontinued.
In a statement released by the IWF Executive Board, which convened on December 2-3, the organization confirmed the approval of the Innovation Commission’s proposal to introduce the new bodyweight categories. However, it remains unclear what the Olympic and Non-Olympic weight classes will be for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Games.
For the 2024 Paris Olympics, only five weight classes have been selected for men: 61kg, 73kg, 89kg, 102kg, and over 102kg. The women’s categories include 49kg, 59kg, 71kg, 81kg, and over 81kg.
These changes are expected to reshape the competitive landscape of international weightlifting as athletes and federations adapt to the new categories.
