News

[Hawkpeter]

Oceania continent adopted 'new' classes early, and Senior Oceania's coming up the end of June were being conducted using them, however as of yesterday we've been informed that the 98 class is now a 94 class. No word of any changes on the female side. The reasoning is that it is part of changes for LA 2028 classes.

[strapping]

53-63-77-SHW should be Olympic and from its competitiveness 58 would be the 5th. But still not properly representative.

Just make 50-60-70-80-SHW and you cover 95% of participation.

Wow this guy hates Guatemala arrest him quickly

I agree. Simple numbers, but has a better catchment of high quality lifters. It still screws the 53-55 lifters and 63-64 lifters but that's life.

Oceania continent adopted 'new' classes early, and Senior Oceania's coming up the end of June were being conducted using them, however as of yesterday we've been informed that the 98 class is now a 94 class. No word of any changes on the female side. The reasoning is that it is part of changes for LA 2028 classes.

The IWF president mentioned this openly at the start of the European Championships. The categories that I mentioned are not guaranteed to be correct, but they are a well informed prediction.

[Elle]

Yesterday I spoke with a national coach and he said that they doesn't know anything about olympic weigtht categories. Is this possibile?

[erpel]

They don't have to be finalized until the IOC approves the program next year. I imagine there's discussion going on atm between continental federations.

https://iwf.sport/wp-content/uploads/do ... H-2025.pdf

[Elle]

Yes, I know that there is nothing official yet but it seems strange to me that the Italian federation does not have some news in advance (like the Oceania federation).

[erpel]

Maybe there was backlash.

[strapping]

Email sent today to member federations.
-

7 May 2025

IWF Member Federations
President / General Secretary

Following the recent decision of the IOC to include five (5) Women's and five (5) Men's Bodyweight Categories for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the Men's 98kg BW Category has been adjusted to 94kg. This change is intended to prevent significant gaps between the (soon to be selected) five (5) Olympic Men's Bodyweight Categories.

With this adjustment, the five (5) categories will be more evenly distributed, ensuring a fairer and safer qualification for all athletes for LA28.

Please note that the proposal has been endorsed by the IWF Executive Board, IWF Technical Committee and the IWF Athletes' Commission.

The Women's Bodyweight categories remain as previously announced.

Based on the above, the IWF bodyweight categories are as follows:

SENIOR / JUNIOR
WOMEN 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg
MEN 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 94kg, 110kg, +110kg

YOUTH
WOMEN 44kg, 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, +77kg
MEN 56kg, 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 94kg, +94kg

The new bodyweight categories will enter into force on June 1, 2025.

Kindest regards,
IWF

[erpel]

With this adjustment, the five (5) categories will be more evenly distributed, ensuring a fairer and safer qualification for all athletes for LA28.

And that's not a concern for the women?

[Elle]

You were actually right!

I read a lot of criticism online, I can understand. In Italy we have another problem: we adopted the new categories since January and our ranking list (from which the athletes for the national finals, in december, will then be chosen) which has already completed three competitions, will have to be remodeled.

[strapping]

Please note that the Olympic categories have not been finalised yet with this statement. I think there is a very good chance that the categories that I outlined will be chosen but I am not 100% sure.

With this adjustment, the five (5) categories will be more evenly distributed, ensuring a fairer and safer qualification for all athletes for LA28.

And that's not a concern for the women?

The IWF can't count or do maths.

You were actually right!

I read a lot of criticism online, I can understand. In Italy we have another problem: we adopted the new categories since January and our ranking list (from which the athletes for the national finals, in december, will then be chosen) which has already completed three competitions, will have to be remodeled.

I am sure many federations are having this problem. 98, now 94kg athletes trying to qualify for national/international competitions soon will have a lot of weight to cut very quickly.