As a member of the EWF Historical & Statistical Commission, Gerhard Peya, President of the Austrian Weightlifting Federation, has prepared a retrospective overview of the development of weight categories since the founding of the International Weightlifting Federation, taking into account the most recent reorganisation.
In his review, Peya notes that repeated changes to the weight categories since 1993 have made it increasingly difficult to present and compare performance trends across different eras. By contrast, such comparisons were relatively straightforward between 1913 and 1992, covering a period of almost 90 years.
Regarding the development of the categories themselves, Peya highlights the generally positive trend observed up to 1992 and, indeed, through to 2024, when the international system comprised ten categories.
With the current IWF structure of eight categories for each gender, he considers weightlifting to be well positioned for the coming decades.
He also emphasises that maintaining such continuity would be highly desirable, not only for statisticians, but also for strategists and decision-makers throughout the sporting sector.
By Gerhard Peya, President of the Austrian Weightlifting Federation and member of the EWF Historical & Statistical Commission
1905
On 10 June, the world federation was founded in Duisburg under the name “Amateur Athletes World Union.”
On 12 June, three weight categories were established:
70 kg – Lightweight
80 kg – Middleweight
Over 80 kg – Heavyweight
1913
The World Federation, which changed its name to the “International Amateur World Federation for Weightlifting” on 6 June in Berlin, adopted the following weight classes:
60 kg – Featherweight
67.5 kg – Lightweight
75 kg – Middleweight
82.5 kg – Light Heavyweight
Over 82.5 kg – Heavyweight
1928
The Olympic triathlon was introduced, comprising:
Two-arm press
Two-arm snatch
Two-arm clean and jerk
1946
On 17 October in Paris, the World Federation decided to introduce a sixth weight class, effective from 1 January 1947:
56 kg – Bantamweight
1951
On 12 October 1950 in Paris, the World Federation approved an amendment to the weight categories, effective from 1 January 1951:
56 kg – Bantamweight
60 kg – Featherweight
67.5 kg – Lightweight
75 kg – Middleweight
82.5 kg – Light Heavyweight
90 kg – Middle Heavyweight
Over 90 kg – Heavyweight
1969
On 11 October 1968 in Mexico City, the World Federation Congress approved the following weight classes, effective from 1 January 1969:
52 kg – Flyweight
56 kg – Bantamweight
60 kg – Featherweight
67.5 kg – Lightweight
75 kg – Middleweight
82.5 kg – Light Heavyweight
90 kg – Middle Heavyweight
Over 90 kg to 110 kg – Heavyweight
Over 110 kg – Super Heavyweight
1973
At the World Federation Congress in Munich on 25 August, delegates voted 33 to 13 in favour of abolishing the two-arm press.
From 1 January 1973, competitions were held solely as a two-event contest comprising:
Two-arm snatch
Two-arm clean and jerk
1977
On 15 July in Montreal, the World Federation decided to discontinue the previously used names for the weight classes.
With effect from 1 January 1977, the following categories applied:
-52 kg, -56 kg, -60 kg, -67.5 kg, -75 kg, -82.5 kg, -90 kg, -100 kg, -110 kg, +110 kg
1984
On 20 October, the Executive Committee of the International Federation, meeting in Moscow, decided to officially recognise women’s weightlifting.
The following women’s weight classes were established:
44 kg, 48 kg, 52 kg, 56 kg, 60 kg, 67.5 kg, 75 kg, 82.5 kg, +82.5 kg
1993
To eliminate dubious world records, the World Federation Congress, held on 15 November in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, approved new weight classes.
The new categories came into effect on 1 January 1993.
Men:
54 kg, -59 kg, -64 kg, -70 kg, -76 kg, -83 kg, -91 kg, -99 kg, -108 kg, +108 kg
Women:
-46 kg, -50 kg, -54 kg, -59 kg, -64 kg, -70 kg, -76 kg, -83 kg, +83 kg
1998
On 28 May 1997, the World Federation Congress in Cape Town confirmed a reduced number of weight categories, effective from 1 January 1998.
Men:
-56 kg, -62 kg, -69 kg, -77 kg, -85 kg, -94 kg, -105 kg, +105 kg
Women:
-48 kg, -53 kg, -58 kg, -63 kg, -69 kg, -75 kg, +75 kg
2005
On 4 March 2005 in Istanbul, the IWF Congress adopted the “1-kilogram rule,” effective from 1 May 2005.
From that date, the weight of the barbell had to be a multiple of 1 kilogram. The same rule also applied to records.
2017
On 25 September 2016, at the IWF Congress in Penang, eight weight categories for women were finalised, with effect from 1 January 2017.
The new categories introduced were:
Seniors: 90 kg and +90 kg
Juniors: 75 kg and +75 kg
2018
On 6 July, the IWF Congress in Tashkent approved new weight categories to take effect from 1 November 2018.
For the Olympic Games, there were seven weight categories each for women and men.
For World, Continental and other international championships, there were ten weight categories for each gender.
Women’s Olympic Categories
49 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 64 kg, 76 kg, 87 kg, +87 kg
Men’s Olympic Categories
61 kg, 67 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 96 kg, 109 kg, +109 kg
Women’s IWF Categories
45 kg, 49 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 64 kg, 71 kg, 76 kg, 81 kg, 87 kg, +87 kg
Men’s IWF Categories
55 kg, 61 kg, 67 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 89 kg, 96 kg, 102 kg, 109 kg, +109 kg
2025 – 31 July 2026
The following eight-category system applied until 31 July 2026:
Women
48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, +86 kg
Men
60 kg, 65 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, 94 kg, 110 kg, +110 kg
2026
The IWF adopted a new set of weight categories with effect from 1 August 2026.
Olympic Women
53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, +86 kg
Olympic Men
65 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 95 kg, 110 kg, +110 kg
IWF Women
49 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, +86 kg
IWF Men
60 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 95 kg, 110 kg, +110 kg
Junior Women
45 kg, 49 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 61 kg, 60 kg, 77 kg, +77 kg
Junior Men
55 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 95 kg
Development of Weightlifting Categories, 1905–2026
Gerhard Peya, President of the Austrian Weightlifting Federation