Introduction to the New Standards
I want to take this opportunity to introduce standards for the newly adopted IWF bodyweight classes and to talk a bit about their function, as well as the reasoning behind establishing class standards for the purpose of programming.
A Brief History of Weightlifting Classes
When the sport was first established for the 1896 Olympics and the formation of the IWF in 1905, there were no bodyweight classes. It was all about determining who was the biggest and strongest. As the decades passed, the federation realized that bodyweight classes would allow for greater participation and the basis for the modern bodyweight class system. Those classes largely remained unchanged from 1928 except for the addition of classes. The 56 and 90 kg classes were added in the 1950s. The 110 and 52 kg classes were added in 1969, and the 100 kg class in 1977.
The Purpose of Bodyweight Classes
Bodyweight classes were designed to allow for fair competition for individuals below the unlimited class. They were not developed to tell athletes what to weigh. Since 1993, the classes have undergone periodic changes to allow for the retirement of the world records that were established under dubious testing protocols, as well as the expansion of women’s classes. The current realignment of classes is being undertaken in an effort to increase the number of gold medals that will be awarded at the 2028 Olympics. While weightlifting had previously been awarded 20 gold medals (10 women’s, 10 men’s), only 10 were awarded in Paris due to the sport's questionable history of doping control.
