Weightlifting (IWF) — Official Rules

Weightlifting is an individual strength sport governed worldwide by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Competitions are organised for men and women, who compete in specified bodyweight categories and age groups. Each athlete performs two lifts in a fixed sequence - the Snatch followed by the Clean & Jerk - and is ranked within his or her bodyweight category by the Total. Unlike team sports there are no opposing teams on the field of play, no periods or substitutions; an athlete competes against the field, lifting one at a time on the competition platform. (TCRR PS 1.1.1, 2.1)

The IWF recognises three (3) age groups, determined by the athlete's age in the calendar year of the competition: Youth (13-17 years), Junior (15-20 years) and Senior (15+ years). An athlete may compete in more than one eligible age group. Records are recognised separately for Youth, Junior and Senior. (TCRR PS 1.1.2)

Within a bodyweight category, athletes are ranked by their Total - the sum of their best successful Snatch and best successful Clean & Jerk. The athlete with the highest Total wins the category. Separate classifications (medals/rankings) are also awarded for the individual Snatch and Clean & Jerk lifts. The in-category result is decided by the Total alone; the Sinclair coefficient is a separate IWF tool used only for cross-category 'best lifter' comparisons and does not affect the in-category ranking. (TCRR 2.1, 6.8)

There are eight (8) bodyweight categories for Junior and Senior men. In force for the 2026 season (introduced 01 June 2025): 60 kg, 65 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, 94 kg, 110 kg, +110 kg. From 01 August 2026 the categories change to 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 110, +110 kg. (TCRR 1.2.1)

There are eight (8) bodyweight categories for Junior and Senior women. In force for the 2026 season (introduced 01 June 2025): 48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, +86 kg. From 01 August 2026 the categories change to 49, 53, 57, 61, 69, 77, 86, +86 kg. (TCRR 1.2.2)

An athlete competes in the single bodyweight category for which they are officially entered and within which they make the weigh-in limit. A Member Federation may enter a maximum of two (2) athletes per category, with overall team entry limits set by the event regulation (typically 8 men and 8 women contesting). An athlete who weighs in outside the entered category limit is not permitted to compete in that category. (TCRR 1.2, 6.4)

The weigh-in of each group begins two (2) hours before the start of that group and lasts one (1) hour. Athletes are weighed without shoes, socks or other footwear. If an athlete weighs 250 grams or more above their entered category limit, 250 g is deducted from the scale reading to allow for the competition costume; if still over the limit, the athlete must shed the extra weight within the weigh-in hour to reach the entered category. At weigh-in each athlete declares their opening attempts for the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk. (TCRR 6.4, 6.4.1)

After weigh-in each athlete is assigned a start number by lot. During each lift the barbell is loaded progressively and may only be increased; the athlete who has called the lowest weight lifts first. When two athletes have requested the same weight, the one with the lower start number (or who has taken fewer attempts at that weight) lifts first. This produces the Calling Order that the Speaker follows throughout the session. (TCRR 6.6)

Each competition consists of the Snatch session followed by the Clean & Jerk session, executed with two hands. Each athlete is allowed a maximum of three (3) attempts in each lift. After any successful attempt by the same athlete, the automatic progression to the next weight must be a minimum of 1 kg. A coach may change the declared next weight a limited number of times before the bar is called. The two lifts (six attempts total) determine the athlete's Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total results. (TCRR 2.1, 6.6)

Once the athlete's name is called to the platform, one (1) minute (60 seconds) is allocated to begin the attempt; a warning signal sounds after 30 seconds. When an athlete takes two consecutive attempts (lifting again immediately after their own previous attempt), the clock is set to two (2) minutes (120 seconds). The clock starts when the Speaker finishes the announcement or when the barbell is loaded and ready. An attempt is deemed to have begun once the bar passes the knees; failing to start before the clock expires is a failed attempt. (TCRR 6.6.7, 7.10.4)

The barbell is centred horizontally on the platform. Gripping the bar palms downward, the athlete pulls it in a single movement from the platform to the full extent of both arms above the head, while either splitting or bending the legs. During this continuous upward movement the bar should stay close to the body and may slide along the thighs. The athlete then recovers to a still, upright position with the feet on the same line, arms and legs fully extended, and waits for the Referees' signal to lower the bar. (TCRR 2.2)

In the Clean, the athlete pulls the barbell in a single movement from the platform to the shoulders, splitting or bending the legs, and the bar must not touch the chest before reaching the final position. The bar then rests on the clavicles, on the chest above the nipples, or on the fully bent arms. The athlete recovers with the feet on the same line before commencing the Jerk. (TCRR 2.3)

In the Jerk, the athlete bends the legs and then extends them together with the arms to bring the barbell to the full stretch of vertically extended arms above the head. The athlete returns the feet to the same line, parallel to the plane of the trunk, with arms and legs fully extended, and waits motionless for the Referees' signal to lower the bar. Before the Jerk the athlete may adjust the bar (to unhook the thumbs, ease breathing or pain, or change grip width) without it counting as an additional attempt. (TCRR 2.4)

Each attempt is judged by three (3) Referees who press a white light for a good lift or a red light for a no-lift. When two of the three lights agree, the 'Down' signal is given (visible and audible), telling the athlete to lower the bar to the platform. Three seconds after all decisions are entered, the decision lights display each Referee's individual ruling by colour. The majority decision stands unless overturned by the Jury or on a Challenge. (TCRR 3.3.6.8, 7)

An attempt is declared a No-Lift for any of the following: pulling from the hang (stopping the bar's upward movement); touching the platform with any body part other than the feet; a pause during the extension of the arms; a press-out (continuing to extend the arms after reaching the lowest point of the squat or split); bending and re-extending the elbows during recovery; leaving the platform or touching outside it before the lift is complete; dropping the bar from above the shoulders; failing to replace the complete barbell on the platform; not facing the Centre Referee at the start; releasing the bar from an incomplete position; or touching the bar with the footwear. (TCRR 2.5.1)

In the Snatch, any pause during the lifting of the barbell is a No-Lift. In the Clean, resting or placing the barbell on the chest at an intermediate point before its final position (a 'double clean'), or letting the bar touch the thighs/knees and then the chest in two motions, is a No-Lift. Touching the bar with the footwear before the attempt requires Red; if it occurs after a successful lift the decision is not reversed, but the Jury issues a warning and a repeat on a later lift becomes a No-Lift. (TCRR 2.5.2, 2.5.3)

The Total is the sum of an athlete's best successful Snatch and best successful Clean & Jerk. A Total is achieved only if the athlete is successful with at least one Snatch and at least one Clean & Jerk. An athlete who fails all three Snatch attempts records no Total and is eliminated from the Clean & Jerk in Total events (though individual-lift classifications may still apply where medals/rankings are awarded for the separate lifts). (TCRR 2.1)

An athlete is deemed to have competed only if they attempt at least one lift on the competition platform in the Snatch or in the Clean & Jerk, whether successful or unsuccessful. In Total-only events, the athlete must attempt at least one Snatch (successful or not). Merely being announced or stepping onto the platform without attempting a lift does not count as having competed. (TCRR 2.1)

When two or more athletes achieve the same Total (or the same result in an individual lift), the athlete who reached that result first in time is ranked higher - that is, the athlete who lifted the deciding weight on an earlier attempt (lower attempt number), and, across different groups, the athlete who competed earlier in time. Bodyweight is no longer used as a tie-breaker (removed from 2017). A world record is credited to whoever first established the result chronologically. (TCRR 6.8, 8)

A record is a lift that exceeds the previous record by a minimum of 1 kg. The IWF recognises World Youth, Junior and Senior records, as well as Olympic and Universiade records, in each bodyweight category for both genders in the Snatch, the Clean & Jerk and the Total. A successful record attempt must be confirmed by the Referees and ratified under the anti-doping and technical requirements of the TCRR. (TCRR 8)

All lifts are executed on a square competition platform measuring 400 cm (4 m) on each side and 10 cm high. A clear, flat, obstacle-free area of 100 cm (1 m) must surround the platform. Chalk and rosin are provided on the athlete's side of entry. Leaving the platform or touching the area outside it before the lift is complete is a No-Lift. (TCRR 3.1.1, 3.3.2.2)

Two bars are used: a men's bar weighing 20 kg (220 cm long, blue identification marking) and a women's bar weighing 15 kg (201 cm long, yellow marking). The loadable sleeve has a rim/sleeve diameter of minimum 7.3 cm and maximum 8.5 cm, and must rotate freely. Each bar is secured with two collars of 2.5 kg each. (TCRR 3.3.3.2-3.3.3.4, 3.3.3.8)

Competition discs are colour-coded by weight: 25 kg red, 20 kg blue, 15 kg yellow, 10 kg green, 5 kg white, 2.5 kg red, 2 kg blue, 1.5 kg yellow, 1 kg green, 0.5 kg white. The largest discs have a diameter of 450 mm (±1 mm). Discs are loaded onto the bar and locked in place by the collars. (TCRR 3.3.3.6)

Athletes must wear a weightlifting costume (a one-piece, collar-less suit that does not cover the knees) and sport footwear. Permitted additions include a unitard, T-shirt, shorts, socks, a weightlifting belt (worn outside the costume, maximum width 12 cm), bandages, tape, gloves/palm guards and approved religious head covering. The costume's weight is accounted for by the 250 g weigh-in deduction. (TCRR 4.1, 4.4)

Only International Technical Officials may officiate at IWF Events. Each attempt is judged by three (3) Referees (one Centre Referee and two Side Referees). The Centre Referee is seated 400 cm from the front of the platform and the Side Referees 300-400 cm to either side, all in line with the centre of the platform. A Technical Controller manages the field of play and receives Challenge requests. (TCRR 3.1.2, 7)

The Jury oversees the competition to ensure the Referees' decisions are correct and consistent. It is composed of three (3) or five (5) members (one being the President), all Category 1 Technical Officials; at World Senior, Junior and Youth Championships and the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games the Jury is five (5) members per group, with up to two reserves. The Jury may overrule the Referees, change a decision, or order a re-lift in accordance with the rules. (TCRR 7.5)

Video Playback Technology (VPT) is used to review a Referees' or Jury decision when it is challenged or when there is disagreement within the Jury. The number of Jury members required (3 or 5) is set in accordance with whether VPT is in use. VPT is obligatory at events designated as Olympic Qualification Events. Screens displaying VPT must be provided in both the competition and warm-up areas. (TCRR 3.3.7)

An athlete or team may challenge only the decisions of its own attempts. One (1) Challenge Card is issued per athlete at the weigh-in. A Challenge is submitted to the nearest Technical Controller, who stops the competition and takes the request to the President of the Jury. A Challenge may be made once per athlete; however, if the Jury upholds the Challenge, the athlete retains the right to challenge again. A Jury decision on a Challenge arising from the Jury itself is final. (TCRR 9)