Masters Weightlifting Guide: Competitions, Qualifying Totals & Weight Classes 

What is Masters Weightlifting? Masters Weightlifting is the ultimate competitive arena for Olympic weightlifters aged 35 and older. Governed by international masters committees, the sport allows athletes to continue competing in the snatch and clean & jerk at the highest level. Athletes are divided into age groups in five-year increments (e.g., 35–39, 40–44) and compete within specific bodyweight categories.

International Competitions in Our Calculator Our performance analyzer helps you track your progress against the qualifying standards of the world's most prestigious Masters competitions:

• European Masters Weightlifting Championships (EMWC): The premier annual event for European lifters. It gathers the best talent across the continent to compete for the European title.

• World Masters Weightlifting Championships (WMWC): The global stage. This annual championship brings together the strongest masters athletes from all over the world to battle for the World Champion title.

• World Masters Games (WMG): Often referred to as the "Olympics for Masters," this multi-sport event is held every four years (such as Kansai, Japan in 2027). Qualifying for the WMG is a major milestone for any veteran lifter.

Understanding Masters Weight Classes: Why Do They Change? If you have ever been confused by the weight classes in Olympic weightlifting, you are not alone! The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) periodically updates the official bodyweight categories to ensure fair competition and adapt to the evolving landscape of the sport.

When the IWF introduces new weight classes (for example, the current Men's 81kg and 89kg, or Women's 59kg and 64kg), the Masters federations eventually follow suit. This means the Qualifying Totals for upcoming competitions like the World Masters and World Masters Games are based on these new weight categories.

However, decades of incredible European and World Records were established under the historical weight classes (such as the old Men's 77kg and 85kg, or Women's 58kg and 63kg). These historical records remain officially recognized (valid until 2025 transitions) because you cannot simply move an athlete's historical lift into a completely different bodyweight category.

How Our Analyzer Helps Keeping track of old records and new qualifying limits can be a headache. That is why our calculator does the heavy lifting for you! By simply entering your exact bodyweight, the tool automatically compares your lifts against the new classes for your upcoming competition limits, while matching you to the correct historical weight class to see if you have broken an all-time record.