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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON NEW BODYWEIGHT CLASSES AND QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

New Bodyweight Classes

The IWF have revised the bodyweight classes and these will be effective in all competitions - domestically and Internationally from 1 August 2026.

The new Bodyweight classes are:

Female: 45k*g, 49kg, 53kg, 57kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, 77+kg*, 86kg, 86+kg

Male: 55kg*, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 85kg, 95kg, 95+kg*, 110kg, 110+kg*

*Youth bodyweight classes only

Revised Qualification Standards

Accordingly there are revised WNZ Qualification Standards - now available on the WNZ website.

These calculations are based off current World Records, averages of all bodyweight categories, base Sinclair values, current Sinclair co-efficients and annually updated Sinclair gradings.

1/ Athletes will have the opportunity to achieve the NEW Qualification Standards  in the NEW bodyweight classes early ie from 27 April 2026 (Day 1 of the 2026 Oceania & Commonwealth Championships/Universal Weightlifitng Cup in Samoa), ahead of the 1 August worldwide implementation date. 

Example: 

An athlete is competing at a WNZ club comp or North/South Island Championships scheduled to take place between 27 April  and  1 August 2026. 

They enter as W63 (existing bodyweight category) and they weigh 60.5kg. The applicable new Qualification Standards for this athlete are for W61.

Alternatively they weigh 62.5kg. The applicable new Qualification Standards for this athlete are for W69.

2/ Athletes who have already competed at a club comp/Championship event between 1 January and 26 April 2026, will also have their result recognised retrospectively against the new Qualification Standards taking into account their bodyweight at time of weigh in for those events.

Example: 

An athlete has already competed in an event this year in W63 and they weighed 60.5kg. The Qualification Standards for that athlete are for W61.

An athlete has already competed in an event this year in W63 and they weighed 62.5kg. The Qualification Standards for that athlete are for W69.

3/ In order to qualify for an International event, an athlete must meet the NEW Qualification Standard for the bodyweight class they will be competing in.

For WNZ Junior/Senior Nationals an athlete must meet the NEW Qualification Standard in the bodyweight class they are qualifying in, but can change bodyweight classes when they enter Nationals.

Important Dates

Current - all athletes' results from 1 January up to 27 April will be recognised retrospectively against the new Qualification Standards

From 27 April - the new Qualification Standards will be recognised when athletes compete under the existing bodyweight classes

From 1 August - all events after this date will be run in the new bodyweight categories

2026 Junior/Senior National Championships Qualification Standard

Youth & Junior - D Grade

Masters  (35+yrs) - D Grade

Seniors - C Grade

2026 International Events 

Qualification Standards are as per the 2026 Selection Document

Any queries should be directed to either:

Simon Kent - WNZ President

president@weightlifting.nz

Kelly Ihaka- Pitama - High Performance Development

hpd@weightlifting.nz