The USA Weightlifting Board of Directors approved American Record Standards for the new Junior/Senior bodyweight categories that were instituted by the International Weightlifting Federation.



A working group consisting of Dr. David Meltzer, Dr. Dan Altman, Dr. Marianne Huebner and Les Simonton used historical data, mathematic formulas and other scientific methods to create the American Record standards for the new bodyweight categories.

Click Here for New American Record Standards



The Board voted to allow athletes who hold American Records at lower bodyweight categories to also hold records in the new bodyweight categories, should their record be higher than the standard.

The working group is currently developing American Record Standards for youth and university divisions. We will publish those as soon as it is available.

Click to download PDF version of the working group's rationale behind new American Record Standards for new bodyweight categories set in 2018

The new bodyweight categories will be contested for the first time nationally at the 2018 Nike American Open Series 3 powered by Rogue Fitness September 13-16, 2018. While the old bodyweight categories will be contested this weekend at the 2018 Nike American Open Series 2 powered by Rogue Fitness in Valley Forge, PA, an athlete who weighs below the new bodyweight category, and lifts more than the American Record standard in the new bodyweight category, will be awarded the American Record in the new bodyweight category. For example: should a 69kg female athlete snatch 108kg, the athlete would hold the American Record in snatch at 69kg (current record 106kg) and 71kg (Record Standard 107kg).



USA Weightlifting's Board of Directors, Committees and staff express their deep gratitude to Dr. David Meltzer, Dr. Dan Altman, Dr. Marianne Huebner and Les Simonton in their hard work to create the new American Record standards.

