Weightlifting is the oldest scandalized strength sport. However, it has not always looked like it does today. At the first Olympic Games in 1896, weightlifting was 1 of 9 sports. These 9 sports had a total of 43 events. Of these, 2 events belonged to weightlifting. The other sports that participated in the Olympics were.
Wrestling
Tennis
Swimming
Athletics
Shooting
Gymnastics
Fencing
Cycling
Despite the fact that these sports are still part of the Olympics today, both the sports and the events look different. The same applies to weightlifting. Weightlifting consisted of two events then as now, but they were not the same events. One-hand lift and Two-hand lift, which involved moving as much weight as possible from the ground to straight arms overhead. At that time, there was no total; competitions were decided event by event.
The competition movements in weightlifting varied between one-hand and two-hand lifts during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was not until 1928 that the competition model was established, setting the standard with Press, Snatch, and Clean & Jerk. Later, from 1973 onwards, the press was removed, and only Snatch and Clean & Jerk remained in the sport.
Regarding weight classes over these 130 years, they have looked different. Weight classes were first introduced in 1913. Before that, no consideration was given to bodyweight. Since 1913, weight classes have changed several times. Initially, classes were only added. The super heavyweight class up to and including 1968 started from +90 kg / 198 lbs. It was not until 1969 that the +110 kg / 242 lbs class was introduced, and with it the -110 kg / 242 lbs class.
Later, in 1993, the first wave of weight class changes occurred. If we consider that in 1913 a framework for weight classes was established and only expanded from there, and that the first major shift occurred in 1993, then a total of 5 weight class changes have taken place, including what is seen in 2026.
The reasons behind these changes are primarily to erase old records and create conditions for new records to be set. Of these weight classes, several have returned, but not with their old records. Some of these classes and their records, and when they were set, are as follows:
-60 kg / 132 lbs class (1913–1972)
Snatch: 152.5 kg / 336 lbs – Naim Süleymanoğlu 1988
Clean & Jerk: 190 kg / 419 lbs – Naim Süleymanoğlu 1988
-75 kg / 165 lbs class (1913–1972)
Snatch: 170 kg / 375 lbs – Angel Genchev 1987
Clean & Jerk: 215.5 kg / 475 lbs – Aleksandar Varbanov 1987
-110 kg / 242 lbs class (1969–1992)
Snatch: 210 kg / 463 lbs – Yury Zakharevich 1988
Clean & Jerk: 250.5 kg / 552 lbs – Yury Zakharevich 1988
+110 kg / 242 lbs class (1969–1992)
Snatch: 216 kg / 476 lbs – Antonio Krastev 1987
Clean & Jerk: 266 kg / 586 lbs – Leonid Taranenko 1988
New records or standards must be achieved within the same classes in order to be recognized as records.
-60 kg / 132 lbs class (2025–)
Snatch: 141 kg / 311 lbs – Standard
Clean & Jerk: 173 kg / 381 lbs – Theerapong Silachai 2025
-75 kg / 165 lbs class (Introduced 2026)
Snatch:
Clean & Jerk:
-110 kg / 242 lbs class (2025–)
Snatch: 196 kg / 432 lbs – Akbar Djuraev 2025
Clean & Jerk: 237 kg / 522 lbs – Standard
+110 kg / 242 lbs class (2025–)
Snatch: 218 kg / 481 lbs – Standard
Clean & Jerk: 260 kg / 573 lbs – Standard
All lifts in all classes were higher in the past. The only result that is higher in the new classes is the clean & jerk, where a standard of 218 kg / 481 lbs has been set. The heaviest snatch in the +110 kg / 242 lbs class up to 1992 was 216 kg / 476 lbs. Much of this is claimed to be linked to more widespread doping in the past, and that it was easier to both use and avoid detection.
The heaviest snatch and clean & jerk ever performed were by Lasha Talakhadze. At his best, he lifted 225 kg / 496 lbs in the snatch and 267 kg / 589 lbs in the clean & jerk. However, Lasha was caught for doping in 2013 as a teenager, before achieving these results. He also weighed in at 177.45 kg / 391 lbs when he made these lifts.
All weight classes throughout the years
1913 – first weight classes
60 kg / 132 lbs
67.5 kg / 149 lbs
75 kg / 165 lbs
82.5 kg / 182 lbs
+82.5 kg / 182 lbs
1920–1972
56 kg / 123 lbs
60 kg / 132 lbs
67.5 kg / 149 lbs
75 kg / 165 lbs
82.5 kg / 182 lbs
90 kg / 198 lbs
110 kg / 242 lbs
+110 kg / 242 lbs
1973–1992
52 kg / 115 lbs
56 kg / 123 lbs
60 kg / 132 lbs
67.5 kg / 149 lbs
75 kg / 165 lbs
82.5 kg / 182 lbs
90 kg / 198 lbs
100 kg / 220 lbs
110 kg / 242 lbs
+110 kg / 242 lbs
1993–1997
54 kg / 119 lbs
59 kg / 130 lbs
64 kg / 141 lbs
70 kg / 154 lbs
76 kg / 168 lbs
83 kg / 183 lbs
91 kg / 201 lbs
99 kg / 218 lbs
108 kg / 238 lbs
+108 kg / 238 lbs
1998–2018
56 kg / 123 lbs
62 kg / 137 lbs
69 kg / 152 lbs
77 kg / 170 lbs
85 kg / 187 lbs
94 kg / 207 lbs
105 kg / 231 lbs
+105 kg / 231 lbs
2018–2025
55 kg / 121 lbs
61 kg / 134 lbs
67 kg / 148 lbs
73 kg / 161 lbs
81 kg / 179 lbs
89 kg / 196 lbs
96 kg / 212 lbs
102 kg / 225 lbs
109 kg / 240 lbs
+109 kg / 240 lbs
2025–2026
60 kg / 132 lbs
65 kg / 143 lbs
71 kg / 157 lbs
79 kg / 174 lbs
88 kg / 194 lbs
94 kg / 207 lbs
110 kg / 242 lbs
+110 kg / 242 lbs
From 2026 (planned)
60 kg / 132 lbs
65 kg / 143 lbs
70 kg / 154 lbs
75 kg / 165 lbs
85 kg / 187 lbs
95 kg / 209 lbs
110 kg / 242 lbs
+110 kg / 242 lbs
Women – 1987
44 kg / 97 lbs
46 kg / 101 lbs
48 kg / 106 lbs
52 kg / 115 lbs
56 kg / 123 lbs
60 kg / 132 lbs
67.5 kg / 149 lbs
75 kg / 165 lbs
82.5 kg / 182 lbs
+82.5 kg / 182 lbs
Women – 1993–1997
46 kg / 101 lbs
50 kg / 110 lbs
54 kg / 119 lbs
59 kg / 130 lbs
64 kg / 141 lbs
70 kg / 154 lbs
76 kg / 168 lbs
83 kg / 183 lbs
+83 kg / 183 lbs
Women – 1998–2018
48 kg / 106 lbs
53 kg / 117 lbs
58 kg / 128 lbs
63 kg / 139 lbs
69 kg / 152 lbs
75 kg / 165 lbs
+75 kg / 165 lbs
Women – 2018–2025
45 kg / 99 lbs
49 kg / 108 lbs
55 kg / 121 lbs
59 kg / 130 lbs
64 kg / 141 lbs
71 kg / 157 lbs
76 kg / 168 lbs
81 kg / 179 lbs
87 kg / 192 lbs
+87 kg / 192 lbs
Women – 2025–2026
48 kg / 106 lbs
53 kg / 117 lbs
58 kg / 128 lbs
63 kg / 139 lbs
69 kg / 152 lbs
77 kg / 170 lbs
86 kg / 190 lbs
+86 kg / 190 lbs
Women – 2026 →
49 kg / 108 lbs
53 kg / 117 lbs
57 kg / 126 lbs
61 kg / 134 lbs
69 kg / 152 lbs
77 kg / 170 lbs
86 kg / 190 lbs
+86 kg / 190 lbs