How to qualify in Weightlifting
How weightlifters qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Weightlifting at Los Angeles 2028 has 120 places, 60 men and 60 women, in six weights each. A country can send at most three men and three women, one per weight.
Places are won through a ranking, not at one tournament. Each lifter's score is their total: the best snatch plus the best clean and jerk at the same competition, one point per kilogram. The ranking adds up their five best totals from the qualifying events between 27 July 2026 and 7 May 2028.
- The top eight in each weight qualify.
- One more place per weight goes to the best lifter from a continent with nobody in that top eight.
- The United States as host gets up to three per gender, and six universality places go to countries with few Olympic athletes.
A lifter has to keep competing: three totals in the first period and two in the second, all in the same Olympic weight, or they drop off the ranking. For Indian lifters, the 2027 and 2028 Asian Championships are both counting events.
The weights and places
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| 65 kg | 53 kg |
| 75 kg | 61 kg |
| 85 kg | 69 kg |
| 95 kg | 77 kg |
| 110 kg | 86 kg |
| over 110 kg | over 86 kg |
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking (top eight per weight) | 48 | 48 | 96 |
| Continental places (one per weight) | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Host country | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Universality | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 60 | 60 | 120 |
At most ten lifters per weight, one per country. Ranking, continental and universality places go to the lifter by name; host places go to the host's Olympic committee.
Who can lift: born on or before 31 December 2013. Lifters must stay available for drug testing for the whole period, and countries must name the lifters for each qualifying event at least three months before it.
The ranking
Points = total in kilograms. The ranking keeps one lifter per country per weight (the best one); a longer list shows everyone.
| Period | Events | Totals that count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 World Championships; IWF Qualifier I (2026); IWF Qualifier II (2027); 2027 continental championships or games (Asian Championships for Asia); IWF Qualifier III (2027); 2027 World Championships | Best three |
| 2 | IWF Qualifier IV (2027); IWF Qualifier V (2028); 2028 continental championships; 2028 World Championships | Best two |
A lifter with fewer than three totals in period 1, or fewer than two in period 2, in the same Olympic weight is taken off the ranking. Ties go to whoever lifted the total first.
Non-Olympic weights. The IWF holds eight weights per gender at its own events. A total in a non-Olympic weight counts in the Olympic weight that contains it: for example, 70 kg counts in 75 kg; for women, 48 kg counts in 53 kg and 57 kg in 61 kg.
| IWF weight (men) | Counts in | IWF weight (women) | Counts in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60, 65 kg | 65 kg | 48, 53 kg | 53 kg |
| 70, 75 kg | 75 kg | 57, 61 kg | 61 kg |
| 85 kg | 85 kg | 69 kg | 69 kg |
| 95 kg | 95 kg | 77 kg | 77 kg |
| 110 kg | 110 kg | 86 kg | 86 kg |
| over 110 kg | over 110 kg | over 86 kg | over 86 kg |
After the last event: three sorting steps
- A lifter in the top eight of two weights must pick one by 17 May 2028; they are removed from the other.
- A country with more than three lifters per gender in the top eight picks three by 22 May 2028; the places pass to the next lifters from countries with room.
- Best Lifters. The IWF names a best man and woman lifter of the period, using its own formula on their five best totals. If that lifter's country already has three places in that gender, it gets a fourth.
Continental places
In each weight, the best-ranked lifter from a continent (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Pan America) not represented in the top eight gets a place. If every continent is already there, the place passes to the next lifter in the ranking.
The host country
The United States gets three places per gender, minus any won through the ranking: none won, three host places; one, two; two, one; three (or four with a Best Lifter), none. Lifters for host places need three totals (two in period 1, one in period 2) in the same weight.
Universality places
Six, three per gender. Lifters need two totals (one in each period). The IOC invites requests on 1 October 2027, with a deadline of 15 January 2028.
Doping rules that can cost a country its places
If a national federation breaks the IWF anti-doping rules, or three or more of its people commit doping violations, between 26 July 2024 and 13 July 2028, an independent panel may take away some or all of its places, for LA28 or the next Games. If three or more of those violations carry bans of four years or more, all places go.
Places turned down
A ranking place goes to the next lifter in that weight. A continental place goes to the next lifter from an unrepresented continent, or failing that the next lifter. Unused host and universality places go the same way.
Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 27 July 2026 | Qualifying period opens |
| 1 October 2027 to 15 January 2028 | Universality requests |
| 7 May 2028 | Qualifying period closes |
| 11 May 2028 | Ranking published; Best Lifters named |
| 17 to 26 May 2028 | The sorting steps |
| 29 May 2028 | Final ranking; countries told their places |
| 5 June 2028 | Countries confirm |
| 8 to 16 June 2028 | Reallocation; host places confirmed |
| 20 to 26 June 2028 | Universality places |
| 26 June 2028 | Entries deadline for the Games |
| 14 to 30 July 2028 | LA28 Olympic Games |
Where to follow it
iwf.sport publishes the ranking and the calendar of qualifying events.