What happens if a lifter misses every attempt in one lift?
I · Intermediate · The lifts and winning · 2 of 7A lifter who fails all three attempts in the snatch or in the clean and jerk has no result in that lift and so no total. Lifters call this bombing out. In the rule book read for this page, such a lifter may still take the clean and jerk attempts but receives no final placing.
How it works
- The total needs both lifts: it is the best snatch plus the best clean and jerk. With no successful snatch, or no successful clean and jerk, there is nothing to add.
- Carrying on: "An Athlete may continue to the Clean & Jerk regardless of whether they have recorded a successful lift in the Snatch, but they will not receive a final placing."
- Why it happens: the weight on the bar never goes down. A lifter who opens too heavy has only that weight, or more, for all three attempts.
- After a miss: the weight automatically stays the same for the next attempt, unless the lifter asks for more.
Tricky cases
Can a lifter who missed the opening weight ask for a lighter bar?
No. Once the announced weight is loaded and the clock has started, the weight cannot be reduced. The bar is loaded in progression for all lifters.
A lifter bombs out in the snatch and then lifts a record clean and jerk. Does the lift count for anything?
It depends on the competition. In the rule book read, records are recognised in each lift separately, so the lift can stand as a record even without a placing.
Is a lifter who bombs out disqualified?
No. Disqualification is a penalty. A lifter who bombs out has competed and has no total.
Why the rule exists
The competition is for the total, so a lifter must prove both lifts. The risk of bombing out is what makes the choice of opening weight a real decision: a safe opener guarantees a total, and a bold one saves energy for heavier lifts.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The rule book read | As above | BWL 6.6.25; BWL Definitions (Total) |
| Events with separate medals for each lift | A lifter with no snatch can still win the clean and jerk medal. Not in the rule book read | C |
From the rule book
British Weight Lifting Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations (updated 22 July 2026), Definitions and rules 6.6.1, 6.6.4, 6.6.25 and 8.1. A national rule book that follows the IWF rules. The IWF document itself was not read. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: BWL Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations 2026 (PDF).