Weight Class

Athletes in the sport are divided in several weight classes and placing is based on the total weight lifted on the two main lifts.At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, men competed in eight bodyweight categories: up to 56kg, 62kg, 69kg, 77kg, 85kg, 94kg, 105kg and +105kg. Women participated in seven categories: up to 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg, and +75kg. The programme of events for the 2008 Beijing Games is the same.Only two weightlifters per country are allowed to compete in each weight class.
If the number of entries for a weight class is too big (over 15 entries, for instance) then it can be split into a couple of groups; Groups A and B with Group A being the strongest performers (where performance is based on what they estimate theyll be capable of lifting). Once final results are collected for all groups, then the results are all combined for the weight class and ranked. The highest score wins gold, the one that follows bronze, and the third highest takes bronze.