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International Competition Qualification

Due to the on-going challenges caused by Covid-19, the 2022 international weightlifting competition calendar remains very uncertain.

BWL feels strongly that any decision to send teams to international competitions in-light of the challenges around the world must be continually reviewed on a case by case basis. BWL will continue to review guidance shared by the British Government, UK Sport, Public Health organisations across the UK and other key stake holders to inform our understanding of the risks, challenges and restrictions across both the domestic and international landscape.

We appreciate this is a difficult and uncertain time for all of Britain’s leading Weightlifters, but we ask you to respect that the health and safety of all athletes, support staff and their families will remain our main priority for any decisions made on the selection of GBR international competition teams while the challenges around Covid-19 continue.

Any queries about changes to the ‘Minimum Eligibility Criteria’ for 2022 competition should be sent to BWL Talent Pathway Manager stuart.martin@britishweightlifting.org

BWL All-Category Rankings

Application of Interest

Please see application of interest form linked in the relevant selection policies.

New athletes - please submit an application of interest no later than 12 weeks before an international competition to ensure that BWL are made aware of your intention to qualify so that we can help guide you through the process of becoming eligible for international competition. Athletes must complete all steps outlined in the guide below

‘BWL first steps to competing internationally’

Athletes involved in Pathway / Performance programmes - must submit their application of interest no later than the 1^st January each year. As an established athlete with ambitions to compete internationally BWL expect you and your personal coach to plan and organise your annual competition schedule to ensure that you can qualify and prepare effectively. We ask athletes, coaches and parents to carefully consider how each competition fits in to an athlete’s development plan considering the guidance in the table below.

Athlete level	Competitions per year	Olympic Pathway Priority Events	Commonwealth Pathway Priority Events	Development or Qualification Events
Senior	3-4	World Senior Championships & European Senior Championships	European Senior Championships & Commonwealth Senior Championships	As necessary to maintain sufficient eligibility for major games qualification
Under 23	4-5	European Under 23 & European Senior Championships	European Under 23 & Commonwealth Senior Championships	British Senior Championships & Home Nation Senior Championships
Junior (u20)	4-6	World Junior Championships & European Junior Championships	European Junior Championships & British Senior Championships	Home Nation Senior Championships & British Age-Group Championships
Youth (u17)	5-6	World Youth Championships & European Youth Championships	European Youth Championships & British Age-Group Championships	Home Nation Age-Group Championships & Regional Open Series events
Youth (u15)	5-7	European u15 Championships & British Age-Group Championships	British Age-Group Championships & Home Nation Age-Group Championships	Regional Open Series events & Local BWL Sport 80 competitions

In the case of youth and junior athletes we also ask athlete support teams to strongly consider an individual’s academic and wider lifestyle requirements, planning a schedule of competition which does not adversely affect their wider personal development.

International Competition Calendars – the International weightlifting Calendar is governed by a number of key organisations. All athletes, coaches and parents should make themselves familiar with these websites and regularly check these websites for updates.

International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) – calendar found here for all Olympic qualification and World championship events
European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) – calendar found here for all European events
Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (CWF) - calendar found here for all Commonwealth qualification events and championships

International Qualification Standards

Male Olympic Pathway standards

Female Olympic Pathway standards

Female Commonwealth Pathway standards

Male Commonwealth Pathway standards

Male Development standards

Female Development standards

BWL Amended Standards 2020

Selection Policies

2023 IWF World Championships Selection Policy

2023 IWF World Youth Championships Selection Policy

2023 EWF European Championships Selection Policy

2023 EWF European Junior Championships Selection Policy

2023 EWF European Under 23 Championships Selection Policy

2023 EWF European Youth and Under 15 Championships Selection Policy

2023 IWF Grand Prix I Selection Policy

2023 Appeals procedure

Qualification Timeline

We aim to release selection policies as soon as possible after the IWF/EWF confirm the dates and locations of the competition each year. Once the selection policy is released we attempt to keep as closely as possible to the schedule highlighted below.

Selection Philosophy

BWL IQS (International Qualification standards) are based on statistical analysis of predicted Olympic and Commonwealth Games medal zones.

All age-group totals (Youth, Junior & U23) will be based on these standards from 2019. The standards are mapped across age-groups using averages of the long-term career trajectories of Britain’s historic CWG medal winners.

BWL selection policies are created to provide international competition experience for British lifters who demonstrate the potential to contribute towards Medals at Birmingham 2022, Paris 2024, LA 2028 or future World and European Senior championships.

Eligibility

Please read the following documents carefully to help you understand your eligibility to compete at international competition for Great Britain;

Eligibility