When the sport returned to the Olympic Games in 1920, the competition was structured as a set of weight classes. The number of classes and weight limits for each class have changed several times, as shown in the following table.
1920-1936
1948
1952-1968
1972-1976
1980-1992
1996
2000-2008
Heavyweight
+82.5 kg
Heavyweight
+90 kg
Super heavyweight
+110 kg
Super heavyweight
+108 kg
Super heavyweight
+105 kg
Heavyweight
90-110 kg
Heavyweight
100-110 kg
Heavyweight
99-108 kg
Heavyweight
94-105 kg
First-heavyweight
90-100 kg
First-heavyweight
91-99 kg
Middle-heavyweight
85-94 kg
Middle-heavyweight
83-91 kg
Middle-heavyweight
82.5-90 kg
Light-heavyweight
77-85 kg
Light-heavyweight
76-83 kg
Light-heavyweight
75-82.5 kg
Middleweight
69-77 kg
Middleweight
70-76 kg
Middleweight
67.5-75 kg
Lightweight
64-70 kg
Lightweight
62-69 kg
Lightweight
60-67.5 kg
Featherweight
59-64 kg
Featherweight
56-62 kg
Featherweight
-60 kg
Featherweight
56-60 kg
Bantamweight
54-59 kg
Bantamweight
-56 kg
Bantamweight
52-56 kg
Bantamweight
-56kg
Flyweight
-54 kg
Flyweight
-52 kg
5
6
7
9
10
10
8
Women's events
Women's weightlifting made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney, with the following weight classes: