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Age Divisions & Weight Classes

Lifters compete within age divisions and bodyweight classes. There are nine age divisions, starting at age 8, and nine weight classes.

The Divisions

8
Youth8–11
12
Pre-SJ12–13
14
Sub-Jr14–18
19
Junior19–23
24
Open14+
40
M140–49
50
M250–59
60
M360–69
70
M470+
Open is available to every lifter aged 14 and over, in addition to their age division.

If enough lifters age 80 and older register, we will add a Masters 5 (80+) division.

Youth and Pre-Sub-Junior go by your age on competition day. The minimum age is 8.

Youth athletes compete without weight classes and skip the scale entirely. Pre-Sub-Junior athletes weigh in like everyone else, which lets their totals count toward Sub-Junior national qualification.

Competition Age

Age in powerlifting is counted by calendar year. The age you turn during the year is your competition age from January 1 to December 31. A lifter who turns 40 in November lifts as a Masters I athlete from January 1 of that year.

Weight Classes

Your weigh-in on competition day decides your class.

Women

43
47
52
57
63
69
76
84
84+

Men

53
59
66
74
83
93
105
120
120+
Dashed classes (43kg women, 53kg men) are contested in Pre-Sub-Junior, Sub-Junior, and Junior divisions only. The superheavyweight classes, in red, have no upper limit.

Competing in Open

A 17-year-old Sub-Junior or a 55-year-old Masters II athlete can enter Open events and compete for Open records. National championships are held for each division every year.

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