Iryna Dombrovska Moves Up to 86 kg on the Road to LA 2028
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Ukrainian weightlifter Iryna Dombrovska is entering a new stage of her career. After competing in the 76 kg and, most recently, 77 kg categories, she and her coach Vitaly Roshour have decided to move up to the 86 kg category.
Dombrovska has already established herself as one of Ukraine’s leading female weightlifters, competing at major international championships and continuously progressing on the international platform. Following the 2026 European Championships in Batumi, the team began considering whether moving up could create better conditions for long-term development.
The decision is also connected to the road toward the 2028 Olympic Games, with both 77 kg and 86 kg being Olympic categories.
We spoke with Iryna about why she decided to make the change, how her body has responded, and what comes next.
When did you first start seriously considering moving from 77 kg to 86 kg?
Before the European Championships in Batumi, we didn’t even discuss it. Our focus was completely on competing in the 77 kg category. It was only after Batumi that my coach and I sat down and talked about trying the higher category. We agreed that we would not make the decision immediately. First, we wanted to see how my bodyweight responded and, most importantly, whether my training results improved as I became heavier.
What was the main reason behind considering the move?
The biggest reason was that I was constantly cutting weight. It happened previously when I competed at 76 kg and it continued in the 77 kg category. With another two years ahead of us on the road toward the Olympics, constantly cutting weight didn’t seem like the best long-term strategy.
My coach Vitaly suggested that instead of repeatedly forcing my bodyweight down, it could be better to allow myself to gain some weight, feel more comfortable physically and use that additional bodyweight to improve my lifting results.
Both 77 kg and 86 kg are Olympic categories. Did that make the decision easier?
Definitely. We are not moving away from an Olympic category. Both 77 kg and 86 kg are Olympic weight classes, so we can continue building toward Olympic qualification. The main question was simply which category gives me the best opportunity to develop over the next two years and ultimately produce the highest results.
Was the move to 86 kg guaranteed when you first discussed it?
No. Initially, it was an experiment. We decided that if my bodyweight increased naturally and my training numbers improved with it, we would continue toward 86 kg. But if my bodyweight stopped at a certain point and gaining additional weight became difficult or uncomfortable, we were prepared to stay at 77 kg. We wanted my body and my performance to help us make the decision rather than simply deciding that I had to become an 86 kg lifter.
And what happened once you started gaining weight?
Everything started moving in the direction we wanted. My bodyweight increased, my training results began improving, and I started lifting more weight. I also noticed improvements in my strength exercises and generally felt stronger. That gave us confidence that moving to 86 kg was the right decision.
For example, recently I set a big PR in the back squat: 140 kg for 14 reps. To put that progress into perspective, just last year 140 kg was my one-rep max.
Also I snatched 118 kg from blocks 3 week ago, which is also my lifetime PB
So is 86 kg now your category moving forward?
Yes. Based on how my bodyweight and training results have responded, we decided to compete in the 86 kg category and continue preparing in this weight class. The main goals are straightforward: avoid unnecessary weight cuts, give my body more freedom to develop, and ultimately lift bigger weights.
What comes next?
The first opportunity to see Dombrovska in her new weight category will come very soon. In a few weeks, she is scheduled to compete at the Ukrainian National Championships, providing an important early benchmark for the move to 86 kg.
But the main target of the season lies further ahead.
Dombrovska and her team are building toward the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships in China, where she is expected to make her major international appearance in the new category.
The move to 86 kg is therefore about much more than one competition. It is a long-term decision aimed at allowing Dombrovska to train without repeated weight cuts, continue developing her strength and competition totals, and put herself in the strongest possible position on the road toward the 2028 Olympic Games.
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Author: Sergii Putsov
Head of Sport Science, PhD
Best Results: Snatch – 165 kg,
C&J – 200 kg
Sergii Putsov, Ph.D., is a former professional weightlifter and National team member, achieving multiple medals in the 94 kg weight category at national competitions. With a Master’s degree in “Olympic & Professional Sport Training” and a Sport Science Ph.D. from the International Olympic Academy, Greece, Sergii now leads as the Head of Sport Science. He specializes in designing training programs, writing insightful blog articles, providing live commentary at international weightlifting events, and conducting educational seminars worldwide alongside Olympic weightlifting expert Oleksiy Torokhtiy.