IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking for the 2024 Olympics in Paris [as of April 2024]

With less than four months until the start of the 33rd Olympic Games, Nielsen Gracenote Sports, an audience measurement, data, and sports analytics company makes predictions for countries and athletes in particular who will top the ranking and climb the medal table at the Olympic Games in Paris.

So, the countdown to Paris 2024 officially kicks off for weightlifters we’ll mention below. It’s obvious that they’ll be in the hunt for another medal for their countries’ standings.

According to the company analytics, here are the top 10 countries that will lead the overall sports ranking in the Paris medal table:

1. United States
2. China
3. Great Britain
4. Japan
5. France
6. Australia
7. Italia
8. Germany
9. The Netherlands
10. Republic of Korea

Nielsen Gracenote Sports predicts that the United States will win a total of 129 medals, 37 of which will be gold. The report puts China in second place with 35 golds, but well behind in the overall tally with 85, making it the best Asian nation. Great Britain, with 17 gold medals, would lead Europe with 64 medals and complete the top three in Paris 2024. 

What about weightlifting itself, following the official Olympic Qualifying Ranking, we can say that the Chinese team dominates in all men’s and women’s weight categories by occupying the leading positions. Weightlifters from Indonesia and Thailand prevail more in lightweight divisions, while lifters from Georgia, Armenia, and Qatar – in the heavyweight classes. Athletes from the USA, Italy, Bulgaria, and Ecuador also tend to keep spots in the middle of the Olympic rating.

Speaking about the Olympic weightlifting weight classes that will compete at the Olympics in Paris this year, just four categories remain the same as during the Games in Tokyo 2020: Men’s 61 kg and 73 kg, and Women’s 49 kg and 59 kg. Here’s the table of weight divisions that will present in Paris:

Weightlifting Weight Classes

MEN’S	WOMEN’S
61 kg	49kg
73 kg	59kg
89 kg	71kg
102 kg	81kg
102+ kg	81+ kg

Let’s take a closer look at every category.

Olympic Categories Recap

Women’s Categories

49 kg

1. HOU Zhihui (CHN) – 217 kg
2. MIRABAI Chanu Saikhom (IND) – 200 kg
3. KHAMBAO Surodchana (THA) – 200 kg
4. DELACRUZ Jourdan Elizabeth (USA ) – 200 kg
5. CAMBEI Mihaela-Valentina (ROU) – 199 kg
6. SUZUKI Rira (JPN) – 197 kg
7. STERCKX Nina (BEL) – 193 kg
8. ECHANDIA ZARATE Katherin Oriana (VEN) – 193 kg
9. FANG Wan Ling (TPE ) – 192 kg
10. PIRON CANDELARIO Beatriz Elizabeth (DOM) – 191 kg

Hou Zhihui did her career-best performance, showing an impressive total of 97-120-217. Such a result surpassed her winning total in Tokyo by 7 kilos, proving her progress in weightlifting. For Hou, the major goal was to prevail ahead of her teammate Jiang. So, fate was in her favor this time. Jiang missed three of her attempts, including the final two. While Hou made a solid 6-kg cushion over Jiang.

Mirabai Chanu finished third in Group B: she was competing for the first time after her absence of six months because of injury. Being the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, Chanu finished 12th overall with a total of 184 kg (81 kg Snatch and 103 kg Clean & Jerk).

We won’t see Giulia Imperio in Paris because she failed her performance in Clean & Jerk at the final qualification event, the IWF World Cup in Phuket: she didn’t lift 104 kg at all three attempts.

59 kg

• LUO Shifang (CHN) – 248 kg
• KONOTOP Kamila (UKR) – 236 kg
• CHARRON Maude G (CAN) – 236 kg
• ALVAREZ CAICEDO Yenny Fernanda (COL) – 234 kg
• KUO Hsing-Chun (TPE) – 232 kg
• VENEGAS VALERA Anyelin Maria (VEN) – 229 kg
• ANDO Elreen Ann (PHI) – 228 kg
• LAWAL Rafiatu Folashade (NGR) – 227 kg
• CHAKOUNTE Dora Meiriama (FRA ) – 224 kg
• GOMEZ VALDIVIA Janeth (MEX) – 223 kg

The category’s leader became Luo Shifang: she succeeded in setting a new World Record in a total of 240 kg at the World Cup in Thailand.

For China’s women’s team, Luo Shifang claimed her first world record in the 59-kg category. The head coach stated that this division is the one that the Chinese female lifters have dominated for many years.

Another leader of the category is the Ukrainian athlete Kamila Konotop. Despite the withdrawal before the competition in Thailand, she secured her spot at the Olympics previously by winning gold at the 2024 Europeans in Sofia.

71 kg

1. LIAO Guifang (CHN) – 273 kg
2. REEVES Olivia Lynn (USA) – 268 kg
3. PALACIOS DAJOMES Angie Paola (ECU) – 261 kg
4. TOMA Loredana-Elena (ROU) – 256 kg
5. SARNO Vanessa (PHI) – 249 kg
6. SAID Neama Said Fahmi (EGY) – 246 kg
7. CHEN Wen-Huei (TPE) – 246 kg
8. SANCHEZ PERINAN Mari Leivis (COL) – 244 kg
9. VALODZKA Siuzanna (AIN) – 242 kg
10. FEGUE Marie Josephe (FRA) – 241 kg

Another pitiful occasion happened with the Italian team: like Imperio, Giulia Miserendino will miss the Olympic Games. At the World Cup in Thailand, she failed her two first lifts in Snatch trying to lift 103 kg, but eventually withdrew from the competition.

A promising American weightlifter Olivia Reeves became second on the Olympic Qualification Ranking as she set a personal best in C&J of 150 kg and a total of 268 kg at the culminating qualification event. At the World Cup in Phuket, Reeves took the top in the podium ahead of her Chinese rival Guifang.

Despite the above-mentioned fact, the Chinese athlete Liao leads the 71-kg category ranking list as she’s the current World record holder in total.

A strong contender, Toma Loredana from Romania, showed poor results in both exercises by ranking 12th in totals at the World Cup. But, she already gained reputation and good ranking at her prior performances. Thus, she’s ranked fourth on the Olympic qualification list.

81 kg

• LIANG Xiaomei (CHN) – 284 kg
• DAJOMES BARRERA Neisi Patricia (ECU) – 269 kg
• AHMED Sara Samir Elsayed Mohamed (EGY) – 268 kg
• KOANDA Solfrid Eila Amena (NOR) – 266 kg
• CIKAMATANA Eileen Floanna Maria (AUS) – 263 kg
• VIBERT Katherine Elizabeth (USA) – 258 kg
• KIM Suhyeon (KOR) – 256 kg
• MEDINA ROCA Ayamey Damiana (CUB) – 254 kg
• FEGUE Marie Josephe (FRA) – 253 kg
• NASCIMENTO AMARO Laura (BRA) – 253 kg

Liang Xiaomei from China is another female lifter in the Chinese team who also leads the category in the Olympic ranking dominating by a 15-kg weight gap ahead of her Ecuadorian contender Dajomes. She also surpassed her compatriot Wang Zhouyu who fell behind just by two kilos in total.

Neisi Dajomes from Ecuador who is also the Tokyo 76-kg gold medalist performed all five good lifts, so she decided to decline her final attempt. Now she’s second in the ranking with 269 kg in total.

Having being weighted 84.84 kg, Koanda Solfrid was competing in the 87-kg session at the World Cup in Phuket. She took a solid win, making her career-best Snatch of 123 kg. Having two failed Clean & Jerk attempts at 158kg, Koanda lifted 152 kg. So, as a result, she ranks fourth in a total. 

Australian Eileen Cikamatana improved her best total and won gold in Clean & Jerk with the final results of 114-149-263, finishing third on total at the World Cup and fifth in the Olympic Qualifying ranking.

Kate Vibert from the USA managed to rank Top 10 in 71- and 81-kg weight categories at the same time. At the 2024 World Cup, she also set an American C&J record by lifting 145 kg. So, now she’s in sixth position on the Olympic qualification rating.

81+ kg

1. LI Wenwen (CHN) – 325 kg
2. PARK Hyejeong (KOR) – 296 kg
3. CAMPBELL Emily Jade (GBR) – 287 kg
4. CHAIDEE Duangaksorn (THA) – 286 kg
5. THEISEN LAPPEN Mary Anne (USA ) – 283 kg
6. KOANDA Solfrid Eila Amena (NOR) – 280 kg
7. AYOVI CABEZAS Lisseth Betzaida (ECU) – 276 kg
8. ABBAS Halima Abdelazim Sedky (EGY) – 275 kg
9. PEREZ REVERON Naryury Alexandra (VEN) – 267 kg
10. SIPAIA Iuniarra (SAM) – 267 kg

In women’s +87kg category, Li Wenwen made a convincing comeback after the elbow injury last year and bagged all three gold medals. Now she’s first in the ranking with 325 kg in total that is 29 kg weight gap ahead of her contender from South Korea Park Hyejeong. By the way, this is the greatest lead in the ranking list across all weight divisions .

Mary Theisen-Lappen is No. 1 U.S. lifter at +81 kg, and No. 5 in the world. She lifted 118-156-274 at the 2024 IWF World Cup, finishing fifth overall and coming in as the third-highest ranked U.S. woman in the Paris Olympic qualification rankings.

The Norwegian lifter Koanda Solfrid did her Personal Best in Snatch by lifting 123 kg that brought her a unique opportunity to participate at the Olympics this summer being sixth in the rating.

Men’s Categories

61 kg

1. LI Fabin (CHN) – 314 kg
2. MORRIS Hampton Miller (USA) – 303 kg
3. MASSIDDA Sergio (ITA) – 302 kg
4. IRAWAN Eko Yuli (INA) – 300 kg
5. CENIZA John Febuar (PHI) – 300 kg
6. SILACHAI Theerapong (THA) – 299 kg
7. MISHVELIDZE Shota (GEO) – 298 kg
8. MOHAMAD ANIQ Bin Kasdan (MAS) – 296 kg
9. TRINH Van Vinh (VIE) – 294 kg
10. DIMOV Ivan Petkov (BUL) – 293 kg

The leader of the weight division Li Fabin from China is No.1 in the OQR as he set a World Record in Snatch by lifting 146 kg at the World Cup in Thailand.

A talented American weightlifter Hampton Morris became second in the category ranking: he showed a superb performance at the World Cup by setting the first Senior world record for the USA in Clean & Jerk in over 50 years by lifting 176 kg.

The Italian Sergio Massidda, being at his career-best form at the World Cup in Phuket, improved his Snatch by 4 kilos, Clean Jerk by 7 kilos, and total by 14 kg. So, he’s in the third position in the Qualification Ranking.

Eko Yuli Irawan became the latest athlete to qualify for the Olympics after he competed at the International Weightlifting World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, on Tuesday, April 3. The 34-year-old lifter successfully completed the 133-kilogram snatch but fell short of perfectly executing a clean and jerk lift due to his knee injury. Despite the trauma, he’s ranked fourth in the Olympic Qualification Ranking.

73 kg

1. JUNIANSYAH Rizki (INA) – 365 kg
2. SHI Zhiyong (CHN) – 356 kg
3. MIYAMOTO Masanori (JPN) – 350 kg
4. WICHUMA Weeraphon (THA) – 349 kg
5. ANDREEV Bozhidar Dimitrov (BUL) – 348 kg
6. BAK Joohyo (KOR) – 345 kg
7. SUHAREVS Ritvars (LAT) – 341 kg
8. OZBEK Muhammed Furkan (TUR) – 341 kg
9. MAYORA PERNA Julio Ruben (VEN) – 339 kg
10. MOSQUERA LOZANO Luis Javier (COL) – 337 kg

Everyone remembers the tough battle between two Indonesian athletes at the final qualification event – the competition between Rizki Juniansyah and Rahmat Erwin.

Rizki succeeded in setting a World Record in totals of 365 kg. Thus, he prevailed over his teammate and unseated him from the number-one spot in the category. So, Erwin won’t go to Paris.

89 kg

1. LI Dayin (CHN) – 396 kg
2. NASAR Karlos May (BUL) – 396 kg
3. LOPEZ LOPEZ Yeison (COL) – 392 kg
4. VALLENILLA SANCHEZ Keydomar Giovanni (VEN) – 385 kg
5. JAVADI ALIABADI Mir Mostafa (IRI) – 384 kg
6. ABOKAHLA Karim Ibrahim Ibrahim Ali (EGY ) – 381 kg
7. PIZZOLATO Antonino (ITA) – 380 kg
8. ROBU Marin (MDA) – 378 kg
9. KARAPETYAN Andranik (ARM) – 377 kg
10. YU Dongju (KOR) – 375 kg

Li Dayin of China didn’t show his best start at the World Cup in Phuket, as he got 175 kg on his first and the only successful Snatch attempt, which brought him the bronze medal. During the Clean & Jerk, he got 208 kg, which left him out of the top 3 for the lift. Although, his total of 383 kg was enough to take bronze in the category overall. He’s first in the ranking with 396 kg overall that is equal to Nasar’s total as well. 

The battle between Karlos Nasar from Bulgaria and Columbian Lopez Yeison became another spotlight at the 2024 World Cup. We witnessed back-to-back World Records in Snatch. First, Nasar set a record by lifting 181 kg, however, in the next lift Lopez surpassed him by one kilo resulting in 182 kg.

Nino Pizzolato from Italy improved on the Clean & Jerk, with a lift of 210 kg on his second attempt, winning the bronze medal for the event. But, his total of 390 kg left him outside the podium on the 4th place. It needs to be mentioned that he’s a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. For now, Antonino is ranked just seventh at the Paris ranking list.

102 kg

1. LIU Huanhua (CHN) – 413 kg
2. KARAPETYAN Garik (ARM) – 401 kg
3. ELBAKH Fares Ibrahim E. H. (QAT) – 400 kg
4. DJURAEV Akbar (UZB) – 400 kg
5. TSIKHANTSOU Yauheni (AIN) – 400 kg
6. JANG Yeonhak (KOR) – 399 kg
7. PAREDES MONTANO Lesman (BRN) – 398 kg
8. HASANBAYEV Davranbek (TKM) – 392 kg
9. CHKHEIDZE Irakli (GEO) – 391 kg
10. OPELOGE Don (SAM ) – 391 kg

The leader in the 102-kg weight category is Liu Huanhua: at the World Cup in Thailand he set a new World Record in C&J by 232 kg and a total of 413 kg.

While second-place Garik Karapetyan knocked out his teammate Samvel Gasparyan, thus the latter will miss his chance to go to the Olympics this summer.

102+ kg

1. TALAKHADZE Lasha (GEO) – 474 kg
2. MINASYAN Gor Tigran A. (BRN) – 464 kg
3. LALAYAN Varazdat (ARM) – 463 kg
4. DAVOUDI Ali (IRI) – 454 kg
5. ASAAD Man (SYR) – 445 kg
6. DJURAEV Akbar (UZB) – 437 kg
7. ZIAZIULIN Eduard (AIN) – 436 kg
8. ELSAYED Abdelrahman Mohamed A. A. (EGY) – 433 kg
9. RUBAIAWI Ali Ammar Yusur (IRQ) – 427 kg
10. BIDANI Walid (ALG) – 426 kg

Two-time Olympic champion Lasha Talakhadze from Georgia had a knee injury and withdrew from the 2024 World Cup. Being the holder of the all-time world records in Snatch (225kg), Clean & Jerk (267 kg), and the total (492 kg), he decided to focus on his recovery before the Games in Paris.

The second-ranked athlete from Bahrain, the Olympic silver medalist in the Olympics in Rio, Gor Minasyan, also withdrew from the World Cup in Phuket.

The final point

Eventually, the way to Paris has already started: the top-10 ranking in each 10 Olympic classes is determined, the supposed leaders are also set, and new bets for the category winners are also placed.