Information for International-Qualifying BC Athletes
The jump from competing at a National-level to an International-level comes with different requirements, planning, and things to be aware of. This page is set up to help you better understand the process, build awareness around what to expect, and offer resources to continue to stay up to date as an athlete in a dynamic competition environment.
What you are responsible for:
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Declare
Declare: As an International Athlete, you must declare your intention to be eligible and compete at an International competition with CWHFC and BCWA. You may declare prior to posting an eligible competition total, though you will be required to achieve said total prior to the Team Selection Date. Note that the qualification period for International 1 + 2 and Elite Competitions differs.
Qualification Period:
- International 1 + 2: 8 months prior to Team Selection
- Elite: 6 months prior to Team Selection
Team Selection Notification:
- International 1 + 2: 45 days prior to competition
- Elite: 60 days prior to competition
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Pay
Pay: Once you declare, you must pay a non-refundable $100 WCH Administration Fee to CWFHC in order for your declaration to be official. This can be done via E-transfer; if you are unsure of where to send this, reach out to BCWA for support.
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Entry
Entry: Once you have declared and paid your Administration Fee, you will be notified by CWFHC upon selection to a team at which point you will be accountable for all forms, paperwork, and necessary athlete courses to be eligible.
NOTE: Often communication from CWFHC comes with tight turnarounds, so be proactive and diligent in checking and responding to your emails. If there is anything in the Declaration process which you can do early, it is recommended.
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ADAMS Completion
ADAMS Completion: See ADAMS/Doping Control. Ensure you are registered within ADAMS and have successfully updated and maintained your athlete whereabouts; failure to do so will make you ineligible to be selected to a team.

Qualification Totals
In order to be considered an International Athlete by CWHFC, there are two thresholds you must meet. Each Threshold represents eligibility to compete at a different level, pending team selection. Note: unlike meeting the National-Qualifying Marker, meeting an International Qualifying Marker does not guarantee selection to a team. This process is further explained in the International Team Selection Process section.
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Senior International 1 minimum threshold of performance
Senior Minimum Threshold of Performance (78%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 45 130 49 154 55 167 59 179 64 188 71 192 76 197 81 198 87 199 87+ 215 Male
Weight Category Marker 55 207 61 234 67 253 73 270 81 284 89 289 96 307 102 309 109 312 109+ 332 -
Junior International 1 minimum threshold of performance
Junior Minimum Threshold of Performance (78%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 45 125 49 138 55 154 59 157 64 167 71 169 76 170 81 172 87 176 87+ 193 Male
Weight Category Marker 55 183 61 210 67 236 73 249 81 268 89 270 96 274 102 275 109 281 109+ 304 -
Youth International 1 minimum threshold of performance
Youth Minimum Threshold of Performance (78%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 40 92 45 108 49 126 55 135 59 145 64 153 71 154 76 157 81 158 81+ 163 Male
Weight Category Marker 49 154 55 175 61 193 67 214 73 216 81 222 89 232 96 254 102 235 102+ 252
Eligible Competitions:
- American Open Series
- FISU World University Championships
- Various Invitational events as available from time to time
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Senior International 2 minimum threshold of performance
Senior Minimum Threshold of Performance (82%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 45 137 49 162 55 175 59 188 64 197 71 202 76 207 81 209 87 210 87+ 226 Male
Weight Category Marker 55 218 61 246 67 266 73 283 81 298 89 304 96 323 102 325 109 329 109+ 349 -
Junior International 2 minimum threshold of performance
Junior Minimum Threshold of Performance (82%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 45 132 49 145 55 162 59 164 64 175 71 178 76 179 81 180 87 185 87+ 203 Male
Weight Category Marker 55 192 61 220 67 248 73 262 81 282 89 284 96 288 102 289 109 295 109+ 319 -
Youth International 2 minimum threshold of performance
Youth Minimum Threshold of Performance (82%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 40 96 45 113 49 133 55 142 59 152 64 160 71 161 76 164 81 166 81+ 171 Male
Weight Category Marker 49 152 55 184 61 203 67 225 73 227 81 233 89 244 96 267 102 247 102+ 265
Eligible Competitions:
- Pan American Championships
- Junior Pan American Championships
- Youth Pan American Championships
- Youth, Junior and Senior Commonwealth Championships
- FISU World University Games
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Senior Elite minimum threshold of performance
Senior Minimum Threshold of Performance (85%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 45 142 49 168 55 182 59 195 64 204 71 210 76 215 81 216 87 217 87+ 234 Male
Weight Category Marker 55 226 61 255 67 276 73 294 81 309 89 315 96 335 102 337 109 349 109+ 362 -
Junior Elite minimum threshold of performance
Junior Minimum Threshold of Performance (85%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 45 136 49 150 55 168 59 170 64 182 71 184 76 185 81 188 87 192 87+ 210 Male
Weight Category Marker 55 199 61 228 67 257 73 272 81 292 89 295 96 299 102 399 109 306 109+ 331 -
Youth Elite minimum threshold of performance
Youth Minimum Threshold of Performance (85%)
Female
Weight Category Marker 40 100 45 118 49 137 55 148 59 158 64 166 71 167 76 171 81 172 81+ 177 Male
Weight Category Marker 49 158 55 191 61 210 67 233 73 235 81 242 89 253 96 277 102 256 102+ 274
Eligible Competitions:
- IWF World Championships
- IWF Junior World Championships
- IWF Youth
- World Championships
- Pan American Games
- Junior Pan American Games
- Commonwealth Games
International Team Selection Process
Declaring intent to compete is the responsibility of the athlete to complete, but if you have any questions around timelines for specific competitions, please reach out to BCWA and we can support you in getting the information you need. After the cut-off date for declarations, WCH will select a team based on qualifying totals within the allocated team spots for the competition. Team selection limits 2x athletes per weight class, generally capped at 10 athletes total per gender.
Note: first an athlete must hit the Threshold for Performance, from there, WCH will select a team of 10 athletes (who have declared), and of those 10 a maximum of 2-per weight category will be allowed. For more specific information around the selection process, please refer to HAL DOC.
International Event Calendar:
- IWF (most accurate): https://iwf.sport/events/calendar/
- Canadian (less accurate but shows Canadian competitions) https://weightliftingcanada.ca/events-results/
Athlete support:
BCWA will support any international athlete/coach in their travel with $500 towards their trip; athlete/coach must meet international standards required to attend (Athlete Threshold of Performance, Coach NCCP courses) and be a BCWA member in good standing.
Qualifying to Represent Team Canada:
YOU MUST BE A CITIZEN OF CANADA OR A LANDED IMMIGRANT AND RESIDE IN CANADA FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS If dual citizenship is held, your sport nationality must be registered as Canada with the IWF or other applicable body, at the time of the final qualification event. Exceptions may be made to the residency requirement for students studying abroad.
YOU MUST HAVE A VALID CANADIAN PASSPORT An athlete must possess a Canadian Passport with an expiration date no less than 6 months after the end of competition, or the entry requirement of the host nation, whichever is greater.
DOPING POOL REGISTRATION You must be registered in the ADAMS system with Whereabouts completed for the required period prior to the competition through to the final day of the competition. The required period for most international competitions is two months. For world championship events and major games, the period is three months. YOU MUST BE THE CORRECT AGE FOR THE COMPETITION The IWF recognizes four (4) age groups: Youth: 13-17 years of age Junior: 15-20 years of age Senior: 15+ years of age
Doping/ADAMS
As an international athlete, you are required to be registered for doping control and testing through the ADAMS system. For resources on how to set up and maintain your ADAMS account, see the resource section below. You are accountable for knowing doping regulations, policies, and processes; you can be tested at any point, and refusing a test from a DCO can result in suspension.
Note: You are required to keep your athlete and training information up to date at all times; should the IWF find you out of compliance, you will be ineligible to compete internationally. Do not let this slip, as Canadian athletes have been removed from international competition teams for not keeping their profile updated.