Section 2: Equipment
2.1 The Barbell
- Men's bar: Weight 20 kg (44.1 lb). Total length 220 cm (86.6 in). Shaft diameter 28 mm (1.1 in). Sleeve (collar) diameter 50 mm. Rotating sleeves with needle bearings to allow plates to spin freely during the lift.
- Women's bar: Weight 15 kg (33.1 lb). Total length 201 cm (79.1 in). Shaft diameter 25 mm (0.98 in). Same sleeve specifications as the men's bar.
- Knurl markings: Standardised grip markings on the bar shaft. Men's bars have two knurl rings at 91 cm apart; women's bars at 71 cm apart. These help athletes consistently position their grip.
2.2 Weight Plates
Competition plates are rubber-coated (bumper plates) designed for safe dropping from overhead. They are colour-coded by weight as mandated by the IWF:
- 25 kg — Red
- 20 kg — Blue
- 15 kg — Yellow
- 10 kg — Green
- 5 kg — White
- 2.5 kg, 2 kg, 1.5 kg, 1 kg, 0.5 kg — Change plates (smaller metal discs)
- Collars: 2.5 kg each, securing the plates on the sleeve
Plates must be loaded in descending order of weight from the inside out, with the heaviest plates closest to the collar of the bar. All plates must display the IWF certification stamp.
2.3 Athlete Equipment
- Weightlifting shoes: Raised heel (maximum sole height 130 mm / 5.1 in from floor, minimum 3 mm). Rigid sole for stability. Strap or lace closure.
- Singlet: One-piece competition singlet. Must not cover the elbows or extend below the knees. Team or national federation colours.
- Belt: Maximum width 120 mm (4.7 in). Must be worn outside the singlet.
- Wrist wraps: Maximum width 10 cm (3.9 in). May extend from the wrist over the hand but must not cover the full palm.
- Knee sleeves: Maximum length 30 cm (11.8 in). Must be a single, continuous piece of material. Knee wraps (winding-style) are not permitted.
- Chalk: Magnesium carbonate (gymnastic chalk) is provided and permitted for grip enhancement. No liquid chalk or alternative adhesives.