ATHLETE QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
Weightlifting Canada (WCH) is committed to growing the sport of weightlifting across the country. To accomplish this goal, we believe that athletes must have reasonable opportunities to participate in Local, Regional, National, and International events as they improve their skills and abilities. This is aligned with the Long-Term Athlete Development protocol that was established for the sport of weightlifting. Setting Markers for achievement are paramount to this process as they provide athletes and coaches with clear expectations and guidelines about the required performance to be selected for events. WCH takes the view that selection should reflect current performance and athlete potential while ensuring a competitive position at all international events.
Markers are recommended by the High Performance Committee to the WCH for review - their recommendations are typically based on past years performances at high level competitions (IWF Wold Championships as example). Each year the minimum thresholds of performance are set for the following categories;
+ELITE LEVEL
World and Continental Championships
- IWF World Championships
- IWF Junior World Championships
- IWF Youth World Championships
+INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 2
- Senior Pan American Championships
- Junior Pan American Championships
- Youth Pan American Championships
- IWF Grand Prix Events
- World Cup Events
+INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 1
- Youth, Junior and Senior Commonwealth Championships
- FISU World University Championships
- Various Invitational events as available from time to time
**Specific competitions may have qualification that are separate from the WCH and these standards will be maintained and will override WCH standards when applicable.
PREREQUISITES FOR ATHLETE QUALIFICATION
To be considered for an international team you must meet the following minimum requirements:
+YOU MUST BE A CITIZEN OF CANADA OR A PERMANENT RESIDENT AND RESIDE IN CANADA FOR THEPAST 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. Residency will be determined using CRA rules that require a minimum of 183 overnight stays in Canada during the past 365 days.
+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 AND PROGRAM ADHERENCE
Senior athletes must be registered in the ADAMS system for a minimum of 6 months before the competition. All athletes, regardless of age must have 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. Athletes under a provisional suspension for violations of the WADA Code and/or the Canadian Anti-Doping Program are not eligible for nomination or selection to Team Canada by WCH.
+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
- Masters: 35+ years of age
All groups are calculated based on participant’s age on December 31 of the year the competition takes place.
+MEMBERSHIP
Athletes must be current members of a PSO and in good standing to compete.
+ACTIVE COMPETITOR
Athletes must be actively training. Athletes must sign and abide by the National Team Athlete Agreement as issued by WCH.
**This information can be found on the WCH website HERE
TEAM/ATHLETE SELECTION
At the end of the qualification period for a particular event, WCH will select the individuals from the list of qualified athletes and those who has expressing interest for team selection. Team selection will be based on the events organizing committee (generally the IWF rules for events - 10 athletes per gender). The 10 athletes with the highest % of marker for the qualification event with a maximum of 2 athletes per IWF bodyweight category will be selected. Typically 2 additional atheltes will be named as reserve athletes as well. Athletes may not declare bodyweight categories lower than the category lower than the category were the entry total was achieved. Athletes may declare a bodyweight category higher, but must have a total higher than atheltes in this category and there must not be more than 2 atheltes in this category already (they must be ranked based ont he marker of the higher category). In the rare event that
Readiness to Compete - Once an athlete has been named to a team they must demonstrate readiness to compete. This is done by submitting videos of both the snatch and clean and jerk at 90%+ of their qualification total 4 weeks prior to the event (videos must be time stamped). If atheltes fail to complete this task they will be removed from the team and any costs accrued by WCH will be passed onto the athlete. The time period from athlete acceptance of a spot on an international team to the athlete’s competition date is called the “Preparation Period". During the Preparation Period, any time a sickness or injury occurs, it must be reported to the High-Performance Manager. Should any unreported illness or injury not be reported, it cannot be used as a reason not to meet the 90% requirement defined above. Where an injury or illness has been reported, WCH may provide an additional 7 days to demonstrate readiness to compete. This reporting obligation does not replace and is in addition to any obligation an athlete may have to report an injury or illness under any other agreement with WCH, Sport Canada, Own the Podium, or the Canadian Olympic Committee.
For more detailed info on this topic please read THIS from the WCH (2023 season).
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
Canadian National Championships - Minimum standards
International Championships - Minimum standards
SINCLAIR COEFFICIENT
The Sinclair Coefficients are a means to compare different weight classes in olympic weightlifting. The answer to the question "What would be the total of an athlete weighing X kilograms if he/she were an athlete in the heaviest class of the same level of ability?" is given by the formula: ACTUAL TOTAL × SINCLAIR COEFFICIENT = SINCLAIR TOTAL.
To compare and rank the results, especially between bodyweight categories, the International Weightlifting Federation uses the Sinclair Coefficients which are derived statistically and calculated for one Olympic cycle (for four years, starting in the beginning of each year following the Olympics). The IWF also uses Robi points as an alternate calculation.
Fromulae for calcluating sinclair;
Male =Total*(10^(0.722762521*((LOG10(Bodyweight/193.609))^2)))Female =Total*(10^(0.787004341*((LOG10(Bodyweight/153.757))^2)))