USA Weightlifting is introducing several changes to national events that will go into effect on January 1, 2019. The 2019 national event calendar is as follows:

*If you're a vendor interested in attending any of our 2019 national events, please CLICK HERE.

2019 American Open Series One
Due to strict venue size limitations, USA Weightlifting will cap the number of athletes, on a first-come-first-served, basis for the American Open Series 1 to 600 athletes. These athletes will lift on two platforms over four days. A waiting list will be made to ensure full participation possibilities.

This cap will not apply to athletes who are currently in the USADA National RTP or IWF IRTP or are ranked on a current team ranking list for which the American Open Series One is a qualification event and are in the Top 25 athletes. USA Weightlifting prefers not to cap competition participation, and this exception is made only because of venue size limitations.

Alternative competitive locations for athletes who are unable to compete at the American Open Series One are available at the National University and National Under 25 Championship in Las Vegas, NV and the National Masters Championship in Salt Lake City, UT.

2019 National Event Entry Fee
Beginning January 1, 2019, the event entry fee for USA Weightlifting National events will be $125 per entry for adults and juniors, while youth entries will remain at the current rate of $75.

USA Weightlifting is also introducing a new rate of $25 for elite athletes in recognition of their outstanding performance. Elite athletes are defined as athletes who are currently on the USA Weightlifting stipend program, and/or who have represented the USA in the IWF (Snr) World Championship, Olympic Games or Pan American Games.

Recognizing that sport participation can be a burden for some, we are also introducing an Event Hardship Fund to allow those with very low incomes or unexpected life events to remain in the sport. Further details can be found HERE.

Introduction of Snatch & Clean & Jerk Medals for Masters
Starting at the 2019 American Open Series 1, both USA Weightlifting and the Masters Committee will award medals in the snatch and clean & jerk to our Masters division at the American Open Series and National Masters events.

Compulsory Testing of American Records
In order to ensure the confidence of our membership in American Records, an athlete who sets an American Record in the Senior or Junior category must have a compulsory doping control test within three days of the event, in the event they are not already tested at the competition (for example, if two athletes set a record, and one is selected). In the event the record is set at an international competition, the test will take place within three days of arrival to the United States.

2020-2024 Quadrennial Calendar
USA Weightlifting has produced a quad calendar to assist athletes and coaches with their planning, following the practice started in 2016, and will implement the following changes to the national event calendar beginning in 2020.

The National University, National Under 25 and National Junior Championships will now be hosted over one weekend in the current timescale of the National Junior Championships, run concurrently over a three day weekend.

Meanwhile, the American Open Series 2 will move to June to precede the National Youth Championships in the same venue. The American Open Series 2 will start over the previous weekend, and continue into the week, with a day break before the start of the National Youth Championship. This change allows a larger gap between the American Open Series 2 and American Open Series 3, while potentially saving costs for those who would travel to both competitions.