Weight classes (rings)
In the rings have been around since 2002, seven weight classes . The weight classes in freestyle wrestling and in Greco-Roman style are identical, the classes in women's wrestling start at 48 kg and end at 72 kg.
In contrast to other sports with weight classes, there is a maximum weight for wrestlers, even in the heaviest weight class, that must be adhered to. It is 120 kg for men and 72 kg for women. The mandatory weighing usually takes place half an hour before the competition.
Classes for seniors and juniors
| Weight class | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Flyweight | -55 kg | -48 kg |
| Bantamweight | -60 kg | -51 kg |
| lightweight | -66 kg | -55 kg |
| Welterweight | -74 kg | -59 kg |
| medium weight | -84 kg | -63 kg |
| Light heavyweight | -96 kg | -67 kg |
| Heavyweight | -130 kg | -72 kg |
Only in wrestling does the highest weight class have an upper limit.
Categories of male adolescents
| Weight class | A-youth | B-youth | C-youth | D-youth | E-youth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | -42 kg | -34 kg | -31 kg | -25 kg | -25 kg |
| 2. | -46 kg | -38 kg | -34 kg | -27 kg | -27 kg |
| 3. | -50 kg | -42 kg | -38 kg | -29 kg | -29 kg |
| 4th | -54 kg | -46 kg | -42 kg | -31 kg | -31 kg |
| 5. | -58 kg | -50 kg | -46 kg | -34 kg | -34 kg |
| 6th | -63 kg | -54 kg | -50 kg | -38 kg | -38 kg |
| 7th | -69 kg | -58 kg | -54 kg | -42 kg | -42 kg |
| 8th. | -76 kg | -63 kg | -58 kg | -46 kg | -46 kg |
| 9. | -85 kg | -69 kg | -63 kg | -50 kg | -50 kg |
| 10. | -100 kg | -76 kg | -69 kg | -54 kg | -54 kg |
| 11. | -85 kg | -76 kg | -69 kg |
Development of weight classes in wrestling
There was no weight limit in the ancient Olympics. That was also the case with the first modern Olympic Games in Athens. The smaller and easier wrestlers were therefore disadvantaged. The Wrestling World Championships in 1904 were one of the first tournaments where a distinction was made based on weight. The "2-class system" provided a class for wrestlers with a body weight below and one for over 75 kg. In 1906 there were also weight classes for the first time at German championships (light, medium and heavyweight). At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, spring (up to 60 kg), light (up to 67.5 kg), medium (up to 75 kg), light (up to 82.5 kg) and heavyweight (over 82.5 kg). This classification was retained even after the First World War . At the Olympics in 1924 and 1928, winners were determined in six weight classes in the Greco-Roman style and in seven in the freestyle. This was due to the different definition of the heavyweight brand. In the Greco-Roman style it was still 82.5 kg, but in the freestyle it was 87 kg. The freestyle classification system was also used for the Greco-Roman style from 1930.
After the Second World War an eighth weight class was introduced with the flyweight. The individual classes were now 52, 57, 62, 67, 73, 79, 87 and over 87 kg. In 1962 the classes were changed slightly, the heavyweight now started from 97 kg. For the 1972 Olympic Games , the division into 10 weight classes was introduced. The new weight classes here were paper weight (less than 48 kg) and super heavyweight (over 100 kg). In 1985 the super heavy weight was limited to 130 kg, in 2002 this value was reduced to 120 kg. With 10 classes, the number of classes peaked between 1972 and 1996. During this time the classifications remained unchanged. It was only after the 1996 Olympic Games that the number of classes was reduced to eight. Since 2002 there are again seven weight classes.