68 rules in this category across multiple organizations. Compare how each organization handles competition format & structure.
BOLT is designed to be more accessible to beginners while still offering elite-level challenge. Key accessibility features: (1) athlete chooses their own KB weight, (2) bell can be set down during the...
In BOLT, athletes choose their own kettlebell weight for competition. This is a fundamental difference from traditional Girevoy Sport, which prescribes kettlebell weights per rank level and gender. An...
In BOLT, athletes can set the bell down between repetitions. This is a fundamental difference from traditional Girevoy Sport, where setting the bell down terminates the set. Setting the bell down in B...
Biathlon consists of two separate 10-minute sets: Jerk (10 minutes) followed by Snatch (10 minutes), with at least 1 hour of rest between the two exercises. The biathlon score is calculated as: jerk r...
In biathlon, a minimum of 45 minutes rest is required between the jerk set and the snatch set.
Biathlon scoring formulas differ significantly. IUKL/GSU/WKSF weight jerk at 1x and snatch at 0.5x. IKO uses Jerk + 1/2 Snatch (same math, different expression). GSU notes the mathematical equivalence of "Jerk x2 + Snatch x1" format.
IKLF holds annual BOLT USA National Championships, offered in both online and in-person formats. The 2025 championship offers both competition formats for maximum accessibility.
IKLF holds annual BOLT World Championships. BOLT Worlds 2024 took place September 1-7, 2024. The event features all BOLT disciplines and multi-event challenges including Iron Man and Triathlons.
For marathon and half-marathon events, body weight categories will be merged if there are not at least 3 athletes per category, age group, and movement. This ensures competitive fields at events with ...
Male competitors may compete in: Two Arms Long Cycle (2 x Kettlebells), Biathlon (Jerk 2 x Kettlebells + Snatch 1 x Kettlebell), Only Snatch (1 x Kettlebell with 1 change of hands allowed, available a...
Female competitors may compete in: Two Arms Long Cycle (2 x Kettlebells), Biathlon (Jerk 2 x Kettlebells + Snatch 1 x Kettlebell), Only Snatch (1 x Kettlebell), One Arm Long Cycle (1 x Kettlebell), 12...
KB Coefficients (2023): 4kg=0.36, 6kg=0.64, 8kg=1.00, 10kg=1.42, 12kg=1.63-1.88, 14kg=2.10, 16kg=2.37, 18kg=2.90, 20kg=3.22-3.50, 22kg=3.82, 24kg=4.20, 26kg=5.05, 28kg=5.32-5.75, 30kg=6.15, 32kg=6.62,...
Use of the coefficient (CO) is only used in a body weight category that has less than 3 athletes. Athletes in an incomplete weight class must be merged into a higher body weight category class. If the...
Competition durations available: 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes (Classic), 12 minutes (Snatch), 30 minutes (Half Marathon), 60 minutes (Marathon), and 3+ hours (Ultra Marathon).
Both IUKL and WKSF divide competitions into individual and team formats with additional classification levels.
GSU holds five main competitions annually: the Irish Championship, English Championship, Scottish Championship, Welsh Championship, and the British Championship. These are the four nations competition...
Core disciplines (Jerk, Long Cycle, Snatch) are universal but each org adds unique events. IKLF offers 6 lifts including doubles for all. IKMF focuses on marathon formats. IKO added Double Half Snatch and Kata. IKSFA offers standalone Jerk.
Division changes are permitted up to two weeks before the competition. After that deadline, no exceptions are made.
Event order at IKFF/IKSFA competitions: Jerk is performed first, followed by Snatch (or Snatch Only), then Long Cycle. Within each event, progression is from lightest to heaviest kettlebell weight and...
Both men and women can compete in all six BOLT events, including all double kettlebell lifts. There is no restriction on which events a gender can enter. This was a founding principle of the IKLF when...
In international competitions, a maximum of 2 persons from the same country are allowed to compete in the same discipline, weight category, and age group.
The BOLT Iron Man requires performing all six lifts in increments of 10 minutes each, with a resting period of 10 to 20 minutes between sets. This rewards lifters who train comprehensively and have gr...
For double kettlebell events, the total weight per rep is the combined weight of both kettlebells. For example, with 2x20kg bells: weight per rep = 40kg. Base Volume = 40 x 40 = 1,600kg. The formula i...
Example: Athlete uses 2x20kg kettlebells, completes 80 reps. Total KB weight per rep = 40kg. Base Volume = 40 x 40 = 1,600kg. Raw Volume = 80 x 40 = 3,200kg. Final Score = 4,800kg.
Example: Athlete uses 16kg kettlebell, completes 150 reps. Base Volume = 40 x 16 = 640kg. Raw Volume = 150 x 16 = 2,400kg. Final Score = 3,040kg. Note: Despite getting 50 more reps than the 24kg athle...
Example: Athlete uses 24kg kettlebell, completes 100 reps. Base Volume = 40 x 24 = 960kg. Raw Volume = 100 x 24 = 2,400kg. Final Score = 3,360kg.
IVSS Formula: Final Score = Base Volume + Raw Volume. Base Volume = 40 x (total weight of kettlebell(s) in kg). Raw Volume = repetitions x (weight per rep in kg). The base volume 'head start' rewards ...
BOLT uses the IKLF Volume Scoring System (IVSS), which is volume-based, not rep-based. The final score represents the total kilograms lifted during a set. This is fundamentally different from traditio...
In IKMF Games (10-minute events), the athlete IS allowed to put the kettlebell down before the 10 minutes are up. The result will still be valid, counting all reps completed up to that point. This is ...
In Pentathlon, no setting the weight down is allowed until the 6 minutes are up. If the weight is set down while there is still time left on the clock, the set for that discipline ends, but all reps c...
A kettlebell unintentionally lost (dropped) that remains on the platform does not end the set. The athlete can pick it up and continue lifting.
BOLT allows any kettlebell weight to be used in competition, unlike traditional Girevoy Sport which prescribes specific weights (e.g., 32kg for professional men, 24kg for professional women). However,...
The IKMF Ultimate Girevik Cup league accumulates results across three competition stages into a final total. Athletes must perform the same discipline across all three stages, though kettlebell weight...
Refunds will not be issued for competition registrations. Registrations may be transferred to other events.
Athletes receive only one attempt per set. There are no do-overs or additional flights.
IKLF offers online kettlebell competitions (Lift Online) where athletes can compete remotely by submitting video. This allows global participation without traveling to an in-person event.
If the kettlebell falls or rolls outside the platform, the set is ended and the score achieved to that point holds. This is the primary set-termination condition in BOLT.
Position 1-10 receive 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 points respectively. Positions 11-12 receive 10, 9 points. Positions 13+ receive descending points 8 through 1, then 0.
The athlete is invited to the platform at least two minutes prior to the beginning of their flight. During the five-second countdown (5, 4, 3, 2, 1), the athlete must be on the platform and ready to b...
IKSFA organizes competition into four category tiers based on kettlebell weight: HIGH MASTERY OF SPORT (32kg male / 20kg female — MSIC, MS, CMS achievable), SPORTING PERFECTION (24kg male / 16kg femal...
At equality of quantity of rises: 1) advantage is received by the athlete having a smaller body weight before performance, 2) then by lighter body weight after performance, 3) then by coin toss.
In relay races, participants compete by weight category progression (lightest first). Transfer of the relay is made on the command 'Change'. Only one athlete competes per stage, with a general accumul...
IKLF has a rep cap in place to limit how many repetitions can be performed during a competition set. The purpose of this limit is to slow down the set so it is more likely a lifter will be able to dem...
In multi-event formats (Iron Man, KT1, KT2), the rest period between sets is 10 to 20 minutes.
For amateur/non-ranked competitions and the IKMF Ultimate Girevik Cup league, IKMF uses a coefficient system: Score = Repetitions x KB Coefficient. This allows athletes using different kettlebell weig...
GSU uses repetitions as the scoring metric for individual lifts (Jerk, Snatch, Long Cycle) and points for Biathlon. This is a rep-based system (not volume-based), consistent with traditional Girevoy S...
Scoring is primarily rep-based but IKLF uses a unique volume-based IVSS formula (reps x KB weight) that allows cross-weight comparison.
Each lifter competes against anyone of the same gender and weight class performing that lift, regardless of the weight of the kettlebells the other lifters are using. The IVSS formula ensures fair com...
In ranked competition, scoring is 1 point per repetition. The winner is the athlete with the highest number of valid repetitions in their division, weight class, and age group.
IKMF Games (World Games) events are 10-minute sets with a single heavy kettlebell (40kg men, 28kg women) or double kettlebells (2x24kg men, 2x16kg women). Unlike marathon/half marathon, athletes ARE a...
Half marathon (30-minute) format is offered by multiple organizations, primarily IKMF and IKLF.
Marathon formats vary from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the organization.
IKMF Pentathlon consists of 5 disciplines each performed for 6 minutes with a 5-minute break between each discipline. Total lifting time is 30 minutes with 20 minutes of rest. Performed with a single ...
Sprint formats are offered by a subset of organizations, typically 5-6 minutes.
The standard set duration is 10 minutes across all organizations, though some also offer shorter sprint formats.
A BOLT set terminates when: (1) the time limit expires, or (2) a kettlebell falls or rolls outside the platform. Unlike traditional Girevoy Sport, setting the bell down on the platform does NOT termin...
In all standard 10-minute events, the kettlebell(s) cannot be set down on the platform at any point during the set. If the kettlebell touches the platform, the set is terminated immediately. All previ...
IKLF's proprietary sport is called BOLT (Believe, Overcome, Lift, Triumph). BOLT is fundamentally different from traditional Girevoy Sport (GS). It is a speed and power event with volume-based scoring...
StrongSport is a discipline available on WKSF to include in each event. Athletes lift heavier kettlebells than on standard regulations. Males: 32kg to 48kg. Females: 24kg to 32kg. The discipline can b...
If two lifters in the same weight class achieve the same final IVSS score: (1) the lifter using the heavier kettlebell wins; (2) if both lifters are using the same weight kettlebell, the lifter with t...
Most organizations announce time remaining at set intervals during the set. The exact intervals and methods vary.
Kettlebell Triathlon 1 (KT1): All three single kettlebell lifts (Single Snatch, Single Jerk, Single Clean and Jerk) performed in increments of 10 minutes each with a resting period of 10 to 20 minutes...
Kettlebell Triathlon 2 (KT2): All three double kettlebell lifts (Double Snatch, Double Jerk, Double Clean and Jerk) performed in increments of 10 minutes each with a resting period of 10 to 20 minutes...
BOLT eliminates the 'one switch' rule used in traditional Girevoy Sport. Athletes can switch hands as many times as they want within the set time limit. This makes the sport more accessible while stil...
BOLT's volume-based scoring (IVSS) rewards total work capacity rather than just rep count. An athlete who chooses a heavier bell and does fewer reps may score higher than one who uses a lighter bell w...
Winner is determined by the highest number of repetitions (or points in biathlon/IVSS), with bodyweight as the primary tiebreaker in most organizations.
The IKMF World Championship is divided into 2 parts: first part in April with IKMF Games (10-minute events with 1 kettlebell only) and Pentathlon with 2 kettlebells (5 disciplines, 6 minutes each with...
Young and Junior competitors (U15, U18) are restricted to Biathlon and Two Arms Long Cycle only.