Judo weight divisions
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As described at http://www.judoinfo.com/olympic3.htm:
In 1964 at the first Olympic Judo event in Tokyo, there were 74 participants from 27 countries. By 1992 in Barcelona, the Judo competition had grown to 437 participants from 93 countries. The Olympic weight classes have increased in number over the years. Starting with the Tokyo Olympics, 3 weight categories were introduced in addition to the open category. The categories were expanded to 6 (including an open category) for the 1972 Olympics, and 8 for the 1980 Olympics. In 1992 the open category was dropped from the Olympics, so there are currently 7 weight categories for both men and women in the Olympics.
In 1964 there were 4 men's weight classes as follows: Lightweight (-63 kg/-139 lb), Middleweight (-80 kg/-176 lb), Heavyweight (-93 kg/-205 lb), and Openweight.
In 1968 there was no Judo event, but in 1972 the event was expanded to 6 men's weight classes as follows: Lightweight (-63 kg/-139 lb), Half-Middleweight (-70 kg/-154 lb), Middleweight (-80 kg/-176 lb), Half-Heavyweight (-93 kg/-205 lb), Heavyweight (Over 93 kg/205 lb), and Openweight.
In 1980 it was again expanded, this time to 8 weight classes as follows: Extra Lightweight (-60 kg), Half Lightweight (-65 kg), Lightweight (-71 kg), Half-Middleweight (-78 kg), Middleweight (-86 kg), Half-Heavyweight (-95 kg), Heavyweight (Over 95 kg), and Openweight.
In 1992 the Openweight was dropped and there are seven remaining official weight classes for men. In addition women's competition was added to the Olympics as an official medal sport with seven weight classes.
The number of weight classes stayed the same, but in 1998 the weights for each category were changed as follows:
Men, before 1998 Men, after 1998 Women, before 1998 Women, after 1998 to 60 kg to 60 kg to 48 kg to 48 kg to 65 kg to 66 kg to 52 kg to 52 kg to 71 kg to 73 kg to 56 kg to 57 kg to 78 kg to 81 kg to 61 kg to 63 kg to 86 kg to 90 kg to 66 kg to 70 kg to 95 kg to 100 kg to 72 kg to 78 kg heavier than 95 kg heavier than 100 kg heavier than 72 kg heavier than 78 kg
