My husband is interested.He weighs about 185.

Qualifications
• The first 8 men & 8 women in each weight class qualify from the 2007 World Championships
• The first man & first woman from each weight class qualify from European, Asian, African & Pan-American Continental Championships
• For Oceania, a quota of seven places (sex not specified) from among various events will be allocated by a special FILA Commission & the Oceania continental committee.
• The first 4 men & 2 women in each weight class qualify from the first 2008 Olympic qualification tournament
• The first 3 men & 2 women in each weight class qualify from the second 2008 Olympic qualification tournament
• Seven places in any weight class allocated by FILA to ensure representation

The MINIMUM lift could be considered to be the lightest weight available, typically 135 pounds is the weight of a competition type lifting bar, collars & 2 large weights. To be COMPETITIVE, it would depend on the nature of the contest, is it a small local event, or a more competitive national event? As a GENERAL rule, if u can snatch over body-weight, & clean-and-jerk at least 1 1/2 times bodyweight, u would be competitive in LOCAL meets, but to be considered competitive INTERNATIONALLY, the weight in the snatch event should be over 1 1//2 times body weight, & the weight lifted in the clean-and-jerk should be over 2 times body weight. Olympic style lifting becomes more difficult & risky for older lifters, especially if over 40 years old. Older lifters generally do better if competing in ''Powerlifting'' which involves performing the ''Squat, Benchpress, & Deadlift'' instead of the ''Snatch & Clean-and-jerk'' of olympic lifting. (You did not describe ur husband very well, as u left out his age & height) As a lifter, 185 is a good weight for a muscular male, of 5' 8'' to 6' 0'' or thereabouts. If under 30 years old, his chances of becoming competitive at Olympic style lifting increase. The quick movements