invägningen

Invägningen, or the weigh-in, is the act of recording a participant's weight prior to a competition, primarily to determine eligibility for a weight class. The term is used in Swedish to describe the formal measuring of body weight by the event's officials. It is common in combat sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), wrestling, and weightlifting where divisions are defined by weight, as well as in certain professional activities where weight limits apply, like horse racing staff or jockeys.

In practice, the weigh-in is conducted on a scheduled date by the event's regulatory body or the promoter, using an official scale. Participants are typically required to weigh at or under the agreed limit for their category; in many cases, fighters are weighed with minimal clothing and without shoes to ensure accuracy. Some promotions include a second weigh-in on the day of the event, or a catchweight alternative if a fighter misses weight.

Consequences of failing to make weight vary: penalties may include fines, forfeiture of a portion of purses, a catchweight agreement, or cancellation or modification of the bout. Missing weight can impact medical safety due to rapid weight-cutting practices, and has led to increased scrutiny and reforms in some sports.

The practice is regulated by sports commissions or athletic commissions or equivalent bodies, and strict adherence is intended to promote fairness, safety, and event organization.