The United States qualified two weightlifters for this year's Beijing Olympics after winning the silver medal behind Cuba in the men's team event at the Pan American championships in Callao, Peru.

The combined efforts of the eight American lifters allowed the U.S. to finish the competition in first place among countries not already qualified for Beijing.

Canada also secured two Olympic slots while Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina each earned one.

"We accomplished our goal for this competition which was to secure the two available Olympic slots," Dennis Snethen, interim executive director for USA Weightlifting said

"All of our guys contributed to this success with consistent lifts in a high pressure meet.

"Now we move on to the Olympic Trials where these team mates will now compete to see who the two Olympians will be."

The eight men who secured the two Olympic spots will now move onto the U.S. team trials in Atlanta on May 16-17 where they will battle 22 other lifters for a chance to compete in Beijing.

The U.S. women have qualified for the maximum of four Olympic slots.

Reuters