"Everyone complains the new elite totals are too low, but they fail to offer an alternative method for specifically defining elite. Using yourself as anecdotal evidence is a poor argument against the standard.
In this case, the elite classification represents the top 1% of natural, raw, competitive lifters in the United States. That comes out to about 10 lifters per class. So what is the alternative? Maybe 0.1%? Now that sound elite. But then we'd only have 1 elite guy for each class walking around. And we already have a classification for that. Its called "national champion."
Using the top 1% is an objective standard and I think its pretty good considering powerlifting is a fringe sport. The top 1% will always be the top 1%. Over time, assuming the sport becomes more popular, competition will increase and a new 1% standard will supplant the old. So, if you feel the numbers are too low, blame the gross amount of lifters, not the methodology. There aren't enough competitive powerlifters. Further, there certainly aren't enough raw, drug free competitors. To the people bitching:
Have you competed in a totally raw event?
Are you natural?
If you answer no to both of those, then you aren't helping the problem. Compete raw and drug free, obtain the 1%, and be a part of the solution to make the standard mean something. The standards won't change, and should not change until stronger people compete raw. If there were a million competitive, raw/drug free lifters in the United States then the 1% standard would be inappropriate. But we don't have that problem. "
Standards as of of January 1, 2012.
Men’s Squat
Wt. Class
|
114
|
123
|
132
|
148
|
165
|
181
|
198
|
220
|
242
|
275
|
275+
| |
ELITE
|
292
|
320
|
348
|
389
|
452
|
495
|
535
|
565
|
590
|
620
|
662
| |
MASTER
|
269
|
294
|
320
|
358
|
416
|
455
|
492
|
520
|
543
|
570
|
609
| |
CLASS I
|
239
|
262
|
285
|
319
|
371
|
406
|
439
|
463
|
484
|
508
|
543
| |
CLASS II
|
210
|
230
|
251
|
280
|
325
|
356
|
385
|
407
|
425
|
446
|
477
| |
CLASS III
|
184
|
202
|
219
|
245
|
285
|
312
|
337
|
356
|
372
|
391
|
417
| |
CLASS IV
|
161
|
176
|
191
|
214
|
249
|
272
|
294
|
311
|
325
|
341
|
364
|
Men’s Bench Press
Wt. Class
|
114
|
123
|
132
|
148
|
165
|
181
|
198
|
220
|
242
|
275
|
275+
| |
ELITE
|
235
|
258
|
275
|
314
|
358
|
387
|
415
|
440
|
462
|
483
|
500
| |
MASTER
|
214
|
235
|
253
|
289
|
329
|
356
|
382
|
405
|
425
|
444
|
462
| |
CLASS I
|
193
|
212
|
226
|
257
|
294
|
317
|
340
|
361
|
379
|
396
|
412
| |
CLASS II
|
169
|
186
|
198
|
226
|
258
|
279
|
299
|
317
|
333
|
348
|
363
| |
CLASS III
|
148
|
163
|
173
|
198
|
226
|
244
|
261
|
277
|
291
|
304
|
315
| |
CLASS IV
|
129
|
142
|
151
|
173
|
197
|
213
|
228
|
242
|
254
|
266
|
275
|
Men’s Deadlift
Wt. Class
|
114
|
123
|
132
|
148
|
165
|
181
|
198
|
220
|
242
|
275
|
275+
| |
ELITE
|
346
|
374
|
402
|
468
|
537
|
597
|
625
|
642
|
660
|
689
|
700
| |
MASTER
|
318
|
344
|
370
|
431
|
494
|
549
|
575
|
591
|
607
|
634
|
644
| |
CLASS I
|
284
|
307
|
330
|
384
|
440
|
490
|
513
|
526
|
541
|
565
|
574
| |
CLASS II
|
249
|
269
|
289
|
337
|
387
|
430
|
450
|
462
|
475
|
496
|
504
| |
CLASS III
|
218
|
236
|
253
|
295
|
338
|
376
|
394
|
404
|
416
|
434
|
441
| |
CLASS IV
|
190
|
206
|
221
|
257
|
295
|
328
|
344
|
353
|
363
|
379
|
385
|
Men’s Strict Curl
Wt. Class
|
114
|
123
|
132
|
148
|
165
|
181
|
198
|
220
|
242
|
275
|
275+
| |
ELITE
|
85
|
100
|
115
|
130
|
142
|
151
|
160
|
168
|
175
|
175
|
175
| |
MASTER
|
77
|
91
|
105
|
118
|
130
|
138
|
148
|
156
|
163
|
163
|
163
| |
CLASS I
|
70
|
82
|
94
|
107
|
117
|
124
|
132
|
139
|
144
|
144
|
144
| |
CLASS II
|
61
|
72
|
83
|
94
|
103
|
109
|
116
|
122
|
127
|
127
|
127
| |
CLASS III
|
54
|
63
|
72
|
82
|
90
|
95
|
102
|
107
|
111
|
111
|
111
| |
CLASS IV
|
46
|
54
|
62
|
70
|
78
|
83
|
88
|
92
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
Men’s Powerlifting Total
Wt. Class
|
114
|
123
|
132
|
148
|
165
|
181
|
198
|
220
|
242
|
275
|
275+
| |
ELITE
|
805
|
881
|
947
|
1124
|
1261
|
1396
|
1495
|
1587
|
1630
|
1710
|
1740
| |
MASTER
|
741
|
811
|
871
|
1034
|
1160
|
1279
|
1375
|
1460
|
1500
|
1573
|
1601
| |
CLASS I
|
660
|
722
|
777
|
922
|
1034
|
1148
|
1226
|
1301
|
1337
|
1402
|
1427
| |
CLASS II
|
580
|
634
|
682
|
809
|
908
|
1012
|
1076
|
1143
|
1174
|
1231
|
1253
| |
CLASS III
|
507
|
555
|
597
|
708
|
794
|
879
|
942
|
1000
|
1027
|
1077
|
1096
| |
CLASS IV
|
443
|
485
|
521
|
618
|
694
|
768
|
822
|
873
|
897
|
941
|
957
|
There is a similar discussion on TN in the Powerlifting forum. I dunno, once I get up in the 180's (which is the plan.. I know from history that 185 feels good), hitting an elite total will still be pretty damn hard. For me, it would probably actually be impossible to do at 181 due to my size, but it'll be years before I am ever up to 200+lbs (realistically).
ReplyDeleteI'm here for the curls
ReplyDeleteI think elite should be attainable by someone other than juiced genetic freaks. These numbers are pretty damn hard for the normal person, I agree. They should be that way, but my point is the current classifications are realistic based on the population.
ReplyDeleteIt seems impossible (especially some of the individual lifts), but then again think of where you will be 5 years from now. Now think about 10-15 years. That is a long ass time to get stronger (and add size).