What Is the Sinclair Coefficient?

Olympic weightlifting compares lifters across body-weight classes using the Sinclair method. Your total (snatch + clean & jerk) is multiplied by a coefficient derived from your body weight: lighter lifters get a coefficient above 1.0, while lifters at or above the standard body weight (174.393 kg men, 148.026 kg women under the 2020 IWF values) get exactly 1.0.

The Formula

For body weight x (kg) below the standard b, the coefficient is 10^(a × log₁₀(x/b)²), with sex-specific a values. The logarithmic shape mirrors how lifting capacity scales with body size, making Sinclair totals comparable across all body-weight classes.

Benchmark Ranges

For men: 250+ is a solid club baseline, 300+ regional, 350+ national-class, and 400+ world-class. Women's benchmarks run roughly 50–70 points lower. Treat these as rough guides — federations and eras differ.