Much argument has gone back and forth on the subject of “what is elite?” in powerlifting. Fortunately, Kevin Meskew has given us a new chart of standards. It has been mentioned these may be changed slightly for accuracy. This list includes both Elite, International Elite, and more.
Steve Denison says:
The original classification standards going back to the late 80’s or early 90’s that I got from Don Haley, who recently passed away at 90+, were Single ply based standards from old single ply gear. Back then there was no raw, classic raw, or Multiply. Just one category so the standards were based on that type of gear in those days. The original classification was also put together based on the average totals for each wt class from say the 1985 to 1990 IPF Worlds. From those totals they derived the elite, master, class 1,2,3, and 4. Then from those base totals we developed our own standards based on percentages for Raw, Classic Raw, and Multiply. Everything is based on the original single ply standards from those days. Those standards were never adjusted for the new generation single ply gear. That’s the basic synopsis for the Classification standards we have today. The USPA is the only federation that has put this together in more detail for each category. Now if you look at the Classification standards from the APF they will be somewhat higher because of the gear and that’s where our MP classification standards may be more in line with the original APF standards.
Below you will only see raw, and classic classifications in the Open division. For the full lists including age divisions, single ply and multi ply visit the Mens Classification Standards and Womens Classification Standards.
The chart below represents the Classic division. Here, knee wraps are allowed.
For comparison, here are the older standards for raw elite by the 100% RAW powerlifting federation.
Click to enlarge
I say, who cares. Doesn’t change anything whatever you think. Just ego boosters/deflaters in my opinion.
All that really matters is lifting your ass off, being the best you can be, and records of course haha.
Daniel Green said it pretty well.. “If you now will have to make a higher total to be elite, will that make it easier to enter a competition and outlift another man? I don’t think so…”
If and when I total elite in the RPS, I will say that I have an elite total based upon whatever the fed says is elite. But in the end of the day, that doesn’t matter to me.
137 lbs. for drugs? Come on. Those older standards were mediocre/”good” and that’s that. Far from the definition of “elite”.. A group of people considered to be the best in a particular society or category, esp. because of their power, talent, or wealth.
Both are accurate. Why? 100% Raw is drug tested, USPA isn’t.
Sure some people get around drug testing, but that doesn’t represent the majority of lifters.
Agreed.
Good target for people that lift in that matter.
Target? In other words, limit. 😐
This is a very late reply to this but NO! The 100% raw standards are a joke, in 2006 hit a 1380 total just 16 lbs under they’re so called Elite as a hospice patient while undergoing chemo and radiation treatments.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CD8QtwIwBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDlT-7WCU93g&ei=1WZZU_LdHPDhsASGloHACw&usg=AFQjCNEUxWpRv3V-DsydvRu_yPwnYt3_yQ&sig2=srPRqem1XU3fG3roYPQRlA&bvm=bv.65397613,d.cWc
Actually, your total would be Elite for USAPL (a drug free federation tied to IPF) as well. Last year a 627.5 KG total would place you in the Top 10 in the 181 lb class.