The Sinclair Coefficients are a method to compare different weight classes in Olympic weightlifting. It replaced Hoffman's formula, which was the first statistical analysis of this type. The method provides the answer to the question "What would be the total of an athlete weighing kg if he/she were an athlete in the heaviest class of the same level of ability?", given by the formula: × = SINCLAIR TOTAL. Since 1 November 2018, there are ten bodyweight categories for each gender. For men, they are 55 kg, 61 kg, 67 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 89 kg, 96 kg, 102 kg, 109 kg, and +109 kg, and for women: 45 kg, 49 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 64 kg, 71 kg, 76 kg, 81 kg, 87 kg and +87 kg. There are two types of lifts: snatch, and clean and jerk. However, at most championships, medals are presented for both lifts and the total. To compare and rank the results, especially between bodyweight categories, the International Weightlifting Federation uses the Sinclair Coefficients which are derived statistically and calculated for one Olympic cycle. The total for each bodyweight category is a projection of the Total for that weightlifter if he/she were a competitor in the heaviest bodyweight category with the same level of ability. The Sinclair Coefficient is if x<b where x is the weightlifter's bodyweight, b is the world record holder's bodyweight and A is the coefficient for this Olympic cycle, or 1.0 if x ≥ b. Then, the Sinclair Total is simply the obtained total multiplied by the Sinclair Coefficient. For example, from 2017 to 2020, a calculation of the Sinclair Coefficient is as follows given A=0.751945030 and b=175.508 kg for men and A=0.783497476 and b=153.655 kg for women. Assume that we are assessing a male weightlifter weighing 61.9 kg with a total of 320 kg. Then, x = 61.9 kg, and we have X = log10 = log10 = −0.4526062683 A = 0.751945030 × ^ 2 = 0.751945030 × 0.204852431 = 0.1540377697 10^ = 10^0.1540377697 = 1.4257315812 Sinclair Total = Actual Total × S.C. = 320 kg × 1.4257315812 = 456.234
Men's Sinclair chart
To understand the whole idea, here is the chart with the men's bodyweight categories and their world record Totals, Sinclair Coefficients, and Sinclair Total. By looking at the Sinclair Total, we can determine the RANK.
#
Weight Class
World Record
Sinclair Coefficient
Sinclair Total
Rank
1
55
293
1.552231
454.803
8
2
61
318
1.440117
457.952
7
3
67
339
1.353700
458.904
6
4
73
363
1.285695
466.707
4
5
81
378
1.215696
459.533
5
6
89
387
1.162510
449.891
10
7
96
416
1.126229
468.511
2
8
102
412
1.100963
453.597
9
9
109
435
1.076911
468.456
3
10
+109
484
1
484
1
Women's Sinclair chart
#
Weight Class
World Record
Sinclair Coefficient
Sinclair Total
Rank
1
45
191
1.670561
319.077
10
2
49
212
1.573211
333.521
3
3
55
227
1.432118
325.090
9
4
59
246
1.365809
335.990
2
5
64
261
1.298241
338.841
1
6
71
267
1.224840
327.032
7
7
76
278
1.183684
329.064
5
8
81
283
1.149684
325.361
8
9
87
294
1.116377
328.214
6
10
+87
332
1
332
5
Notable Sinclair Totals throughout the history of modern weightlifting
The highest men's Sinclair Snatch is 226.156 set by Blagoy Blagoev in 1983 in Varna, Bulgaria. The highest men's Sinclair Clean and Jerk is 277.763 set by Naim Süleymanoğlu at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. As of 2020, there are only four other men to have set a Sinclair Clean and Jerk of 272.159 or higher:
Anatoly Pisarenko set a 273.546 Sinclair Clean and Jerk at the 1984 Friendship Games in Varna, Bulgaria.
Aleksandar Varbanov set a 272.875 Sinclair Clean and Jerk at the 1987 World Cup in Seoul.
Kakhi Kakhiashvili set a 272.851 Sinclair Clean and Jerk at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
Anatoly Khrapaty set a 272.582 Sinclair Clean and Jerk at the 1988 European Championships in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
The highest women's Sinclair Snatch is 162.362, set by Tatiana Kashirina at the 2014 World Championships. As of 2020, there are only two other women to have set a Sinclair Snatch of 158.757 or higher:
Natalia Zaboloynaya, who set a 160.824 Sinclair Snatch at the 2011 President's Cup.
Svetlana Podobedova, who set a 159.978 Sinclair Snatch at the 2010 World Championships.
The highest women's Sinclair Clean and Jerk is 202.167, also set by Tatiana Kashirina at the 2014 World Championships. As of 2020, Kashirina is the only woman to set a Sinclair Clean and Jerk of 200 or higher.
