Sinclair Coefficient Calculator

The Standard of Olympic Weightlifting

While powerlifting uses Wilks or DOTS, the sport of Olympic Weightlifting (which consists solely of the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk) uses the Sinclair Coefficient.

Invented by Canadian mathematician Dr. Roy Sinclair, this formula answers a very specific hypothetical question: "If this athlete were scaled up to the size of a super-heavyweight world record holder, while maintaining their exact same relative fitness and technique, what would they lift?"

The Mathematics of Sinclair

Unlike polynomial powerlifting formulas, the Sinclair equation uses a logarithmic curve based on the absolute world record totals.

Because world records change over time, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) recalculates the Sinclair constants ($A$ and $b$) at the end of every 4-year Olympic cycle to ensure the formula perfectly reflects the current limits of human capability.

The Formula

To find your Sinclair Total, you multiply your actual lifting total by the coefficient:

Interpreting the Results

Because the Sinclair formula essentially scales you up to the super-heavyweight class:

• If you are a super-heavyweight (weighing more than the $b$ threshold), your Sinclair coefficient is exactly 1.0. Your Sinclair Total is identical to your actual total.
• If you are a lightweight, your coefficient might be 1.5. This means your 200kg actual total translates to a 300kg Sinclair Total.