When it comes to lifting heavy weights, many people only focus on the total amount being moved. But to truly understand who is lifting the heaviest, we need to look beyond just the numbers on the barbell and consider several key factors: bodyweight, technique, and relative strength. Let's break down why answering this question is not as straightforward as it might seem!
Appearances Can Be Deceiving
Looking at a photograph, it may seem obvious who is lifting the most. The person with the larger plates on their bar must be the strongest, right? Not necessarily. In strength sports like powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting, context is everything.
Understanding Absolute and Relative Strength
Absolute strength is the total amount of weight lifted, regardless of the athlete's size, while relative strength considers the amount of weight lifted compared to the lifter's own body weight.
So, for example, if Lifter A weighs 100 kg and deadlifts 200 kg, and Lifter B weighs 60 kg and deadlifts 150 kg, Lifter A lifts more weight overall—but Lifter B lifts 2.5x their body weight, while Lifter A lifts only 2x. Relative to their own size, Lifter B is arguably even stronger!
Technique and Equipment Matter
Another factor is the technique and equipment being used. Are all three lifters performing the same lift? Do they each have access to the same type of barbell, plates, belt, and footwear? For instance, some plates are larger due to being bumper plates for Olympic lifting, but do not weigh any more than smaller, denser powerlifting plates.
Even grip width and lifting stance can play a role in how heavy a lift appears. Someone with perfect technique might make a maximum lift look easier than someone with less experience, regardless of the weight.
What You Don't See Matters
Sometimes the heaviest lift isn't obvious at all. If we only look at the size of plates or the number of discs stacked at the ends of the bar, we might be misled. Weight plates come in a variety of materials—some are rubber-coated training plates, others are competition steel plates—and identical-looking plates may have very different masses.
There's also the possibility of camera angles and perspectives exaggerating or minimizing the apparent size of weight plates.
Who Is Lifting the Heaviest?
So, which of these three is really lifting the heaviest? Without knowing their exact body weights, the types of plates being used, or even the specific lift being performed, it's impossible to declare a definitive winner just based on the image.
But here's the deeper insight: The strongest lifter isn't always the one with the biggest weights on the bar. Sometimes, the most impressive display of strength comes from athletes who maximize their performance relative to their own size. That's why at international competitions, champions are often crowned not just based on absolute numbers, but calculated scores like the Wilks or Sinclair formula that level the playing field across weight classes.
Why It Matters
Understanding these differences will help lift your appreciation (pun intended) for strength sports. When you next see jaw-dropping lifts on social media or in competition, take a moment to consider the context. Weightlifting is as much about intelligence, planning, and science as it is about brute force.
So, next time you wonder who's lifting the heaviest—ask yourself: are you looking for the biggest number, or the biggest feat?