Story
The strongest story in the powerlifting data is that performance is not random. Across tens of thousands of lifters, total output changes in a clear pattern with bodyweight, and the best bodyweight bands are different for squat, bench, and deadlift. That makes this more than a static exercise list: it is a data story about how body size and strength interact in real competition.
Key takeaways
- The dataset shows a clear rise in total output as bodyweight increases, especially through the middle-to-heavy weight classes.
- Squat and deadlift follow stronger bodyweight scaling than bench, which suggests leverage and torso angle matter as much as body mass.
- The most important story is that training recommendations should be weight-class-aware rather than based on a single “ideal” bodyweight for everyone.
- Public meet results do not consistently include height, so the most reliable size signal in this data is bodyweight and weight-class band.
This project is now grounded in actual competition results and tells a much more useful story than a generic plan: the best training target depends on bodyweight, lift type, and the structure of the lifter’s body and class.