Wilks' Theory

Wilks' Theory is a statistical method used in sports to fairly compare athletes of different body weights, especially in powerlifting. It creates a "score" that adjusts an athlete’s raw lift (like how much they can squat, bench, or deadlift) based on their body weight. This way, a lighter athlete competing against a heavier athlete can be judged more objectively, as it accounts for the natural advantage that heavier lifters often have. The Wilks formula provides a coefficient that, when multiplied by the weight lifted, produces a standardized score, enabling equitable comparisons across different body sizes.