Is this competition fair?

[BDDFC]

Okay last year my university had a benchpress competition composed of about 5 weight classes...something like 150-164,165-179,180-199,200-219, and 220+. The top benchpress in each class was awarded with a trophy and t-shirt and there was another award for the overall person with the high body percentage lift.

THIS year they are doing things different. This year they are throwing everyone altogether and giving awards to the top 3 based on how much of body weight is lifted. Is this a "fair" way to judge a competition? It seems biased against the people who bulk up and lift a lot of weight. There are people who are small that can lift a lot of weight and that is great, but it seems that the higher the weight the slower the decline in increases is. Am I making sense or not? If so can someone back me up with some hard proof or something that sounds good to present to the coordinator? Thanks guys.

[ohashi]

This year they are throwing everyone altogether and giving awards to the top 3 based on how much of body weight is lifted. Is this a "fair" way to judge a competition?

Huh? How much of body weight is lifted?

You mean Schwartz/Malone formula?

[dilatedmind]

i dont think its fair at all. the relationship between bodyweight and how much you can lift is not linear, nor does it take into account non-used bodyweight, ie legs.

If you care enough about it, you should try and convince them to change it back. If they are just changing the rules though, i guess its not any sort of sanctioned lifting event, so you might be screwed.

[Tyciol]

I could see the validity if it was based on % of active muscle weight.. but I've not a clue how you'd find that.