Taylor Atwood Dominance Analysis and Where He Ranks All Time

[SteelPhysique]

When you look at Taylor Atwood's dominance, the numbers speak for themselves. His 838.5 kg total in the 74 kg class, featuring a 303 kg squat, 202.5 kg bench, and 340.5 kg deadlift, places him among raw powerlifting's all-time greats. He's a three-time IPF World Champion competing in a drug-tested environment, with elite Wilks and Dots scores to back it up. There's even more to his story than the records suggest.

Taylor Atwood's Record-Breaking Numbers in the 74kg Class​

It's hard to argue that Taylor Atwood isn't the best of all time when you look at his numbers in the 74 kg class. His raw competition PRs are a 303 kg squat, a 202.5 kg bench press, and a 340.5 kg deadlift, adding up to an impressive 838.5 kg. When you consider that the IPF tests for drugs, these numbers are even more amazing.

At the 2019 IPF Classic World Championships, Atwood set new world records for both the squat and the total. It made him even stronger on a worldwide level. He finished first in the IPF rankings with 123.42 GL points and won three powerlifting world titles. Not just numbers, these are standards that show what's possible in the 74kg class.

Why Atwood's Totals Are Nearly Impossible to Match at 74kg​

It's one thing to set records; it's another thing to make them almost impossible to beat. Not only is Atwood's 838.5 kg total in the IPF's 74 kg weight class amazing, but it's also very hard to beat. This lifter has turned every kilogram of his body weight into top strength performance in all three lifts at the same time.

Most competitors are great at one or two lifts, but to beat Atwood's total output, you need to be very good at squats, benches, and deadlifts all at the same time. His ranking by pound-for-pound shows how efficient he is.

In all weight classes, numbers like his require years of perfecting skill, figuring out the best way to win, and consistently carrying out that plan in the ring. To beat him, you'd have to basically have the same athletic profile, which is something that hasn't been possible for anyone else in the 74 kg class in the past.

Wilks, Dots, and World Titles​

Raw scores only show a part of the story. Pound-for-pound scoring methods, like Wilks and Dots, show the whole picture. It's impossible to deny Taylor Atwood's power when you compare his total weight to his body weight.

Based on his Wilks score and Dots score, he is always one of the best lifters in all weight classes, not just 74 kg. That's the difference between good lifters and the best of all time. These normalized metrics show that he's fighting at a level that most lifters can't reach, even though winning three IPF World Championships is proof of that.

When Atwood competes in the IPF World Championships, he's not just trying to win a title; he's also trying to build a record that makes him the best 74 kg powerlifter of all time.

Taylor Atwood Against the All-Time Raw Powerlifting Greats​

We can see this based on pound-for-pound data, but how does Atwood compare to the all-time greats of real powerlifting?

In the IPF's drug-tested environment, Atwood's 838.5 kg total of 74 kg is the best. Not only are his 303 kg squat and 340.5 kg deadlift competitive, but they're also the best for someone of that weight. It is hard to make straight comparisons between him and lifters like Ray Williams or Cailer Woolam because they work with heavier weights.

There is, however, no raw powerlifter in history who can beat Taylor Atwood pound for pound. He has a lot of respect because he has won three world titles, set many national records, and been consistent for ten years in a drug-tested federation.

He's really great; he might be one of the best of all time at his weight.

Where Taylor Atwood Ranks in Powerlifting History​

Being a three-time IPF world winner in a federation that tests for drugs gives his achievements undeniable weight. With an impressive 838.5 kg total, he is one of the best 74-kilogram lifters ever, and his wins at important events like the Arnold Sports Festival only add to his fame. Taylor Atwood is different from other great lifters because he is consistent. He has dominated across multiple eras and beaten top competition many times.

Few lifters in IPF history have had as long a career, as many championships, and as many record-setting totals as he did. You have to agree that Atwood has changed what's possible in professional, tested powerlifting, whether you put him first or second all-time.