I've been reading a lot about weightlifting, powerlifting, the lifts, equipment, etc... since I've started this little project.
Jeez, there is no shortage of opinions in this sport/activity. It's actually annoying if you get sucked into reading so much. You can't throw a rock without hitting 10 blogs, 25 coaches, Rogue Fitness, etc...
I guess that's par for the course with any popular sport, but I guess I'd been largely away from it all by simply (loosely) following track cycling and no other sports.
Oh and what the hell is this?:
That is a legal lift in a proper competition.
Here it is in action (setting a world record):
It's my understanding that this arch and very wide hands cuts the vertical range of motion significantly and exploits the rules in doing so. Basically, hands are wide so the top of the lift starts lower and chest arched so high so that the bar doesn't have to come down all the way to touch.
This is seen at the highest levels of the sport.