The deadlift is truly the ultimate standard by which human strength is measured.
We know this because it’s one of the three major compound lifts (make that four if we’re counting the overhead press).
A heavier countdown list consisting of world records and inhuman feats in general.
Chances are you’re familiar with most, if not all, of these beasts if you follow power sports religiously (we can’t pass you by much)?
But for those who aren’t as familiar with deadlift history, today we’re sharing the 11 heaviest deadlifts of all time.
Heaviest deadlift of all time:
Some of the heaviest deadlifts ever:
Some of the heaviest deadlifts ever:
The 4x World’s Strongest Man champion deadlifted 464kg/1020.8lbs at the 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic with an Elephant bar.
Granted, Brian Shaw doesn’t have much else to prove at this point.
But the Colorado native comes into the 2020 World’s Strongest Man competition (if the competition still goes ahead on schedule) more prepared than ever.
Brian Shaw doing deadlifts
He recently posted a YouTube video showing how he trains and prepares for the car deadlift event and he may top that performance in the near future.
American Jerry Pritchett is known for his incredible deadlift skills.
At the 2016 Giants Live event, he deadlifted 465kg/1023lbs with a standard deadlift bar.
Pritchett also placed 8th at the recent Arnold Strongman Classic just a few weeks ago.
Although this performance does not technically fit the countdown based on total weight lifted.
Lamar Grant was able to achieve an astronomical feat at 305 kg / 672 lbs at 132 lbs!
Lamar Gant set a deadlift world record that still stands today despite being 5’2″ and having scoliosis!
Russia’s Ivan Makarov attempted the 501kg deadlift in December 2019, without success.
But he still managed an insane deadlift of 470kg/1036lbs with a standard barbell.
Although he is certainly a threat to the deadlift record.
Zydrunas “Big Z” Savickas from Lithuania is considered by many to be the greatest Strongman athlete ever.
In fact, he has won every major Strongman competition and is the only modern competitor ever to do so.
Savickas is a 4-time World’s Strongest Man Champion, 8-time Arnold Classic winner, and the list goes on…and on…and on.
Zydrunas Savickas Deadlift
He achieved a Hummer tire deadlift of 524 kg / 1,155 lbs at the 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
Special guest: Ronnie Coleman
Special guest: Ronnie Coleman
Ronnie Coleman is not part of the countdown, but he is the special guest because he was an absolute beast!
But what many people may not know about Coleman is that he also competed in powerlifting in the mid-90s.
Ronnie Coleman Deadlift
Ronnie Coleman was also known to squat 800lbs and of course he could deadlift a ridiculous 900lbs x 2 reps that he did just weeks after the Arnold Classic.
Today’s most successful Strongman competitor, Iceland’s Hafthor Bjornsson was the 2018 World’s Strongest Man Champion and the winner of the 2020 Arnold Classic, his third straight win in Columbus, Ohio.
Hafthor Julius Bjornsson
Bjornsson weighed 474 kg/1042.8 lbs at the 2019 Arnold Classic with an elephant bar, making him the world record holder with that bar.
He’s coming for the all-time record 501kg deadlift soon and we’re sure he’ll get it soon after not doing it last year.
Bjornsson also shares awesome training videos and updates via his YouTube channel.
5. Sala Eddie ‘The Beast’
5. Sala Eddie ‘The Beast’
Eddie Hall from England is one of the strangest beings to ever walk the planet.
World’s Strongest Man 2016 was an event he probably would have won if not for his injury.
But he won the World’s Strongest Man 2017 competition.
He also holds a few world records and has a very impressive Strongman resume.
At the 2016 World’s Strongest Man competition, Hall deadlifted 472.5kg/1039.5lbs on the elephant bar.
What makes powerlifter Andy Bolton’s 1000-pound deadlift so impressive is that he was the first man to officially lift that much weight off the floor.
Now, of course, his deadlift has since been surpassed, but he is still the current World Powerlifting Organization (WPO) world record holder in total (1273kg/2806lbs) and squat (550.5 kg/1213 lb).
Benedikt Magnusson holds the current deadlift record (without straps or suit) of 460kg/1015lbs which he did with a standard deadlift bar in 2011.
in 2014, Magnusson set the heaviest strongman deadlift of 461 kg (1,016 lb), which was surpassed the following year by Eddie Hall 462 kg / 1,019 lb.
2. Eddie Hall
2. Eddie Hall
We’re sure you saw it coming and yes, Eddie Hall made the list again.
Hall sets the all-time deadlift record of 500kg/1,102lbs, the 79th he achieved in 2016.
He also became the first man to lift 1100 pounds and even passed out after his world record.
Eddie Hall Deadlift
Eddie Hall Deadlift
Eddie Hall accomplished this feat equipped but still surprisingly impressive.
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
On May 2, 2020, Hafthor “The Mountain” Bjornsson deadlifted 501 kg and set the all-time world record.
The 30-year-old Arnold Strongman Classic champion also set an unofficial elephant bar world record (480kg/1058lbs) in February and then smoked 470kg/1036lbs last month live on Twitch , which was his last intense session before world record day.
A post shared by Fitness Volt (@fitnessvoltnetwork)
The lift made history and now, he is the new king of the deadlift.
Now, the next guy isn’t in the video and he didn’t even do a conventional deadlift.
However, he does hold the all-time world record for “seated” deadlift, so we included him on the list.
Martin Tye is a disabled veteran who successfully lifted 550 kg/1,212 lbs off the floor while seated at the 2020 Arnold Classic, Ohio.
Martin Tye Guinness World Record
The feat landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records and the UK-based Strongman has big ambitions looking ahead.
Here are the top 10 heaviest deadlifts in a video of all time if you want to check it out…
We hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 world record deadlift performances and a few special guests as well.
These feats are truly incredible and we can’t wait to see if anyone breaks Eddie Hall’s all-time record soon.
Although, we think Hafthor Bjornsson has the best chance at the moment.
Who has the world deadlift record? Hafthor Julius Bjornsson!
On May 2, 2020, The Mountain weighed 501 kg, setting the all-time world record.
The previous world record holder was Eddie Hall, who cleared 500kg/1,102lbs at Europe’s Strongest Man in 2016.
Who has lifted 500 kg? Hafthor Bjornsson (501 kg) and Eddie Hall (500 kg) are the only two men on record to have lifted 500 kg.
Has anyone beat Eddie Hall’s 500kg deadlift? Hafthor Bjornsson did 501 kg and set the all-time world record on May 2, 2020.
What is the most weight lifted by a human? The most weight lifted by a human was 501 kg/1104.52 lbs, achieved by strongman Hafthor Bjornsson on May 2, 2020.
What is the world squat record? The world squat record is 577.5 kg/1273.2 lbs achieved by Dave Hoff at the WPO Super Finals on October 28, 2019.
Her registry was accessorized with a multi-layered squat dress and knee wraps.
What is the heaviest squat? Heaviest squat is 577.5 kg/1273.2 lbs achieved by Dave Hoff at the WPO Super Finals on October 28, 2019
How much did Thor deadlift? Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson did 501 kg/1104 lbs and set the all-time world record on May 2, 2020.
He previously lifted 474 kg / 1,045 lbs at the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
He also won first place in this competition.
Also see: 10 Strongest Men in Modern History
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