The deadlift is truly the ultimate standard by which human strength is measured.
We know this because it’s one of the three main compound lifts (if you count the overhead press, that’s four).
The toughest deadlift countdown list of world records and inhuman feats in general.
Chances are you know most, if not all, of these beasts if you follow the sport of strength religiously (we can’t pass you by)?
But for those not so well versed in the history of drag deaths, today we’re sharing the 11 hardest drags of all time.
Heaviest wing ever:
Some of the worst explosions of all time:
Some of the worst explosions of all time:
The four-time World’s Strongest Man champion deadlifted 464kg/1020.8lbs using an elephant bar at the 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Of course, Brian Shaw isn’t proving much right now.
But the Colorado native will be more ready than ever for the 2020 World’s Strongest Man (if the competition still goes on as scheduled).
Brian Shaw does a deadlift
He recently posted a YouTube video of himself training and preparing for a car deadlift, and he may be able to top that feat sometime in the near future.
American Jerry Pritchett is known for his amazing deadlift talent.
At the 2016 Giants Live event, he deadlifted a whopping 465kg/1023lbs with a standard deadlift.
Pritchett also placed 8th at the recent Arnold Strongman Classic just a few weeks ago.
While this performance doesn’t technically qualify as a countdown based on total weight lifted.
Lamar Grant was able to achieve the astronomical feat of deadlifting 305kg/672lbs with 132lbs!
Lamar Gantt set a deadlift world record that still stands despite being 5’2” and having scoliosis!
Russia’s Ivan Makarov attempted and failed to deadlift 501kg in December 2019.
But he still hit an insane 470kg/1036lbs using a standard barbell.
Although he definitely threatens the deadlift record.
Žydrunas “Big Z” Savickas from Lithuania is considered by many to be the greatest strongman athlete of all time.
In fact, he has won every major Strongman competition and is the only modern competitor to ever 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.
Raising Žydrūnas Savickas
He did a 524kg/1155lb hummer tire lift at the 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
Special guest – Ronnie Coleman
Special guest – Ronnie Coleman
Ronnie Coleman is not on the countdown, but he is a 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-1990s.
Ronnie Coleman, Rise from the Dead
Ronnie Coleman was known to squat 800lbs and of course he could deadlift 900lbs x 2 reps which he did just a few weeks out from the Arnold Classic.
Currently the most successful Strongman competitor, Haftor Björnsson of Iceland was the 2018 World’s Strongest Man Champion and winner of the 2020 Arnold Classic, his third straight win in Columbus, Ohio.
Haftor Julius Bjornson
Bjornsson lifted 474kg/1042.8lbs on the Elephant bar at the 2019 Arnold Classic, making him the world record holder with the bar.
He’s on his way to the all-time 501kg deadlift record, and we’re sure he’ll get it soon after falling short last year.
Bjornson also shares great training updates and videos via his YouTube channel.
5. Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall
5. Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall
Eddie Hall from England is one of the strangest creatures to ever walk the planet.
World’s Strongest Man 2016 was an event he likely would have won had he not been injured.
But he won the World’s Strongest Man 2017 competition.
He also boasts 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 1,000-pound feat so impressive is that he was the first person to ever officially lift that much weight off the ground.
Now, of course, his deadlift has been surpassed, but he remains the current World Powerlifting Organization (WPO) world record holder for deadlift (1273kg/2806lbs) and squat (550.5kg/1213lbs).
Benedict Magnusson holds the current raw (no straps or suit) deadlift record of 460kg/1015lbs with a standard pull-up bar in 2011.
In 2014, Magnuson set the heaviest deadlift for a strongman at 461kg (1016lbs), which was surpassed the following year by Eddie Hall (462kg/1019lbs).
2. Eddie Hall
2. Eddie Hall
We’re sure you saw this coming, and yes, Eddie Hall made the list again.
Hall holds the all-time deadlift record of 500kg/1102lbs, 79th, which he achieved in 2016.
He also became the first man to ever deadlift 1,100 pounds and even died after his world record performance.
Eddie Hall deadlift
Eddie Hall deadlift
Eddie Hall pulled off the feat in gear, but still surprisingly impressive.
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
1. Hafthor Bjornsson 501kg
On May 2, 2020, Haftor “The Mountain” Bjornsson lifted 501 kg and set an all-time world record.
The 30-year-old champion also set an unofficial elephant bar world record (480kg/1058lbs) at the Arnold Strongman Classic in February, then smoked 470kg/1036lbs live on Twitch last month, his last heavy session before world record breaking day.
A post shared by Fitness Volt (@fitnessvoltnetwork)
The lifter made history and now he is the new king of lifting.
Now the video doesn’t show the next guy and he didn’t even do a normal deadlift.
However, he holds the all-time seated deadlift world record, which is why we included him on the list.
Martin Tye is a veteran disabled dead lifter who successfully deadlifted 550kg/1212lbs at the 2020 Arnold Classic in Ohio.
Martin Ty Guinness World Record
The feat landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records, and the UK-based Strongman has big ambitions.
Here are the 10 heaviest video lifts of all time if you want to check it out…
We hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 world record deadlifting performances, along with some special guests.
These feats are truly incredible and we can’t wait for someone to break Eddie Hall’s all-time record soon.
Although we think Haftor Bjornsson has the best chance at the moment.
Who holds the world record for deadlifts? Haftor Julius Bjornson!
On May 2, 2020, The Mountain lifted 501 kg and set an all-time world record.
The previous world record holder was Eddie Hall, who lifted 500kg/1102lbs in 2016 at Europe’s Strongest Man.
Who has deadlifted 500kg? Haftor Bjornsson (501kg) and Eddie Hall (500kg) are the only two men to ever lift 500kg.
Has anyone beaten Eddie Hall’s 500kg deadlift? Haftor Bjornsson lifts 501 kg and sets an all-time world record on May 2, 2020.
What is the biggest weight a person has lifted? The heaviest weight ever lifted by a human was 501 kg/1104.52 lbs by strongman Haftor Bjornsson on May 2, 2020.
What is the world record for the squat? The world squat record is 577.5kg/1273.2lbs by Dave Hoff at the WPO Super Finals on October 28, 2019.
His record featured multi-layered squats and knees.
What is the heaviest squat? The heaviest squat is 577.5kg/1273.2lbs by Dave Hoff at the WPO Super Finals on October 28, 2019.
How much did Thor lift? Haftor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson lifted 501kg/1104lbs and set an all-time world record on May 2, 2020.
He previously lifted 474kg/1045lbs at the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
He won first place in this competition as well.
Also Check: 10 Most Powerful Men In Modern History
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