In December 2015, Eddie Hall achieved the then world record deadlift at the World Deadlift Championships 2015, with a 463 kg (1,021 lb) deadlift. In 2016, The Beast, as Eddie is known, set a new world record in the deadlift with a lift of 500 kg (1,102.31 lb) at the World Deadlift Championships 2016 besting the world record he had previously set at 465 kg earlier that same day.
The Beast then proceeded to pass out and everyone watching was ready to join him after seeing what he did. It is one of the most impressive strength feats in recent history, a benchmark for strength athletes to strive for.
Challenge accepted. The 2018 World’s Strongest Man, Hafthor Bjornsson, aka Thor, aka The Mountain, Gregor Clegane in Game of Thrones, pulled 501 kg (1,104.52 lb) off the ground in his gym in Iceland.
Not in competion, mostly on social media, and to the chagrin of Hall and other strongman contenders who don’t see the lift as a legitimate world record because it was achieved outside of competition.
You want to argue with any of them, on either side, you’re welcome to try and get in the mix but not me. Have you see the size of these guys?
In Manchester, England, a post-COVID crowd yearning for the freedom to bust blood vessels in their eyeballs, came together to witness the World Deadlift Championships 2021.
No Hall or Bjornsson, both of whom are in boxing training, prepared to fight each other once Hall’s bicep tear heals. Such is the world we live in. Well, never mind. Their loss.
There were some giants on stage, and on the cards, a new world record deadlift, 505 kg (1,113.33 lb). Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be this time, as you can see below.
But, we are not disheartened because it looks like we are entering a new era in the deadlift wars because, despite the failures, the record is well within reach of all those strongman pros who are not sparring or skipping rope or some other pugilistic stuff.
