Hafthor Bjornsson successfully pulled 501kg/1,104lb — the heaviest deadlift ever recorded!
Written by Phil Blechman Last updated on August 3rd, 2023He did it. Hafthor Bjornsson successfully pulled the heaviest deadlift ever — 501kg/1,104lb.
The historic lift was televised throughout the United States by ESPN and the rest of the globe via CoreSports.world and Rogue Fitness’ live stream and it did not disappoint. Despite all of the surrounding controversy about whether the lift should be considered an official world record or not, the 6 foot 9 inch tall, 450lb Bjornsson now has claim to heaviest deadlift ever recorded.
The deadlift took place at Bjornsson’s gym in Reykjavik, Iceland with 4-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Magnus Ver Magnusson as the official judge.
After a couple of warm-up deadlifts of 420kg/926lb and 465kg/1,025lb, Bjornsson pulled the heaviest deadlift that has ever been lifted.
Check out the historic deadlift below from Rogue Fitness’ Instagram page:
View this post on InstagramThis was not the first time Bjornsson attempted the 501kg/1,104lb deadlift. He was unsuccessful in his attempt at the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) and then decided not to attempt it at all at the 2020 ASC despite Rogue Fitness offering $101,000 to anyone able to pull 501kg/1,104lb.
If this lift were performed in competition, it would be universally considered a new world record. However, given the circumstances of the lift taking place outside of competition — due to the postponement and cancellations of events caused by the coronavirus pandemic — there have been discrepancies within the strongman community about considering this 501kg/1,104lb deadlift a world record.
Strongmen opposed to considering Bjornsson’s lift as the world record include 2017 WSM champion and deadlift world record (500kg/1,102lb) holder Eddie Hall, 4-time WSM champion Brian Shaw, Robert Oberst, and 4x WSM champion Zydrunas Savickas.