The World Deadlift Championships
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Various locations throughout United Kingdom and United States |
| Month played | September |
| Established | 2014 |
| Format | Deadlift competition |
| Current champion | |
| Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2025) | |
The World Deadlift Championships is an annual global strongman competition featuring international strength athletes from all over the world, competing exclusively in the strongman deadlift. It was created by Giants Live and the championship focuses on the maximum deadlift in pursuit of the all-time world record deadlift. Having been held for 10 years, 9 of them featured the maximum deadlift event while in 2017, the event was changed to a 400 kg (882 lb) weight for the most repetitions in 60 seconds.
The championships allow deadlifts to be performed either in equipped or raw standards using only conventional stance adhering with the rules of strongman. Each year the winner is bestowed with the title 'World Deadlift Champion'. Since its inception in 2014, the championships have produced a total of 11 world records including the incumbent all-time world record of 510 kg (1,124 lb) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson in 2025.[1][2]
Champions
1 While Makarov has declared for Russia, he competed for Ukraine at the 2021 World Deadlift Championships.
2 While Makarov has declared for Russia, he competed for Georgia at the 2022 and 2023 World Deadlift Championships.
Heaviest lifts
In history (men)
Equipped
| # | Weight | Competitor | Event location and name | Bar/ standard | World record? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 510 kg (1,124 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Birmingham, England |
Standard/ multi ply suit |
Yes |
| 2 | 505 kg (1,113 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Bavaria, Germany |
Standard/ multi ply suit |
Yes |
| 3 | 501 kg (1,105 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Reykjavík, Iceland |
Standard/ single ply suit |
Yes |
| 4 | 500 kg (1,102 lb) | Eddie Hall | Leeds, England |
Standard/ multi ply suit |
Yes |
| 5 | 485 kg (1,069 lb) | Peiman Maheripour | Tehran, Iran 2024 Iran Strongest Men & Women's Deadlift Championship
|
Standard/ multi ply suit |
No |
| 6 | 483 kg (1,065 lb) | Ivan Makarov | Bavaria, Germany |
Standard/ multi ply suit |
No |
| 7 | 481 kg (1,060 lb) | Peiman Maheripour | Moscow, Russia 2021 WRPF World Championships
|
Standard/ multi ply suit |
No |
| 8 | 480 kg (1,058 lb) | Ivan Makarov | Moscow, Russia 2021 WRPF World Championships
|
Standard/ multi ply suit |
No |
| Raul Flores | Jalisco, Mexico 2025 Mike Strongman aulex forum qualifier
|
Standard/ multi ply suit |
No | ||
| 10 | 477.5 kg (1,053 lb) | Peiman Maheripour | Moscow, Russia 2021 WRPF World Championships
|
Standard/ multi ply suit |
No |
Raw
| # | Weight | Competitor | Event location and name | Bar/ standard | World record? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 474.5 kg (1,046 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
Yes |
| 2 | 472 kg (1,041 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
Yes |
| 3 | 470 kg (1,036 lb) | Trey Mitchell | Las Vegas, United States 2024 World Deadlift Championships
|
Standard/ raw |
Yes |
| 4 | 467.5 kg (1,031 lb) | Jerry Pritchett | Columbus, United States 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic
|
Elephant/ raw |
Yes |
| 5 | 465.5 kg (1,026 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
No |
| Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
No | ||
| 7 | 465 kg (1,025 lb) | Jerry Pritchett | Leeds, England |
Standard/ raw |
Yes |
| Eddie Hall | Columbus, United States 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic
|
Elephant/ raw |
Yes | ||
| 9 | 463 kg (1,021 lb) | Brian Shaw | Columbus, United States 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic
|
Elephant/ raw |
No |
| Jean-François Caron | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
No | ||
| Brian Shaw | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
No |
In history (women)
| # | Weight | Competitor | Event location and name | Bar/ standard | World record? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 325 kg (717 lb) | Lucy Underdown | Las Vegas, United States |
Standard/ single ply suit |
Yes |
| 2 | 318 kg (701 lb) | Lucy Underdown | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/
raw |
Yes (Elephant only) |
| 3 | 317.5 kg (700 lb) | Lucy Underdown | Cardiff, Wales |
Standard/ single ply suit |
Yes |
| 4 | 315 kg (694 lb) | Becca Swanson | Helsinki, Finland 2005 WPC WPO European Semi Finals
|
Power/ multi ply suit |
Yes |
| 5 | 311 kg (686 lb) | Lucy Underdown | Aberdeen, Scotland 2024 Rogue Invitational
|
Standard/ single ply suit |
No |
| Lucy Underdown | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/
raw |
Yes (Elephant only) | ||
| 7 | 310 kg (683 lb) | Becca Swanson | Helsinki, Finland 2005 WPC WPO Qualifiers
|
Power/ multi ply suit |
Yes |
| 8 | 309 kg (681 lb) | Jennifer Lyle | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/
raw |
Yes (Elephant only) |
| 9 | 306.5 kg (676 lb) | Lucy Underdown | Columbus, United States |
Elephant/ raw |
Yes (Elephant only) |
| 10 | 305 kg (672 lb) | Becca Swanson | Chicago, United States 2005 WPC WPO Semifinals
|
Power/ multi ply suit |
Yes |
| Lucy Underdown | Cardiff, Wales |
Standard/ single ply suit |
Yes (Strongwoman only) | ||
| Sumer Johnson | Roanoke, United States 2024 Cerberus Super Series Deadlift Championship
|
Standard/ multi ply suit |
Yes (U82 Strongwoman only)
|
At the championships (men)
| # | Weight | Competitor | Year | Bar | Record Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 510 kg (1,124 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2025 | Standard | World Record |
| 2 | 500 kg (1,102 lb) | Eddie Hall | 2016 | Standard | World Record |
| 3 | 476 kg (1,049 lb) | Rauno Heinla | 2022 | Standard | Estonian Record, World Record (over-40s) |
| 4 | 475 kg (1,047 lb) | Ivan Makarov 1 | 2021 | Standard | Ukrainian Record |
| 5 | 470 kg (1,036 lb) | Graham Hicks | 2023 | Standard | - |
| Trey Mitchell | 2024 | Standard | World Record (raw) | ||
| Ivan Makarov 2 | 2024 | Standard | Georgian Record | ||
| Rauno Heinla | 2024 | Standard | - | ||
| Mitchell Hooper | 2024 | Standard | - | ||
| Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2025 | Standard | - | ||
| Adam Bishop | 2025 | Standard | - | ||
| Austin Andrade | 2025 | Standard | - |
At the championships (women)
| # | Weight | Competitor | Year | Bar | Record Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 325 kg (717 lb) | Lucy Underdown | 2024 | Standard | World Record |
| 2 | 317.5 kg (700 lb) | Lucy Underdown | 2023 | Standard | World Record |
| 3 | 305 kg (672 lb) | Lucy Underdown | 2023 | Standard | English Record |
| 4 | 290 kg (639 lb) | Lucy Underdown | 2024 | Standard | - |
| 5 | 280 kg (617 lb) | Rebecca Roberts | 2023 | Standard | Welsh Record |
| Lucy Underdown | 2023 | Standard | - |
Continental records (men)
| Region | Weight | Athlete | Nation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 510 kg (1,124 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Iceland | 2025 |
| Asia | 485 kg (1,069 lb) | Peiman Maheripour | Iran | 2024 |
| North, Central America and Caribbean | 480 kg (1,058 lb) | Raul Flores | Mexico | 2025 |
| Oceania | 475 kg (1,047 lb) | Mitchell Hooper | Australia | 2021 |
| Africa | 455 kg (1,003 lb) | Chris van der Linde | South Africa | 2022 |
| South America | 415 kg (915 lb) | Lucas Veronezi | Brazil | 2025 |
Continental records (women)
| Region | Weight | Athlete | Nation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 325 kg (717 lb) | Lucy Underdown | England | 2024 |
| North, Central America and Caribbean | 315 kg (694 lb) | Becca Swanson | United States | 2005 |
| Oceania | 292.5 kg (645 lb) | Lydia Hantke | Australia | 2025 |
| Natalie Laalaai | Australia | 2025 | ||
| Africa | 270 kg (595 lb) | Cherry Muchindu | Zambia | 2022 |
| South America | 245 kg (540 lb) | Samara França | Brazil | 2025 |
| Asia | 232.5 kg (513 lb) | Munkhzul Sodnomdorj | Mongolia | 2025 |
Note: above lists feature lifts made with a standard bar.
Records on other bars and standards
| Lift details | Weight | Athlete | Nation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant bar (Standard 9" height) | 474.5 kg (1,046 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Iceland | 2019 |
| Power bar - Conventional (Standard 9" height) | 460.4 kg (1,015 lb) | Benedikt Magnússon | Iceland | 2011 |
| Power bar - Sumo (Standard 9" height) 3 | 487.5 kg (1,075 lb) | Danny Grigsby | United States | 2022 |
| Hummer tyre (Elevated 15" height) | 549 kg (1,210 lb) | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine | 2022 |
| Silver Dollar (Elevated 18" height) | 580 kg (1,279 lb) | Rauno Heinla | Estonia | 2022 |
| Axle bar (Elevated 18" height) | 545 kg (1,202 lb) | Roy Orrantia | United States | 2026 |
3 This lift has been included as a reference - sumo deadlifts are classified as illegal in strongman competitions.
Individual results
2014 World Deadlift Championships
The 2014 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds, England on 9 August 2014 as the first event of 2014 Europe's Strongest Man. Benedikt Magnússon set a new world record with 461 kg (1,016 lb) and won the championship.[3]
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedikt Magnússon | 461 kg (1,016 lb) |
| 2 | Eddie Hall | 446 kg (983 lb) |
| 3 | Martin Wildauer | 435 kg (959 lb) |
| Laurence Shahlaei | ||
| 5 | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 420 kg (926 lb) |
| Johannes Årsjö | ||
| Mark Felix | ||
| 8 | Graham Hicks | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Vytautas Lalas | ||
| Krzysztof Radzikowski | ||
| Andy Bolton | ||
| 12 | Mikhail Koklyaev | No lift |
| X | Brian Shaw | Withdrew |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| World | Benedikt Magnússon | 461 kg (1,016 lb) |
| Icelandic | Benedikt Magnússon | 461 kg (1,016 lb) |
| English | Eddie Hall | 446 kg (983 lb) |
| Austrian | Martin Wildauer | 435 kg (959 lb) |
| Swedish | Johannes Årsjö | 420 kg (926 lb) |
2015 World Deadlift Championships
The 2015 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds, England on July 11, 2015. Hall set a new world record with 463 kg (1,021 lb) and won the championship.[4]
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Hall | 463 kg (1,021 lb) |
| 2 | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 450 kg (992 lb) |
| 3 | Rauno Heinla | 435 kg (959 lb) |
| Jerry Pritchett | ||
| 5 | Andy Bolton | 430 kg (948 lb) |
| 6 | Matjaz Belsak | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Krzysztof Radzikowski | ||
| Dainis Zageris | ||
| Mark Felix | ||
| Terry Hollands | ||
| 11 | Dimitar Savatinov | 360 kg (794 lb) |
| 12 | Luke Stoltman | No lift |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| World | Eddie Hall | 463 kg (1,021 lb) |
| English | Eddie Hall | 463 kg (1,021 lb) |
| Estonian | Rauno Heinla | 435 kg (959 lb) |
| Slovenian | Matjaz Belsak | 400 kg (882 lb) |
2016 World Deadlift Championships
The 2016 World Deadlift Championships were held at the 2016 Europe's Strongest Man event at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. Hall set a new world record, becoming the first person in history to deadlift 500 kg (1,102 lb) and won the championship.[5]
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Hall | 500 kg (1,102 lb) |
| 2 | Benedikt Magnússon | 465 kg (1,025 lb) |
| Jerry Pritchett | ||
| 4 | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 440 kg (970 lb) |
| 5 | Marius Lalas | 420 kg (926 lb) |
| Mark Felix | ||
| Terry Hollands | ||
| Laurence Shahlaei | ||
| 9 | Johannes Årsjö | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Dimitar Savatinov | ||
| Adam Bishop | ||
| 12 | Stefan Solvi Petursson | No lift |
| Mateusz Kieliszkowski |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| World | Eddie Hall | 500 kg (1,102 lb) |
| English | Eddie Hall | 500 kg (1,102 lb) |
| Icelandic | Benedikt Magnússon | 465 kg (1,025 lb) |
| American | Jerry Pritchett | 465 kg (1,025 lb) |
2017 World Deadlift Championships
The 2017 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Giants Live Finals event in Manchester, England. In this edition, the championships were changed to a deadlift for the most repetitions in 60 seconds format with a fixed weight of 400 kg (882 lb).[6] Jean-François Caron and Konstantine Janashia performed 5 repetitions each to equal Benedikt Magnússon's world record, and shared the championship win.
Results
| # | Name | Repetitions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JF Caron | 5 |
| Konstantine Janashia | ||
| 3 | Benedikt Magnússon | 3 |
| 4 | Žydrūnas Savickas | 2 |
| 5 | Mikhail Shivlyakov | 1 |
| 6 | Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou | 0 |
| Nick Best | ||
| Terry Hollands | ||
| Laurence Shahlaei |
2019 World Deadlift Championships
The 2019 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Wembley Arena in Wembley, England, as the opening event for Giants Live Wembley. In this edition, the championships returned to the max weight deadlift format.[7] Rauno Heinla and Jerry Pritchett shared the championship.
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rauno Heinla | 455 kg (1,003 lb) |
| Jerry Pritchett | ||
| 3 | Rob Kearney | 440 kg (970 lb) |
| Adam Bishop | ||
| Nedžmin Ambešković | ||
| 6 | Martins Licis | 420 kg (926 lb) |
| Mikhail Shivlyakov | ||
| Mark Felix | ||
| 9 | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Tom Stoltman | ||
| 11 | Luke Stoltman | No lift |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Estonian | Rauno Heinla | 455 kg (1,003 lb) |
| Bosnian | Nedžmin Ambešković | 440 kg (970 lb) |
2021 World Deadlift Championships
The 2021 World Deadlift Championships were held at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, as the opening event for Giants Live World Open. Ivan Makarov won the championship.
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivan Makarov 1 | 475 kg (1,047 lb) |
| 2 | Pavlo Nakonechnyy | 453.5 kg (1,000 lb) |
| Oleksii Novikov | ||
| Adam Bishop | ||
| Evan Singleton | ||
| Gabriel Peña | ||
| Nedžmin Ambešković | ||
| 8 | Mikhail Shivlyakov | 425 kg (937 lb) |
| Rauno Heinla | ||
| Gavin Bilton | ||
| Andy Black |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian | Ivan Makarov | 475 kg (1,047 lb) |
| Mexican | Gabriel Peña | 453.5 kg (1,000 lb) |
| Bosnian | Nedžmin Ambešković | 453.5 kg (1,000 lb) |
| Welsh | Gavin Bilton | 425 kg (937 lb) |
2022 World Deadlift Championships
The 2022 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales, as the opening event for Giants Live World Open. Rauno Heinla won the championship, and as a result of another nationality change, Ivan Makarov became the first strongman to hold the national deadlift record for three different countries.
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rauno Heinla | 476 kg (1,049 lb) |
| 2 | Ivan Makarov 2 | 454 kg (1,001 lb) |
| Graham Hicks | ||
| Pavlo Nakonechnyy | ||
| Mitchell Hooper | ||
| 6 | Oleksii Novikov | 425.5 kg (938 lb) |
| Evan Singleton | ||
| Gavin Bilton | ||
| 9 | Andy Black | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Shane Flowers | ||
| Pa O'Dwyer |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| World (over-40s) | Rauno Heinla | 476 kg (1,049 lb) |
| Estonian | Rauno Heinla | 476 kg (1,049 lb) |
| Georgian | Ivan Makarov | 453.5 kg (1,000 lb) |
| Welsh | Gavin Bilton | 425.5 kg (938 lb) |
2023 World Deadlift Championships
The 2023 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales, as the opening event for Giants Live World Open. Graham Hicks won the championship. This was the first tournament to have female competitors, with Lucy Underdown setting a new women's record with 317.5 kg (700 lb).
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graham Hicks | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| 2 | Rauno Heinla | 455 kg (1,003 lb) |
| Ivan Makarov 2 | ||
| Evan Singleton | ||
| 5 | Austin Andrade | 430 kg (948 lb) |
| Gavin Bilton | ||
| Jamal Browner | ||
| Shane Flowers | ||
| 9 | Oleksii Novikov | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Evans Nana | ||
| Luke Stoltman | ||
| Rob Kearney | ||
| Pa O'Dwyer | ||
| 14 (1F) | Lucy Underdown | 317.5 kg (700 lb) |
| 15 (2F) | Rebecca Roberts | 280 kg (617 lb) |
| 16 | Oskar Ziółkowski | No Lift |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Georgian | Ivan Makarov | 455 kg (1,003 lb) |
| Welsh | Gavin Bilton | 430 kg (948 lb) |
| Ghanaian | Evans Nana | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| World (women) | Lucy Underdown | 317.5 kg (700 lb) |
| English (women) | Lucy Underdown | 317.5 kg (700 lb) |
| Welsh (women) | Rebecca Roberts | 280 kg (617 lb) |
2024 World Deadlift Championships
The 2024 World Deadlift Championships were held in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the opening event for Giants Live USA Strongman Championships. Trey Mitchell, Rauno Heinla, Ivan Makarov and Mitchell Hooper shared the championship, and Lucy Underdown participated alone in the women's division and broke her own record.
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey Mitchell | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| Rauno Heinla | ||
| Ivan Makarov | ||
| Mitchell Hooper | ||
| 5 | Austin Andrade | 454 kg (1,001 lb) |
| Mathew Ragg | ||
| 7 | Graham Hicks | 425 kg (937 lb) |
| Oleksii Novikov | ||
| Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou | ||
| Evan Singleton | ||
| Eddie Williams | ||
| 12 | Luke Stoltman | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| Tom Stoltman | ||
| 14 (1F) | Lucy Underdown | 325 kg (717 lb) |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| World (Raw only) | Trey Mitchell | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| American | Trey Mitchell | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| Georgian | Ivan Makarov | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| Mexican | Austin Andrade | 454 kg (1,001 lb) |
| Burkinabe | Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou | 425 kg (937 lb) |
| World (women) | Lucy Underdown | 325 kg (717 lb) |
| English (women) | Lucy Underdown | 325 kg (717 lb) |
2025 World Deadlift Championships
The 2025 World Deadlift Championships were held at the Utilita Arena Birmingham in Birmingham, as the opening event for Giants Live World Open.[8] Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson returned to the championships and broke both his own all-time world record as well as the long standing championship record by speed repping 510 kg (1,124 lb), winning the championship before proceeding to do the rest of the 6-event Giants Live World Open, and winning the entire competition as well.
Results
| # | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 510 kg (1,124 lb) |
| 2 | Adam Bishop | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| Austin Andrade | ||
| 4 | Mathew Ragg | 453.5 kg (1,000 lb) |
| Raul Flores | ||
| Paddy Haynes | ||
| 7 | Rauno Heinla | 440 kg (970 lb) |
| Bryce Johnson | ||
| Gavin Bilton | ||
| 10 | Tristain Hoath | 420 kg (926 lb) |
| Evan Singleton | ||
| Eddie Williams | ||
| 13 | Luke Stoltman | 400 kg (882 lb) |
| 14 | Pavlo Nakonechnyy | No Lift |
Records
| Nation | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| World | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 510 kg (1,124 lb) |
| Icelandic | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 510 kg (1,124 lb) |
| American (joint) | Austin Andrade | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
| Welsh | Gavin Bilton | 440 kg (970 lb) |
See also
- Deadlift
- The Eisenhart Black Deadlift Championships
- Progression of the deadlift world record
- List of people who have broken the 1000lb barrier in the deadlift
- List of national deadlift record holders
- Elephant bar
References
- ^ Tabakovic, Vedad (2025-09-06). "Breaking: Hafthor Bjornsson Makes History by Setting a New 510-kg (1,124.4-lb) Deadlift World Record at 2025 World Deadlift Championships". Fitness Volt. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ "THIS MAN JUST DID THE GREATEST LIFT IN HISTORY! 510kg DEADLIFT WORLD RECORD". Giants Live Strongman. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Europe's Strongest Man 2014". www.strongman.org. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "World Deadlift Championships 2015". www.strongman.org. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "See the results for the Europe's Strongest Man + World Deadlift Championships". www.floelite.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "2017 World Deadlift Championship Results". www.startingstrongman.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Giants Live Wembley 2019 – full results and show round up". www.giants-live.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "2025 World Deadlift Championships". www.strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 8 September 2025.