The 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), Hafthor Björnsson, has officially broken the all-time world record deadlift with a massive 505 kilograms!
Björnsson pulled the historic lift at the Eisenhart Black Competition event — an invitation-based contest for strongmen and powerlifters — in Bavaria, Germany, on July 26, 2025. This lift is four kilograms more than Björnsson’s previous heaviest deadlift of 501 kilograms from 2020. Björnsson’s 505-kilogram deadlift surpasses Eddie Hall’s competition record of 500 kilograms from the 2016 World Deadlift Championships.
Björnsson’s conventional deadlift record can be seen in the clip below, courtesy of his Instagram page:
Björnsson approached the bar while the announcer hyped the crowd. Björnsson wore a deadlift suit and weight belt, connected to the barbell with figure-eight straps. He rolled the bar towards him to initiate the pull.
Björnsson struggled initially when the barbell approached the knees, but once there, he overcame any threat of a sticking point to stand tall and receive the down command from the judge.
Fireworks went off as the crowd erupted while Björnsson’s team celebrated on the platform.
Powerlifter Ventsislav Dimitrov, who pulled 505 kilograms at this event in 2023, attempted to pull 507.5 kilograms in a sumo stance. He was close but failed to lock it out.
It’s important to note that while Dimitrov hit the 505 mark in 2023, it wasn’t categorized as an official lift due to his use of lifting straps and sumo stance. Lifting straps are prohibited in powerlifting competitions, and taking a sumo stance is barred in strongman competitions.
Hafthor Björnsson’s Recent Feats
This deadlift record was a major goal for Björnsson. It was the second time in 2025 that he attempted to lift over 500 kilograms. He missed 501 kilograms at the Arnold Strongman Classic, though that lift was attempted raw with a Rogue Elephant Bar.
This lift makes Björnsson the official world record holder for the deadlift. He will attempt to surpass this milestone at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships featured in the Giants Live Strongman Open in Birmingham, England, on Sept. 6.
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Featured Image: @thorbjornsson on Instagram
