Strongman Rauno Heinla‘s prowess in the deadlift reached new heights yet again. On July 22, 2023, Heinla pulled a new 18-inch deadlift world record of 540 kilograms (1,190.5 pounds) at the 2023 Tartu Rammumees ja Rammunaine contest in Tartu, Estonia.
The competition featured some of the world’s elite strongmen, including Aivars Šmaukstelis, attempting to crack the previous 18-inch deadlift world record of 537.5 kilograms (1,185 pounds) scored by 2020 World’s Strongest Man champion Oleksii Novikov at that contest. Check out Heinla’s lift in the video below, courtesy of his Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvAOkWNoQza/
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Heinla’s new feat of strength eclipsed Novikov’s previous record by 2.5 kilograms. The 2020 WSM champion commended Heinla in the comments of Heinla’s Instagram post, congratulating Heinla for advancing the record books.
The competition challenged athletes to establish their max partial deadlifts. Šmaukstelis and Heinla were featured athletes, marketed on the contest’s website as lifters specifically vying for Novikov’s world record. Heinla completed the pull wearing deadlift socks, lifting straps, and a lifting suit.
2016 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) Laurence Shahlaei was in attendance in Estonia to capture contest footage, including Heinla’s record pull. Check it out below:
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At age 41, Heinla is still competing against the best strongmen on the planet at the highest level. He threatened four-time WSM Brian Shaw‘s WSM Final record streak of 15 appearances by hoisting an Atlas Stone for six reps in their Stone-Off at the end of the 2023 WSM Qualifying Stage.
In addition to the partial deadlift world record, Heinla holds the current Silver Dollar deadlift world record of 580 kilograms (1,278.5 pounds), set at the 2022 Silver Dollar Deadlift Estonian Championship. He exceeded Mikhail Shivlyakov‘s Masters deadlift world record of 436 kilograms (961.2 pounds) when he locked out 450 kilograms (992.1 pounds) earlier in July.
Looking Ahead
Heinla is already confirmed for the 2023 World Deadlift Championships roster, part of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman World Open contest, scheduled for Sept. 2, 2023, in Cardiff, Wales. We’ll see if he can beat other elite deadlifters who have entered that competition, including powerlifting champion Jamal Browner and deadlift specialist Ivan Makarov.
Featured image: @rauno_heinla on Instagram
