Estonian strongman Rauno Heinla set a world record in the Silver Dollar Deadlift on June 4, 2022, at the 2022 Silver Dollar Deadlift Estonian Championship in Viljandi, Estonia. He won the competition by pulling 580 kilograms (1,278.7 pounds) from the floor to a standing position. Check it out in the video below courtesy of his Instagram page.
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Thanks to the bend of the bar, Heinla didn’t have to pull for very long to reach lockout. However, both boxes on the side of the bar left the ground, and he maintained control until the judge called to lower the weight. Heinla wore a weightlifting belt and used figure eight lifting straps. He didn’t appear to be wearing a deadlift suit under his t-shirt. This is his first time claiming this particular world record.
The previous record-holder was Ben Thompson, who pulled 577.2 kilograms (1,272.5 pounds)at the WDC World Silver Dollar Championship in Paisley, Scotland on May 7, 2022. Heinla did not compete in that contest.
This new world record serves as a nice rebound for Heinla, who had to withdraw from the 2022 World’s Strongest Man contest due to undisclosed reasons. Mitchell Hooper of Canada replaced Heinla, and he went on to finish eighth in that contest won by Tom Stoltman for the second straight year. Heinla’s last competition was at the 2022 Europe’s Strongest Man contest, but he withdrew due to injury. Oleksii Novikov was crowned champion at that contest.
Heinla isn’t new to deadlifting big weights. He may be best-known for his prowess in most versions of the deadlift. On Christmas Eve 2021, Heinla pulled 470 kilograms (1,036 pounds) in training. In 2020, he took on and defeated Jerry Pritchett in World’s Ultimate Strongman’s Deadlift Showdown in an episode of World’s Ultimate Strongman’s “Feats of Strength” series by pulling 400 kilograms (881 pounds) for six reps. Heinla also won the 2019 World’s Ultimate Deadlift Championships thanks to a max pull of 450 kilograms (992 pounds).
As of this writing, there is no word on what Heinla’s next competition will be, but his new world record should give him confidence and momentum when he does step back onto the competition floor.
Featured image: @rauno_heinla on Instagram
