The 2021 UK’s Strongest Man contest took place on May 29 through 31 and saw Gavin Bilton take home the title for the second year in a row. During the halftime show of the Finals, 55-year-old strongman Mark Felix successfully scored a partial deadlift (also known as the silver-dollar or 18-inch deadlift) of 515 kilograms (1,135.4 pounds) wearing lifting straps and a belt (no lifting suit).
During the event, Felix’s lift was touted as a new partial deadlift world record. However, strongman Anthony Pernice previously silver-dollar deadlifted 550 kilograms (1,212.5 pounds) on July 25, 2020, at the United States Strongman (USS) Farm Strong Record Breaker event. Although it was done during a promotional event for his book and not in competition, 2017 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Eddie Hall is also on camera lifting more than Felix — Hall pulled 536 kilograms (1,181.7 pounds).
Felix’s lift is, however, still very impressive, particularly because he made it look easy at the age of 55. Check it out below, courtesy of Laurence Shahlaei’s YouTube channel:
[Related: Watch Strongman Odd Haugen Deadlift a 451-Pound Raw Triple At Age 71]
Partial Deadlift Comparisons
Mark Felix competed in the 2020 WSM contest but did not make it through his qualifier group to compete in the Finals. However, based on his 515-kilogram (1,135.4-pound) partial deadlift, he may have been well suited to win the partial deadlift event at that contest.
Day one of the 2020 WSM Finals featured a partial deadlift event where each finalist would attempt to lift a given weight to advance to the next round. Here were the results from that event:
- Oleksii Novikov — 537.5 kilograms (1,185 pounds) — WSM record
- JF Caron — 509 kilograms (1,122 pounds)
- Jerry Pritchett — 509 kilograms (1,122 pounds)
- Adam Bishop — 509 kilograms (1,122 pounds)
- Brian Shaw — 478.5 kilograms (1,055 pounds)
- Tom Stoltman — 478.5 kilograms (1,055 pounds)
- Kevin Faires — 437.7 kilograms (965 pounds)
- Luke Richardson — 397 kilograms (875 pounds)
- Aivars Smaukstelis — 397 kilograms (875 pounds)
Felix’s lift at the UK Strongest Man halftime show was more than what everyone on the above list was able to lift, except for Oleksii Novikov, who set a WSM record and would go on to win the entire competition. Judging from the speed that Felix lifted 515 kilograms (1,135.4 pounds), it is reasonable to speculate that he may have been able to go toe-to-toe with Novikov in this event had he had the chance.
It’s a possible battle we may see in 2021. Novikov is on the official roster to defend his WSM title, and Felix will also return for his 14th WSM appearance. The last time Felix qualified for the WSM Finals was 2015, when he finished eighth overall. We will see if he can silence those who think he’s too old to challenge the world’s strongest on June 15, 2021, when the 2021 WSM contest kicks off in Sacramento, CA.
Feature image from Big Loz Official’s YouTube channel.
