The World Deadlift Championships

The World Deadlift Championships
Tournament information
LocationVarious locations throughout United Kingdom United Kingdom and
United States United States
Month playedSeptember
Established2014
FormatDeadlift competition
Current champion
Iceland 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 being 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

Year Champion Runner-up Third place Host city
2014 Iceland Benedikt Magnússon England Eddie Hall Austria Martin Wildauer
England Laurence Shahlaei
England Leeds, England
2015 England Eddie Hall Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Estonia Rauno Heinla
United States Jerry Pritchett
England Leeds, England
2016 England Eddie Hall Iceland Benedikt Magnússon
United States Jerry Pritchett
England Leeds, England
2017 Canada JF Caron
Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia
Iceland Benedikt Magnússon England Manchester, England
2019 Estonia Rauno Heinla
United States Jerry Pritchett
England Adam Bishop
United States Rob Kearney
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nedžmin Ambešković
England Wembley, England
2021 Ukraine Ivan Makarov 1 Ukraine Pavlo Nakonechnyy
United States Evan Singleton
England Adam Bishop
Ukraine Oleksii Novikov
Mexico Gabriel Peña
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nedžmin Ambešković
England Manchester, England
2022 Estonia Rauno Heinla England Graham Hicks
Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov 2
Ukraine Pavlo Nakonechnyy
Canada Mitchell Hooper
Wales Cardiff, Wales
2023 England Graham Hicks Estonia Rauno Heinla
Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov 2
United States Evan Singleton
Wales Cardiff, Wales
2023
(Women)
England Lucy Underdown Wales Rebecca Roberts Wales Cardiff, Wales
2024 Estonia Rauno Heinla
Canada Mitchell Hooper
Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov
United States Trey Mitchell
United States Las Vegas, United States
2024
(Women)
England Lucy Underdown United States Las Vegas, United States
2025 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson England Adam Bishop
United States Austin Andrade
England Birmingham, England

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) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Birmingham, England
Standard/
multi ply suit
Yes
2 505 kg (1,113 lb) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Bavaria, Germany
Standard/
multi ply suit
Yes
3 501 kg (1,105 lb) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Reykjavík, Iceland
Standard/
single ply suit
Yes
4 500 kg (1,102 lb) England Eddie Hall Leeds, England
Standard/
multi ply suit
Yes
5 485 kg (1,069 lb) Iran Peiman Maheripour Tehran, Iran
2024 Iran Strongest Men & Women's Deadlift Championship
Standard/
multi ply suit
No
6 483 kg (1,065 lb) Russia Ivan Makarov Bavaria, Germany
Standard/
multi ply suit
No
7 481 kg (1,060 lb) Iran Peiman Maheripour Moscow, Russia
2021 WRPF World Championships
Standard/
multi ply suit
No
8 480 kg (1,058 lb) Russia Ivan Makarov Moscow, Russia
2021 WRPF World Championships
Standard/
multi ply suit
No
Mexico Raul Flores Jalisco, Mexico
2025 Mike Strongman aulex forum qualifier
Standard/
multi ply suit
No
10 477.5 kg (1,053 lb) Iran 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) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Columbus, United States
Elephant/
raw
Yes
2 472 kg (1,041 lb) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Columbus, United States
Elephant/
raw
Yes
3 470 kg (1,036 lb) United States Trey Mitchell Las Vegas, United States
2024 World Deadlift Championships
Standard/
raw
Yes
4 467.5 kg (1,031 lb) United States Jerry Pritchett Columbus, United States
2017 Arnold Strongman Classic
Elephant/
raw
Yes
5 465.5 kg (1,026 lb) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Columbus, United States
Elephant/
raw
No
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Columbus, United States
Elephant/
raw
No
7 465 kg (1,025 lb) United States Jerry Pritchett Leeds, England
Standard/
raw
Yes
England Eddie Hall Columbus, United States
2016 Arnold Strongman Classic
Elephant/
raw
Yes
9 463 kg (1,021 lb) United States Brian Shaw Columbus, United States
2016 Arnold Strongman Classic
Elephant/
raw
No
Canada Jean-François Caron Columbus, United States
Elephant/
raw
No
United States 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) England Lucy Underdown Las Vegas, United States
Standard/
single ply suit
Yes
2 318 kg (701 lb) England Lucy Underdown Columbus, United States
Elephant/

raw

Yes (Elephant only)
3 317.5 kg (700 lb) England Lucy Underdown Cardiff, Wales
Standard/
single ply suit
Yes
4 315 kg (694 lb) United States Becca Swanson Helsinki, Finland
2005 WPC WPO European Semi Finals
Power/
multi ply suit
Yes
5 311 kg (686 lb) England Lucy Underdown Aberdeen, Scotland
2024 Rogue Invitational
Standard/
single ply suit
No
England Lucy Underdown Columbus, United States
Elephant/

raw

Yes (Elephant only)
7 310 kg (683 lb) United States Becca Swanson Helsinki, Finland
2005 WPC WPO Qualifiers
Power/
multi ply suit
Yes
8 309 kg (681 lb) United States Jennifer Lyle Columbus, United States
Elephant/

raw

Yes (Elephant only)
9 306.5 kg (676 lb) England Lucy Underdown Columbus, United States
Elephant/
raw
Yes (Elephant only)
10 305 kg (672 lb) United States Becca Swanson Chicago, United States
2005 WPC WPO Semifinals
Power/
multi ply suit
Yes
England Lucy Underdown Cardiff, Wales
Standard/
single ply suit
Yes
(Strongwoman only)
United States 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) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 2025 Standard World Record
2 500 kg (1,102 lb) England Eddie Hall 2016 Standard World Record
3 476 kg (1,049 lb) Estonia Rauno Heinla 2022 Standard Estonian Record, World Record (over-40s)
4 475 kg (1,047 lb) Ukraine Ivan Makarov 1 2021 Standard Ukrainian Record
5 470 kg (1,036 lb) England Graham Hicks 2023 Standard -
United States Trey Mitchell 2024 Standard World Record (raw)
Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov 2 2024 Standard Georgian Record
Estonia Rauno Heinla 2024 Standard -
Canada Mitchell Hooper 2024 Standard -
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 2025 Standard -
England Adam Bishop 2025 Standard -
United States Austin Andrade 2025 Standard -

At the championships (women)

# Weight Competitor Year Bar Record Set
1 325 kg (717 lb) England Lucy Underdown 2024 Standard World Record
2 317.5 kg (700 lb) England Lucy Underdown 2023 Standard World Record
3 305 kg (672 lb) England Lucy Underdown 2023 Standard English Record
4 290 kg (639 lb) England Lucy Underdown 2024 Standard -
5 280 kg (617 lb) Wales Rebecca Roberts 2023 Standard Welsh Record
England Lucy Underdown 2023 Standard -

Continental records (men)

Region Weight Athlete Nation Year
Europe 510 kg (1,124 lb) Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Iceland Iceland 2025
Asia 485 kg (1,069 lb) Peiman Maheripour Iran Iran 2024
North, Central America and Caribbean 480 kg (1,058 lb) Raul Flores Mexico Mexico 2025
Oceania 475 kg (1,047 lb) Mitchell Hooper Australia Australia 2021
Africa 455 kg (1,003 lb) Chris van der Linde South Africa South Africa 2022
South America 415 kg (915 lb) Lucas Veronezi Brazil Brazil 2025

Continental records (women)

Region Weight Athlete Nation Year
Europe 325 kg (717 lb) Lucy Underdown England England 2024
North, Central America and Caribbean 315 kg (694 lb) Becca Swanson United States United States 2005
Oceania 292.5 kg (645 lb) Lydia Hantke Australia Australia 2025
Natalie Laalaai Australia Australia 2025
Africa 270 kg (595 lb) Cherry Muchindu Zambia Zambia 2022
South America 245 kg (540 lb) Samara França Brazil Brazil 2025
Asia 232.5 kg (513 lb) Munkhzul Sodnomdorj Mongolia 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 Iceland 2019
Power bar - Conventional (Standard 9" height) 460.4 kg (1,015 lb) Benedikt Magnússon Iceland Iceland 2011
Power bar - Sumo (Standard 9" height) 3 487.5 kg (1,075 lb) Danny Grigsby United States United States 2022
Hummer tyre (Elevated 15" height) 549 kg (1,210 lb) Oleksii Novikov Ukraine Ukraine 2022
Silver Dollar (Elevated 18" height) 580 kg (1,279 lb) Rauno Heinla Estonia Estonia 2022
Axle bar (Elevated 18" height) 545 kg (1,202 lb) Roy Orrantia United States 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 Iceland Benedikt Magnússon 461 kg (1,016 lb)
2 England Eddie Hall 446 kg (983 lb)
3 Austria Martin Wildauer 435 kg (959 lb)
England Laurence Shahlaei
5 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 420 kg (926 lb)
Sweden Johannes Årsjö
England Mark Felix
8 England Graham Hicks 400 kg (882 lb)
Lithuania Vytautas Lalas
Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski
England Andy Bolton
12 Russia Mikhail Koklyaev No lift
X United States Brian Shaw Withdrew

Records

Nation Name Weight
World Benedikt Magnússon 461 kg (1,016 lb)
Iceland Icelandic Benedikt Magnússon 461 kg (1,016 lb)
England English Eddie Hall 446 kg (983 lb)
Austria Austrian Martin Wildauer 435 kg (959 lb)
Sweden 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 England Eddie Hall 463 kg (1,021 lb)
2 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 450 kg (992 lb)
3 Estonia Rauno Heinla 435 kg (959 lb)
United States Jerry Pritchett
5 England Andy Bolton 430 kg (948 lb)
6 Slovenia Matjaz Belsak 400 kg (882 lb)
Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski
Latvia Dainis Zageris
England Mark Felix
England Terry Hollands
11 Bulgaria Dimitar Savatinov 360 kg (794 lb)
12 Scotland Luke Stoltman No lift

Records

Nation Name Weight
World Eddie Hall 463 kg (1,021 lb)
England English Eddie Hall 463 kg (1,021 lb)
Estonia Estonian Rauno Heinla 435 kg (959 lb)
Slovenia 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 England Eddie Hall 500 kg (1,102 lb)
2 Iceland Benedikt Magnússon 465 kg (1,025 lb)
United States Jerry Pritchett
4 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 440 kg (970 lb)
5 Lithuania Marius Lalas 420 kg (926 lb)
England Mark Felix
England Terry Hollands
England Laurence Shahlaei
9 Sweden Johannes Årsjö 400 kg (882 lb)
Bulgaria Dimitar Savatinov
England Adam Bishop
12 Iceland Stefan Solvi Petursson No lift
Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski

Records

Nation Name Weight
World Eddie Hall 500 kg (1,102 lb)
England English Eddie Hall 500 kg (1,102 lb)
Iceland Icelandic Benedikt Magnússon 465 kg (1,025 lb)
United States 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 Canada JF Caron 5
Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia
3 Iceland Benedikt Magnússon 3
4 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 2
5 Russia Mikhail Shivlyakov 1
6 Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 0
United States Nick Best
England Terry Hollands
England 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 Estonia Rauno Heinla 455 kg (1,003 lb)
United States Jerry Pritchett
3 United States Rob Kearney 440 kg (970 lb)
England Adam Bishop
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nedžmin Ambešković
6 United States Martins Licis 420 kg (926 lb)
Russia Mikhail Shivlyakov
England Mark Felix
9 Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski 400 kg (882 lb)
Scotland Tom Stoltman
11 Scotland Luke Stoltman No lift

Records

Nation Name Weight
Estonia Estonian Rauno Heinla 455 kg (1,003 lb)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 Ukraine Ivan Makarov 1 475 kg (1,047 lb)
2 Ukraine Pavlo Nakonechnyy 453.5 kg (1,000 lb)
Ukraine Oleksii Novikov
England Adam Bishop
United States Evan Singleton
Mexico Gabriel Peña
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nedžmin Ambešković
8 Russia Mikhail Shivlyakov 425 kg (937 lb)
Estonia Rauno Heinla
Wales Gavin Bilton
Scotland Andy Black

Records

Nation Name Weight
Ukraine Ukrainian Ivan Makarov 475 kg (1,047 lb)
Mexico Mexican Gabriel Peña 453.5 kg (1,000 lb)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnian Nedžmin Ambešković 453.5 kg (1,000 lb)
Wales 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 Estonia Rauno Heinla 476 kg (1,049 lb)
2 Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov 2 454 kg (1,001 lb)
England Graham Hicks
Ukraine Pavlo Nakonechnyy
Canada Mitchell Hooper
6 Ukraine Oleksii Novikov 425.5 kg (938 lb)
United States Evan Singleton
Wales Gavin Bilton
9 Scotland Andy Black 400 kg (882 lb)
England Shane Flowers
Republic of Ireland Pa O'Dwyer

Records

Nation Name Weight
World (over-40s) Rauno Heinla 476 kg (1,049 lb)
Estonia Estonian Rauno Heinla 476 kg (1,049 lb)
Georgia (country) Georgian Ivan Makarov 453.5 kg (1,000 lb)
Wales 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 England Graham Hicks 470 kg (1,036 lb)
2 Estonia Rauno Heinla 455 kg (1,003 lb)
Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov 2
United States Evan Singleton
5 Mexico Austin Andrade 430 kg (948 lb)
Wales Gavin Bilton
United States Jamal Browner
England Shane Flowers
9 Ukraine Oleksii Novikov 400 kg (882 lb)
Ghana Evans Nana
Scotland Luke Stoltman
United States Rob Kearney
Republic of Ireland Pa O'Dwyer
14 (1F) England Lucy Underdown 317.5 kg (700 lb)
15 (2F) Wales Rebecca Roberts 280 kg (617 lb)
16 Poland Oskar Ziółkowski No Lift

Records

Nation Name Weight
Georgia (country) Georgian Ivan Makarov 455 kg (1,003 lb)
Wales Welsh Gavin Bilton 430 kg (948 lb)
Ghana Ghanaian Evans Nana 400 kg (882 lb)
World (women) Lucy Underdown 317.5 kg (700 lb)
England English (women) Lucy Underdown 317.5 kg (700 lb)
Wales 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 United States Trey Mitchell 470 kg (1,036 lb)
Estonia Rauno Heinla
Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov
Canada Mitchell Hooper
5 Mexico Austin Andrade 454 kg (1,001 lb)
New Zealand Mathew Ragg
7 England Graham Hicks 425 kg (937 lb)
Ukraine Oleksii Novikov
Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou
United States Evan Singleton
Australia Eddie Williams
12 Scotland Luke Stoltman 400 kg (882 lb)
Scotland Tom Stoltman
14 (1F) England Lucy Underdown 325 kg (717 lb)

Records

Nation Name Weight
World (Raw only) Trey Mitchell 470 kg (1,036 lb)
United States American Trey Mitchell 470 kg (1,036 lb)
Georgia (country) Georgian Ivan Makarov 470 kg (1,036 lb)
Mexico Mexican Austin Andrade 454 kg (1,001 lb)
Burkina Faso Burkinabe Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 425 kg (937 lb)
World (women) Lucy Underdown 325 kg (717 lb)
England 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 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 510 kg (1,124 lb)
2 England Adam Bishop 470 kg (1,036 lb)
United States Austin Andrade
4 New Zealand Mathew Ragg 453.5 kg (1,000 lb)
Mexico Raul Flores
England Paddy Haynes
7 Estonia Rauno Heinla 440 kg (970 lb)
United States Bryce Johnson
Wales Gavin Bilton
10 Canada Tristain Hoath 420 kg (926 lb)
United States Evan Singleton
Australia Eddie Williams
13 Scotland Luke Stoltman 400 kg (882 lb)
14 Ukraine Pavlo Nakonechnyy No Lift

Records

Nation Name Weight
World Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 510 kg (1,124 lb)
Iceland Icelandic Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 510 kg (1,124 lb)
United States American (joint) Austin Andrade 470 kg (1,036 lb)
Wales Welsh Gavin Bilton 440 kg (970 lb)

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "THIS MAN JUST DID THE GREATEST LIFT IN HISTORY! 510kg DEADLIFT WORLD RECORD". Giants Live Strongman. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Europe's Strongest Man 2014". www.strongman.org. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. ^ "World Deadlift Championships 2015". www.strongman.org. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ "See the results for the Europe's Strongest Man + World Deadlift Championships". www.floelite.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. ^ "2017 World Deadlift Championship Results". www.startingstrongman.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Giants Live Wembley 2019 – full results and show round up". www.giants-live.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. ^ "2025 World Deadlift Championships". www.strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 8 September 2025.