Elephant bar

The elephant bar is a barbell developed by Rogue Fitness which is specifically used for the strongman raw deadlift.^[1] It was first created in 2016 by Terry Todd, the director of the Arnold Strongman Classic. The bar is known for being 10 ft (3.05 m) long^[2] and made from 200,000 psi tensile strength stainless steel,^[3] making it bend more than a power bar, and whip both up and down as well as forwards and backwards, while the deadlift is being performed.^[4]

Elephant bar deadlift

Since its inception in 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, the elephant bar deadlift has been featured 9 times at the Arnold Strongman Classic and the Rogue Invitational. The event uses specially designed Arnold Schwarzenegger inscribed 2-inch thick deep dish stainless steel weight plates which allow the bar height to remain at the standard 9 inches off the floor. The rules state that no deadlift suits are allowed hence the lift should be performed raw.^{[note 1]} The event also allows only standard weightlifting straps and prohibits the use of figure of 8 straps.^[2]

Throughout the years, it became one of the most iconic and internationally recognized deadlift events in strongman history.^[4][5]

World record

• 474.5 kg (1,046 lb) (Raw with standard straps) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2019 Arnold Strongman Classic)^[6][7]

→ It is also the current all-time strongman raw world record irrespective of the bar
Note: In strongman, a raw deadlift is a lift performed without the use of any deadlift suit or power briefs.^[4][5]

Heaviest lifts in history

Only five men in history have deadlifted 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) or more raw on the elephant bar. Each instance is listed below.

Weight	Athlete	Event	Remarks	Ref.
474.5 kg (1,046 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2019 ASC	World Record	[8]
472 kg (1,041 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2018 ASC	Former World Record	[9]
467.5 kg (1,031 lb)	Jerry Pritchett	2017 ASC	Former World Record, performed outside the allocated 3 attempts	[10]
465.5 kg (1,026 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2025 ASC		[11]
	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2020 ASC		[12]
465 kg (1,025 lb)	Eddie Hall	2016 ASC	Former World Record, done using figure-8 straps	[13]
463 kg (1,021 lb)	Brian Shaw	2016 ASC		[14]
	Jean-François Caron	2018 ASC		[15]
	Brian Shaw	2019 ASC		[16]
461 kg (1,016 lb)	Brian Shaw	2018 ASC		[15]
458.5 kg (1,011 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2018 ASC		[15]
456.5 kg (1,006 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2024 ASC		[17]
456 kg (1,005 lb)	Jerry Pritchett	2016 ASC		[14]

World Record progression

Weight	Athlete	Event	Ref.
474.5 kg (1,046 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2019 ASC	[18]
472 kg (1,041 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	2018 ASC	[19]
467.5 kg (1,031 lb)	Jerry Pritchett	2017 ASC	[20]
465 kg (1,025 lb)	Eddie Hall	2016 ASC	[21]

Women's world record progression

Weight	Athlete	Event	Ref.
306.5 kg (676 lb)	Lucy Underdown	2025 ASWC	[22]
304.5 kg (671 lb)	Andrea Thompson	2025 ASWC	[22]
302 kg (666 lb)	Lucy Underdown	2024 ASWC	[23]
295.5 kg (651 lb)	Tamara Walcott	2023 ASWC	[24]
	Victoria Long	2023 ASWC	[24]
291 kg (642 lb)	Tamara Walcott	2022 ASWC	[25]
281.5 kg (621 lb)	Andrea Thompson	2020 RRB	[26]
279.5 kg (616 lb)	Kristin Rhodes	2020 RRB	[26]

See also

• Progression of the deadlift world record