Progression of the deadlift world record

Listed below are the progressions of 7 deadlift world records across powerlifting, strongman and armlifting (sport of grip strength), and ultimately, the all-time progression across all strength sports.^[1]

Key

Measured weight

Powerlifting

In powerlifting, raw lifting allows only the use of a lifting belt, while equipped lifting allows the use of a deadlift suit, which is an elastic clothing made from very tight material (the suit tightens on the squat on the way down, storing energy, that gives an extra boost with the stored tension to break the floor).

Raw

Note: Despite historical claims about Hermann Görner, Bob Peoples and Benoit Cote having lifted heavier numbers, it is Terry Todd and Wilbur Miller who are generally considered the first two individuals to break the 317.5 kg (700 lb) barrier in a documented and official setting with irrefutable evidence, hence initiating the inaugural official world record deadlift in 1964.^{[2][better source needed]}

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Ref.
322.1 kg (710 lb)	Terry Todd	Sep 1964	AAU Powerlifting Tournament	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[3][4]
324.4 kg (715 lb)	Wilbur Miller
328.9 kg (725 lb)	Wilbur Miller	Sep 1965	AAU Senior Nationals	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[3][4]
335.6 kg (740 lb)	Terry Todd
355.6 kg (784 lb)	Don Cundy	Sep 1967	AAU Senior Nationals	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[5]
362.9 kg (800 lb)	Don Cundy	Aug 1969	AAU Senior Nationals	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[5]
371.9 kg (820 lb)	John Kuc	Nov 1971	AAU Men's World Championships	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[6]
	Jon Cole	Sep 1972	AAU Senior Nationals	Denver, Colorado, USA	[7]
383.3 kg (845 lb)	John Kuc	Nov 1972	AAU Men's World Championships	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA	[6]
385 kg (848.8 lb)	John Kuc	Nov 1974	IPF Men's World Championships	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[6]
387.8 kg (855 lb)	Paul Wrenn	Aug 1976	AAU Senior Nationals	Arlington, Texas, USA	[8][9]
390.1 kg (860 lb)	Don Reinhoudt
402.5 kg (887.4 lb)	Gerrit Badenhorst	Oct 1990	WPC World Championships	Pescara, Italy	[10][11]
409.6 kg (903 lb)	Mark Henry	Jul 1995	USAPL (ADFPA)	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[12]
426 kg (939.2 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Nov 2005	WPC - WPO European Semi Finals	Helsinki, Finland	[13][14]
440 kg (970.0 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon
442.5 kg (975.5 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Oct 2010	FPO Bullfarm Championships	Helsinki, Finland	[13]
460.4 kg (1,015 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Apr 2011	MHP's Clash of the Titan's IV	Dallas, Texas, USA	[15][16][17]
465 kg (1,025.2 lb) (Sumo)	Danny Grigsby	Mar 2022	USPA Virginia Beach Classic	Virginia, USA	[18][19]
467.5 kg (1,030.7 lb) (Sumo)	Danny Grigsby	Jul 2022	WRPF American Pro	Manassas, Virginia, USA	[20][19]
487.5 kg (1,074.8 lb) (Sumo)	Danny Grigsby

Equipped

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Ref.
400.3 kg (882.5 lb)	Jon Cole[nb 1]	Oct 1972	AAU Championships	Phoenix, Arizona, USA	[21]
401.6 kg (885.5 lb)	Don Reinhoudt[nb 2]	May 1975	AAU/IPF Championships	Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA	[21][22]
401.9 kg (886 lb)	Bill Kazmaier	Nov 1981	AAU/IPF Championships	Texas, USA	[22]
410.0 kg (904 lb)	Dan Wohleber[nb 3]	Dec 1982	USPF Lake Erie Open	Sandusky, Ohio, USA	[23][24][25]
	Doyle Kenady	Apr 1986	USPF Budweiser World Record Breakers	Honolulu, Hawaii, USA	[23][26][27]
417.5 kg (920.4 lb)	Gary Heisey	Jul 1990	APF Senior Nationals	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA	[28][29]
419.6 kg (925 lb)	Gary Heisey	Mar 1992	WPA World Submasters/Masters	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA	[23][29]
422.5 kg (931.5 lb)	Garry Frank	Nov 2002	WPO semifinals	New Orleans, Louisiana, USA	[30][31][32]
423 kg (932.6 lb)	Andy Bolton	Mar 2003	WPO finals	Columbus, Ohio, USA	[33][34][35]
425 kg (937 lb)	Andy Bolton	Jun 2005	GPC-GB British Championships	Port Talbot, Wales	[34][36]
427.5 kg (942.5 lb)	Andy Bolton	Nov 2005	WPC - WPO European Semi Finals	Helsinki, Finland	[37][38]
440.5 kg (971.1 lb)	Andy Bolton	Mar 2006	WPO finals - Arnold Classic	Columbus, Ohio, USA	[39][40][34]
455 kg (1,003.1 lb)	Andy Bolton	Nov 2006	WPO semifinals	Lake George, New York, USA	[41][42][43]
457.5 kg (1,008.6 lb)	Andy Bolton	Apr 2009	BPC South East Championships	Eton, Berkshire, England	[44][45][46]

IPF (International Powerlifting Federation)

Raw

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Ref.
385 kg (848.8 lb)	John Kuc	Nov 1974	IPF Men's World Championships	York, Pennsylvania, USA	[6]
392.5 kg (865.3 lb)	Ray Williams	Mar 2017	IPF/NAPF Arnold Slingshot Pro American	Ohio, USA	[47]
398.5 kg (878.5 lb)	Ray Williams	Jun 2018	IPF World Classic Championships	Calgary, Canada	[48]
399 kg (879.6 lb)	Jesus Olivares	Mar 2023	IPF Sheffield Championships	Sheffield, England	[49]
410 kg (903.9 lb)	Jesus Olivares
410.5 kg (905.0 lb)	Temur Samkharadze	Jul 2024	IPF Euro Muscle Show	Amsterdam, Netherlands	[50]
411 kg (906.1 lb)	Temur Samkharadze	Sep 2024	IPF Sub Junior and Junior Championships	Valletta, Malta	[51]

Equipped

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Ref.
401.6 kg (885.5 lb)	Don Reinhoudt	May 1975	AAU/IPF Championships	Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA	[21][22]
401.9 kg (886 lb)	Bill Kazmaier	Nov 1981	AAU/IPF Championships	Texas, USA	[22]
405 kg (892.9 lb)	Lars Norén	Nov 1987	IPF Men's World Championships	Fredrikstad, Norway	[52][53][54]
406 kg (895.1 lb)	Lars Norén	Apr 1988	IPF World Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	[22]
406.5 kg (896.2 lb)	Tibor Mészáros	Nov 2001	IPF World Open Championships	Sotkamo, Finland	[55][56][57]
407.5 kg (898.4 lb)	Tibor Mészáros	Nov 2002	IPF World Open Championships	Trenčín, Slovakia	[58][59][57]
408 kg (899.5 lb)	Tibor Mészáros	May 2004	EPF Men's European Championships	Nymburk, Czech Republic	[60][57]
408.5 kg (900.6 lb) (Sumo)	Krzysztof Wierzbicki	Jul 2017	World Games	Wrocław, Poland	[61][62]
420 kg (925.9 lb) (Sumo)	Krzysztof Wierzbicki

Strongman

In strongman, raw lifting means lifting without a deadlift suit (which allows the use of a lifting belt & straps), while equipped lifting allows the use of a deadlift suit in addition to lifting belt & straps.

Includes: a.) Standard Deadlift bar, Power bar, Ironmind S-cubed Stiff bar and Flintstone bar depending on the evolution of the sport, b.) lifts from standard 9 inch height only (except for 2011-2013 when a 1 inch deficit was introduced), c.) both figure 6 and figure 8 (F8) straps, and d.) both single-ply (S) and multi-ply (M) deadlift suits.

All-time

Weight [nb 4]	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Equipment	Ref.
410 kg (903.9 lb)	Gerrit Badenhorst	Oct 1996	World's Strongest Man	Port Louis, Mauritius	Belt & Straps on Flintstone stiff bar	[63]
	Oleksandr Pekanov	Jan 2005	Pojedynek Gigantów	Łódź, Poland	Belt & Straps on Power bar	[64]
	Kevin Nee	Jul 2008	Viking Power Challenge	Gol, Norway	Suit(M), Belt & Straps on Power bar	[65]
412.5 kg (909.4 lb)	Mark Felix	Mar 2011	Giants Live	London, England	Suit(M), Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar	[66][67]
	Laurence Shahlaei				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
	Terry Hollands				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
	Brian Shaw				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
420 kg (925.9 lb)	Mark Felix				Suit(M), Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
	Laurence Shahlaei				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
	Brian Shaw				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
430 kg (948.0 lb)	Laurence Shahlaei				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
	Brian Shaw				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
435 kg (959.0 lb)	Terry Hollands	Sep 2011	World's Strongest Man	North Carolina, USA	Belt & Straps on Stiff bar at a 1" deficit	[68][69]
	Žydrūnas Savickas				Belt & Straps on Stiff bar at a 1" deficit
	Brian Shaw				Belt & Straps on Stiff bar at a 1" deficit
440 kg (970.0 lb)	Žydrūnas Savickas				Belt & Straps on Stiff bar at a 1" deficit
442.5 kg (975.5 lb)	Brian Shaw	Aug 2013	World's Strongest Man	Sanya, China	Belt & Straps on Stiff bar at a 1" deficit	[70][71]
445 kg (981.1 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Mar 2014	Giants Live	Melbourne, Australia	Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar	[72]
446 kg (983.2 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Aug 2014	World Deadlift Championship	Leeds, England	Suit(S), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar	[73][74]
	Eddie Hall				Suit(M), Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
461 kg (1,016.3 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon				Suit(M), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar
462 kg (1,018.5 lb)	Eddie Hall	Mar 2015	Arnold Expo	Melbourne, Australia	Brief, Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar	[75]
463 kg (1,020.7 lb)	Eddie Hall	Jul 2015	World Deadlift Championship	Leeds, England	Brief, Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar	[76][77]
465 kg (1,025.1 lb)	Eddie Hall	Jul 2016	World Deadlift Championship	Leeds, England	Suit(M), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar	[78]
	Jerry Pritchett				Belt & Straps on Deadlift bar
	Benedikt Magnússon				Suit(S), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar
500 kg (1,102.3 lb)	Eddie Hall				Suit(M), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar
501 kg (1,104.5 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	May 2020	World's Ultimate Strongman	Reykjavík, Iceland	Suit(S), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar	[79][80][81]
505 kg (1,113.3 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	July 2025	The Eisenhart Black	Bavaria, Germany	Suit(M), Belt & Straps(F8) on Deadlift bar	[82][83]

Elephant bar (Raw)

Main article: Elephant bar

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Equipment	Ref.
464.9 kg (1,025 lb)	Eddie Hall	Mar 2016	Arnold Strongman Classic	Columbus, Ohio, USA	Belt & Straps(F8) on Elephant bar	[84]
467.7 kg (1,031 lb)	Jerry Pritchett	Mar 2017	Arnold Strongman Classic	Columbus, Ohio, USA	Belt & Straps on Elephant bar	[85]
472.2 kg (1,041 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	Mar 2018	Arnold Strongman Classic	Columbus, Ohio, USA	Belt & Straps on Elephant bar	[86]
474.5 kg (1,046 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	Mar 2019	Arnold Strongman Classic	Columbus, Ohio, USA	Belt & Straps on Elephant bar	[87]

Armlifting

Double overhand Apollon's Axle

The Apollon's Axle is a challenging feat for its three notable features that made it hard to lift: the thick, nearly 2-inch diameter of the bar, its smooth surface and because the wheels are not revolving.

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Equipment	Ref.
228 kg (502.7 lb)	Rich Williams	Jun 2010	IronMind Grip contest	USA	Belt	[88]
230 kg (507.1 lb)	Mike Burke	Jan 2013	Visegrip Viking - LA FitExpo	Los Angeles, California, USA	Belt	[88][89]
235 kg (518.1 lb)	Mike Burke
236.1 kg (520.5 lb)	Igor Kupinsky	Dec 2019	Elite Grip Challenge - Melitopol	Melitopol, Ukraine	Belt	[88][90]
237.5 kg (523.6 lb)	Carl Myerscough	Dec 2022	Armlifting World Championships	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA	Belt	[88][91]

All-time progression across all strength sports

Listed below is the all-time deadlift world record progression across powerlifting (raw), powerlifting (equipped), and strongman.

From 1964 to July 2014, powerlifting record stood as the all-time world record. In August 2014, strongman record surpassed it and to-date stands as the all-time world record.

Weight	Holder	Date	Event	Location	Sport	Ref.
322.1 kg (710 lb)	Terry Todd	Sep 1964	AAU Powerlifting Tournament	York, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[3][4]
324.4 kg (715 lb)	Wilbur Miller
328.9 kg (725 lb)	Wilbur Miller	Sep 1965	AAU Senior Nationals	York, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[3][4]
335.6 kg (740 lb)	Terry Todd
355.6 kg (784 lb)	Don Cundy	Sep 1967	AAU Senior Nationals	York, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[5]
362.9 kg (800 lb)	Don Cundy	Aug 1969	AAU Senior Nationals	York, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[5]
371.9 kg (820 lb)	John Kuc	Nov 1971	AAU Men's World Championships	York, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[6]
	Jon Cole	Sep 1972	AAU Senior Nationals	Denver, Colorado, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[7]
400.3 kg (882.5 lb)	Jon Cole	Oct 1972	AAU Championships	Phoenix, Arizona, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[21]
401.6 kg (885.5 lb)	Don Reinhoudt	May 1975	AAU/IPF Championships	Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[21][22]
401.9 kg (886 lb)	Bill Kazmaier	Nov 1981	AAU/IPF Championships	Texas, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[22]
410.0 kg (904 lb)	Dan Wohleber	Dec 1982	USPF Lake Erie Open	Sandusky, Ohio, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[23][24][25]
	Doyle Kenady	Apr 1986	USPF Budweiser World Record Breakers	Honolulu, Hawaii, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[23][26][27]
417.5 kg (920.4 lb)	Gary Heisey	Jul 1990	APF Senior Nationals	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[28][29]
419.6 kg (925 lb)	Gary Heisey	Mar 1992	WPA World Submasters/Masters	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[23][29]
422.5 kg (931.5 lb)	Garry Frank	Nov 2002	WPO semifinals	New Orleans, Louisiana, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[30][31][32]
423 kg (932.6 lb)	Andy Bolton	Mar 2003	WPO finals	Columbus, Ohio, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[33][34][35]
425 kg (937 lb)	Andy Bolton	Jun 2005	GPC-GB British Championships	Port Talbot, Wales	Powerlifting (Eq)	[34][36]
426 kg (939.2 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Nov 2005	WPC - WPO European Semi Finals	Helsinki, Finland	Powerlifting (R)	[13][14]
427.5 kg (942.5 lb)	Andy Bolton				Powerlifting (Eq)
440 kg (970.0 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon				Powerlifting (R)
440.5 kg (971.1 lb)	Andy Bolton	Mar 2006	WPO finals - Arnold Classic	Columbus, Ohio, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[39][40][34]
455 kg (1,003.1 lb)	Andy Bolton	Nov 2006	WPO semifinals	Lake George, New York, USA	Powerlifting (Eq)	[41][42][43]
457.5 kg (1,008.6 lb)	Andy Bolton	Apr 2009	BPC South East Championships	Eton, Berkshire, England	Powerlifting (Eq)	[44][45][46]
460.4 kg (1,015 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Apr 2011	MHP's Clash of the Titan's IV	Dallas, Texas, USA	Powerlifting (R)	[15][16][17]
461 kg (1,016.3 lb)	Benedikt Magnússon	Aug 2014	World Deadlift Championship	Leeds, England	Strongman	[73][74]
462 kg (1,018.5 lb)	Eddie Hall	Mar 2015	Arnold Expo	Melbourne, Australia	Strongman	[75]
463 kg (1,020.7 lb)	Eddie Hall	Jul 2015	World Deadlift Championship	Leeds, England	Strongman	[76][77]
465 kg (1,025.1 lb)	Eddie Hall	Jul 2016	World Deadlift Championship	Leeds, England	Strongman	[78]
	Jerry Pritchett				Strongman
	Benedikt Magnússon				Strongman
500 kg (1,102.3 lb)	Eddie Hall				Strongman
501 kg (1,104.5 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	May 2020	World's Ultimate Strongman	Reykjavík, Iceland	Strongman	[79][80][81]
505 kg (1,113.3 lb)	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	July 2025	The Eisenhart Black	Bavaria, Germany	Strongman	[82][83]

Graphical representation of the progression of powerlifting and strongman records

See also

• Progression of the squat world record
• Progression of the bench press world record
• World record progression men's weightlifting
• World record progression women's weightlifting

Notes

1. Initially measured as 885 lb and later changed to 882.5 lb.
2. Initially measured as 895 lb and later changed to 885.5 lb.
3. Initially measured as 900 lb and later changed to 904 lb.
4. In 1981 Bill Kazmaier did a 415 kg (915 lb) strongman style standard deadlift with straps and in 1987 Jón Páll Sigmarsson did 427.5 kg (942 lb) with the exact same criteria. However the setup used did not allow the bar to stay at the standard 9 inches off the floor, making them 'slightly' elevated deadlifts.^{[citation needed]}