Watch as the Latest Thor Deadlift Shatters World Record
Hafþór ‘Thor’ Björnsson has put an end to the dispute over who’s the king of deadlifts, setting a new world record with a monster pull.
The Icelandic giant smashed his previous attempt at the Eisenhart Black Deadlift Championships in Bavaria on 26 July, hoisting an incredible 505kg.
His landmark achievement even drew praise from Eddie Hall — once a bitter rival on the strongman stage and later in the ring.
“Massive respect to Thor for making history and setting the official WR at 505kg,” Hall wrote on Instagram. “That’s one hell of a pull. Records are made to be broken.
“Big respect, big love,” he added, before signing off with his “The Beast” trademark.
Thor Deadlift Controversy Explained
Hall’s congratulations seemingly quash an eight-year feud that has seen the pair trade everything from extremely strong words to blows.
Their dislike for one another started back in 2017, when Hall pipped Thor to the World’s Strongest Man title by a single point.
The runner-up and ex-Game of Thrones star criticised the officiating, claiming Hall’s victory was unfair.
Hall entered that competition having set the deadlift world record the year prior at 500kg — becoming the first man to rip over half a tonne in the process.
The benchmark, which famously caused the Brit’s nose to stream blood mid-rep, stood strong until May 2020.
As part of the World’s Ultimate Strongman Feats of Strength series, Thor usurped the throne with a 501kg deadlift.
Hall was quick to dispute its legitimacy, questioning why Thor was allowed to set the record at his home gym rather than at an official competition.
The heated back-and-forth resulted in a boxing match, with the clash of the titans taking place in March 2022 — Thor winning by unanimous decision.
Thor did throw a few jabs in Hall’s direction ahead of this latest world record, but Hall, now 37, chose to take the high road and wish his former nemesis good luck.
“Massive good luck to Thor this weekend as he goes for the 505kg deadlift,” he wrote in the build-up.
“I truly hope he nails it — it would be an incredible achievement and something the whole strength world would celebrate.
“There’s been some bad things said from Thor’s side about me this week, but I just want to put all that aside and say this: Thor is one of the greatest strength athletes of all time.
“His contributions to the sport — from winning World’s Strongest Man to setting records — have inspired millions, myself included.
“I genuinely wish him nothing but success and happiness in his next chapter.”
Hall said he was “proud” of his 500kg deadlift, adding that seeing rising stars like Jamal Browner and Colton Engelbrecht pushing even further is “absolutely amazing.”
Browner, a Gymshark athlete, recently pulled 500kg in training, while Engelbrecht achieved the same feat in a sumo stance after already lifting a combined 1,000lbs at a powerlifting meet in South Africa.
“The future of strength sports is brighter than ever,” Hall added. “One day, 500kg might just be a warm-up — and that’s a beautiful thing to witness.”
Thor Deadlift Over the Years
Whether it’s a conventional bar or an elephant bar, one thing’s for certain: Thor has long dominated the lift.
Here’s how the Thor deadlift has progressed over the years:
- 2018: 472kg / 1,041lbs — raw with belt and straps on Elephant bar
- 2019: 474kg / 1,045lbs — raw with belt and straps on Elephant bar
- 2020: 501kg / 1,105lbs — suit with belt and straps on Deadlift bar
- 2024 (return to Strongman): 456kg / 1,006lbs — raw with belt and straps on Elephant bar
- 2025: 465kg / 1,026lbs — raw with belt and straps on Elephant bar
- 2025: 505kg / 1,113lbs — suit with belt and straps on Deadlift bar
The scariest thing with this latest Thor deadlift? He shifted the plates with relative ease. The Mountain has surpassed his best, and there may well be gas left in the tank of this Strongman legend.
SEE ALSO: Eddie Hall’s Son Breaks ‘Unofficial World Record’ With Insane 150kg Deadlift
