Hafþór J. Björnsson shattered the world record for heaviest deadlift with an astounding 505-kilogram lift at the Eisenhart Black Competition held in Bavaria, Germany on Sunday.
He opened with 435 kg or 959 pounds (lbs), then 470 kg or 1,036 lbs, before attempting the 505-kg or 1,113-pound lift.
“505kg. World Record. To my fans: I love you. To my haters: You helped make this happen too,” Björnsson tweeted.
505kg. World Record. To my fans: I love you. To my haters: You helped make this happen too. Keep watching. #505 #WORLDRECORD #HafthorBjornsson pic.twitter.com/HS7l0g8knc
— Hafþór J Björnsson (@ThorBjornsson_) July 27, 2025
Sebastian Oreb, an online coach, revealed a detail about Björnsson’s record-breaking feat that elevates its significance: the deadlifter had to change his technique, one practiced for over a decade, on the fly.
The lifting platform in the event was carpeted, which ripples and creates wrinkles on the surface as the bar is rolled in—a method used by some of the best super heavyweight deadlifters, Oreb explained. This causes the bar to catch or veer away slightly, knocking one’s setup out of alignment.
In fact, Eddie Hall revealed that when he set the previous 500-kg world record in 2017, he loaded his own platform into a van, drove it to the event, and set it up there—ensuring the conditions matched how he had trained.
In an Instagram post, Björnsson said he was set to compete for his 12th title as Iceland’s Strongest Man.
“On August 8–9, I return to battle for my 12th title at Iceland’s Strongest Man 2025,” he wrote.
Oreb also shared that Björnsson will be attempting to break his newly-minted record with a 510-kg lift at the Giants Live World Deadlift Championship on September 6 in Birmingham, England—with a platform he is accustomed to.
