The $500\text{ Kg}$ Myth: What Happened To Eddie Hall's Deadlift World Record?

The name Eddie Hall is synonymous with one of the most brutal and spectacular feats of strength in human history: the $500\text{ kg}$ deadlift. On July 9, 2016, the British strongman, nicknamed 'The Beast,' achieved a mythical milestone that many believed was physically impossible, cementing his legacy in the annals of strength sports. This monumental lift was not just a record; it was a boundary-breaking moment that pushed the limits of the human body, but the question remains in this late context: is this legendary $500\text{ kg}$ still the heaviest deadlift ever recorded?

The story of Eddie Hall's $500\text{ kg}$ (or $1,102\text{ lb}$) pull is a fascinating mix of calculated risk, intense physical preparation, and a terrifying brush with mortality. While 'The Beast' is no longer the all-time world record holder, his achievement remains arguably the most iconic deadlift of the modern era due to the sheer jump in weight he achieved and the dramatic physical cost he paid to reach it. Understanding the context of this lift requires a deep dive into the man, the event, and the strongman rivalries that followed.

The Beast's Profile: A List of Eddie Hall's Strongman Career and Stats

Edward Stephen Hall, known universally as Eddie Hall, is one of the most recognizable figures in professional strongman. His career is defined by a relentless drive to be the best, culminating in the sport's most coveted title.

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• Full Name: Edward Stephen Hall
• Nickname: 'The Beast'
• Born: January 15, 1988
• Birthplace: Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England
• Height: 6 ft 2 ins (189 cm)
• Weight (Peak Strongman): Approximately $185\text{ kg}$ (408 lb)
• Career Highlights:
• World's Strongest Man (WSM) Champion: 2017
• Britain's Strongest Man: Five-time winner (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• Former All-Time Deadlift World Record Holder: $500\text{ kg}$ (1,102 lb)
• Post-Strongman Career: Retired from World's Strongest Man competition after his 2017 win to focus on other ventures, including boxing (facing rival Hafþór Björnsson in 'The Heaviest Boxing Match in History') and media appearances.

Hall’s journey from a mechanic to the strongest man on the planet is a testament to his dedication to the sport of strongman. His focus on the deadlift, however, is what truly set him apart from his peers in the mid-2010s.

The Day the World Saw $500\text{ kg}$: The Unbreakable Record and Its Cost

The $500\text{ kg}$ deadlift occurred at the Giants Live World Deadlift Championships in Leeds, England, on July 9, 2016. The atmosphere was electric, as Hall had already successfully pulled $465\text{ kg}$ and $472\text{ kg}$ in the previous years, systematically breaking his own records.

The Unprecedented Jump in Weight

Before Hall, the all-time deadlift record progression was typically broken by small increments, often $1\text{ kg}$ or $2.5\text{ kg}$. Hall's $500\text{ kg}$ lift was a staggering leap—he broke the previous record by a massive $35\text{ kg}$ (about 77 lb), which was held by himself at $465\text{ kg}$. This enormous jump was a calculated risk aimed at setting a number so high that it would stand for decades.

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The lift itself was a raw display of strength. Hall used a conventional stance, a mixed grip, and a deadlift suit and straps, which are standard for strongman deadlift rules. The bar bent under the immense weight, and the struggle was visible on his face.

The Terrifying Physical Aftermath

The most shocking part of the $500\text{ kg}$ deadlift was the immediate physical consequence. As soon as Hall successfully locked out the lift and dropped the bar, he collapsed. The pressure exerted on his body was so extreme that it caused blood vessels to burst.

• Brain Bleeds: Hall reported experiencing nosebleeds and temporary brain bleeds due to the extreme intracranial pressure.
• Vision Loss: For a short period, he lost his vision and was momentarily incapacitated, stating that the lift nearly killed him.
• Intense Recovery: The recovery from the lift was brutal, requiring significant downtime. Hall later shared behind-the-scenes footage and details of his grueling training and recovery process, emphasizing the immense toll the world record attempt took on his cardiovascular and nervous systems.

This dramatic event is why the $500\text{ kg}$ lift holds a unique place in sporting history, forever associated with the idea of a human pushing their physical limits past the point of safety.

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Is $500\text{ kg}$ Still the World Record? The Progression of the All-Time Deadlift

Despite the legendary status of Eddie Hall's $500\text{ kg}$ deadlift, it is no longer the all-time world record. The record was officially surpassed four years later by Hall's great rival, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the Icelandic strongman best known for playing 'The Mountain' in Game of Thrones.

The $501\text{ kg}$ and $505\text{ kg}$ Answer

On May 2, 2020, Hafþór Björnsson successfully deadlifted $501\text{ kg}$ (1,104.5 lb) in his home gym in Iceland. This lift, broadcast live, officially broke Eddie Hall’s record by a single kilogram. While this $501\text{ kg}$ lift is recognized by Guinness World Records as the heaviest deadlift (male), the strongman world has seen further progression.

Björnsson later went on to lift an even heavier weight. In a subsequent event, he completed a $505\text{ kg}$ (1,113 lb) conventional deadlift, further cementing his position as the current all-time world record holder in the strongman category. This competitive escalation between the two strongmen became one of the biggest stories in the sport, fueled by their intense rivalry.

The Difference in Strongman Deadlift Records

It is important to note that the term "deadlift world record" can be nuanced across different strength sports:

• Strongman Deadlift (All-Time): This record, currently held by Hafþór Björnsson at $505\text{ kg}$, allows the use of lifting straps and a deadlift suit, and is often performed on an 'Elephant Bar' or a standard powerlifting bar.
• Powerlifting Deadlift (Raw): This record is for the heaviest lift performed without a deadlift suit and often without straps, adhering to strict powerlifting federation rules.
• Conventional vs. Sumo: Strongman records are typically conventional deadlifts, which is the style both Hall and Björnsson used for their records.

While the number has been surpassed, Eddie Hall's $500\text{ kg}$ remains a monumental benchmark. It was the first time that weight was ever lifted by a human being, and it opened the door for the $500\text{ kg}$ club to become a reality, rather than a theoretical goal. The legacy of 'The Beast' is not just in the number, but in the courage and sacrifice it took to get there.

The intense competition and the sheer physical danger of these extreme lifts highlight the dedication required to be an elite strongman. Eddie Hall's record-breaking $500\text{ kg}$ lift will forever be remembered as the moment the seemingly impossible became possible, setting the stage for the next generation of strength athletes to chase the $510\text{ kg}$ barrier.