Buzz
While we all share the same intricate network of bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves, there are some individuals who seem to possess a remarkable gift for superhuman feats.
In this list, you’ll discover some of the most mind-blowing feats of physical strength performed by both men and women of extraordinary power. Sit back, relax, and let them show you the true meaning of heavy lifting.
And just a gentle reminder: Please, don’t attempt this at home.
10. Mark Felix
Mark Felix has become a legendary figure in the world of strongman since he began competing professionally in 2004. Over the years, he has made an astonishing 14 appearances at the World’s Strongest Man finals and has earned medals at Britain’s Strongest Man six times. What’s even more remarkable is that Felix didn’t start his journey until the age of 38, defying the conventional expectations of when athletes peak in strength.
At 54, Felix shows no signs of slowing down. In 2019, he achieved one of his greatest feats of strength at the Giants Live event in Manchester. Competing in the Hercules Hold, he had to grasp handles extending from two massive steel pillars, each weighing 350 kilograms (772 lb), and maintain his grip as gravity tried to pull the pillars from his hands.
Taking the stage right after the reigning World’s Strongest Man, Felix stunned everyone by holding on for an incredible 83.62 seconds, setting a new world record and leaving the competition far behind in second place.
9. Eddie Hall
Eddie Hall, also known as “The Beast,” is a retired English strongman who made his mark on the sport. Although he started out as a competitive swimmer, Hall soon shifted his focus to strongman, driven by his ambition to win the title of World’s Strongest Man. His dream was realized in 2017, though he had already qualified for the event in each of the previous five years.
And what came before his ultimate victory?
Before clinching the top prize, Hall amassed an impressive collection of six consecutive UK’s Strongest Man titles and five consecutive Britain’s Strongest Man crowns. But his crowning moment arrived in 2016 during the World Deadlift Championship.
Earlier in the evening, Hall had already set a joint world record with a 465-kilogram (1,025 lb) lift. He then went on to attempt the half-ton mark, aiming to be the first person ever to lift 500 kilograms (1,100 lb). However, the extreme strain caused blood vessels in his brain to rupture, causing blood to pour from his nose, ears, and tear ducts. Hall later admitted to experiencing memory issues for weeks, even struggling to remember his children's names.
Having retired from strongman, Hall’s next major challenge is set for September 2021, when he faces Hafthor Julius Bjornsson in the boxing ring.
8. Hafthor Julius Bjornsson
When you think of the word “strongman,” a towering figure with bulging muscles might come to mind—the kind who could crush your bones into dust. While the feats described here are far from mythical, Hafthor Julius Bjornsson is the living embodiment of this image.
Standing a colossal 206 centimeters (6’9″) tall and weighing 205 kilograms (452 lb), “Thor” is the perfect example of an Icelandic giant. Famous not only for his strongman achievements but also for portraying “The Mountain” in *Game of Thrones*, Thor originally embarked on a career as a professional basketball player before dedicating himself entirely to weightlifting. His hard work culminated in his 2018 triumph as the World’s Strongest Man.
In 2020, Thor made headlines by surpassing Eddie Hall’s deadlift world record, lifting an astonishing 501 kilograms (1,104 lb) in his personal gym in Iceland. This feat further fueled the rivalry between the two men. Despite the attempt being live-streamed and overseen by a professional referee, Hall and other strongman figures quickly dismissed the achievement since it wasn’t performed in a competitive setting.
Regardless of the controversy, it’s clear that Thor is widely recognized as one of the strongest men on the planet.
7. Julius Maddox
Anyone who has spent time in a gym is likely familiar with the bench press, a staple of strength training. Many experts recommend that the average adult male should be able to press about 60 kilograms (132 lb). However, Julius Maddox is far from average.
A former convict who turned his life around through faith and a deep passion for weightlifting, Maddox has earned the title of the world’s best “bench presser.” In 2019, he set the raw bench press world record by lifting an impressive 335 kilograms (739.6 lb).
Not stopping there, Maddox went on to beat his own record just three months later, raising the bar to around 338 kilograms (744.1 lb). Determined to push the limits even further, he shattered his previous record with a near 350-kilogram (770 lb) lift!
In June 2020, Maddox aimed for an ambitious 363-kilogram (800 lb) lift. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, though not because of Maddox’s efforts. The event organizers faced backlash after mistakenly adding an extra 25-kilogram (55 lb) plate to one side of the bar, leading to an injury for the strongman.
Instead of letting frustration take over, Maddox accepted that mistakes happen and promised to return even stronger than before.
6. Rob Kearney
Let’s step away from the typical strongman image for a moment and introduce Rob Kearney. What immediately sets this American apart is his size. At 178 centimeters (5’10”), Kearney seems quite small compared to the towering giants like Thor Bjornsson and Brian Shaw.
Another feature that stands out is his bold style. Dressed in colorful compression shorts, bright socks, and a rainbow-colored mohawk, Kearney isn’t shy about expressing his sexuality. Dubbed the “World’s Strongest Gay,” he made history as the first openly gay strongman at the age of 22, using his platform to inspire LGBTQ individuals worldwide.
Kearney certainly lives up to his title. Famous for his incredible shoulder strength, he recently shattered the American log lift record, which he had previously set in 2019. He achieved a new American record with a 215.8-kilogram (475.8 lb) press, solidifying his reputation as one of the top log lifters globally.
5. Kevin Fast
Kevin Fast might not be a common name in the strongman community, but this 57-year-old Canadian holds some of the most jaw-dropping Guinness World Records in the realm of strength.
His records include the most cars pulled by an individual (15), the heaviest vehicle pushed over 100 feet (weighing 11,080 kilograms (24,427 lb)), the heaviest vehicle pulled over 100 feet (99,060 kilograms (218,390 lb)), and the heaviest house ever pulled by a single person! The house, which weighed nearly 40 tons, was dragged 11.95 meters (39 ft).
At this point, a crucial question arises: who in their right mind would attempt to pull a house? Maybe a firefighter, a soldier, or perhaps a tradesman? Surprisingly, none of the above. Kevin Fast is actually a pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada.
And if none of these records quite scream “amazing feat of strength,” how about the time Fast pulled a plane? Weighing 188.83 tons, that’s roughly equivalent to 1,260 adult gorillas—just in case you were curious.
4. Becca Swanson
The next entry on our list belongs to a woman often considered the strongest of all time. Despite standing at just 175 centimeters (5’9″), Swanson has set numerous world records and excelled in powerlifting, bodybuilding, and professional wrestling.
She started her powerlifting career in 2002 and has since solidified her place in history. Her impressive achievements include the heaviest squat ever performed by a female (becoming the first woman to squat 318 kilograms (700 lb) and the only woman to squat 387.5 kilograms (854 lb)), the heaviest bench press for a woman at 272.5 kilograms (600.8 lb), the heaviest deadlift by a female at 310 kilograms (683.4 lb), and the highest total ever achieved by a woman in competition.
In 2005, Swanson’s combined squat, bench press, and deadlift set, totaling 930 kilograms (2,050.3 lb), made her the first woman in history to reach a 907 kilograms (2,000 lb) total in competition. She has paved the way as a true trailblazer in the world of strongwoman.
3. Zydrunas Savickas
Now, we arrive at the iconic figure known in strongman circles as “Big Z.”
The Lithuanian powerhouse is often regarded as the strongest man ever, with a list of achievements that seems almost unbelievable. He’s a three-time winner of Europe’s Strongest Man, an eight-time champion of the Arnold Classic, and has claimed Lithuania’s Strongest Man title an unmatched 15 times. Additionally, he’s earned the title of World’s Strongest Man four times and secured second place six times.
One of his most iconic events has always been the log lift, considered by many to be one of the purest tests of strength. In this event, a competitor must lift a log from the floor (or from a knee-height platform) to their chest before pressing it overhead and locking it out at the top.
Savickas holds the world record in this discipline with an incredible 228 kilograms (502.6 lb), a feat he has maintained since 2015. His dominance is clear when examining the 10 heaviest log lifts in history, with Savickas holding eight of those spots. The closest anyone has come to his record was a 220 kilograms (485 lb) lift in 2019. Even at the age of 45, Savickas seems to have no reason to fear that his record will be surpassed any time soon.
2. Martin Tye
If we told you that this military veteran and disabled strongman had lifted more than both Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson in the deadlift, it might seem unbelievable. But for Martin Tye, who was crowned World’s Strongest Disabled Man in 2018, this achievement is a reality. His path to becoming a strongman has been far more challenging than most.
During a tour of Afghanistan in 2009, Tye was in charge of a vehicle that was struck by a suicide bomber. The explosion left him wheelchair-bound, with no feeling from the knees down. With metal implants in both knees, which have since developed arthritis, severe nerve damage, and PTSD, Tye turned to the gym as a refuge from his struggles.
Tye has since made a name for himself in the strongman world. He first gained attention when he shattered the deadlift world record with a 505-kilogram (1,113 lb) lift, and he also won 11 medals at the Invictus Games. As of now, his crowning achievement came at the World’s Strongest Disabled Man competition in 2019, where he set a new world record with a 520-kilogram (1,146 lb) deadlift!
1. Brian Shaw
Perhaps the most recognizable name in strongman, Brian Shaw has built a legendary career thanks to his immense strength, tireless work ethic, and meticulous attention to detail. Standing at 203 centimeters (6’8″) and weighing around 200 kilograms (440 lb), Shaw may appear intimidating, but he is widely known as one of the kindest giants you could meet.
Unlike many others on this list, Shaw’s true feat of strength lies in his consistent performance over the years. He’s won World’s Strongest Man an astounding four times, reached the finals of World’s Strongest Man for 11 consecutive years (a record in itself), and triumphed at the Arnold Strongman Classic (named for the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger) three times.
So what’s in store for the 38-year-old powerhouse?
Beyond his YouTube channel, which boasts over one million subscribers, and his appearances in multiple films and documentaries, Shaw has also established his own strongman competition, the Shaw Classic. The inaugural event took place in December 2020. As for World’s Strongest Man 2020, Shaw is determined to secure his fifth title and further solidify his place in the history books for future generations.
