Strongman Rauno Heinla of Estonia is one of the more serious threats to Hafthor Bjornsson’s all-time 501kg/1105lb deadlift world record.
Heinla won the 2019 World’s Ultimate Deadlift title by pulling 450kg/992 lbs; 115lbs less than what he’d need in order to break the record but that’s a huge gap, especially when getting up to that much weight on the bar.
He was set to attempt a 502kg/1107 lbs deadlift this year as part of the World’s Ultimate Strongman Feats of Strength series alongside fellow athlete Ivan Makarov of Russia. Although both intended to build up to 502kg during the remote competition, neither would get close.
Heinla did end up completing 455kg/1003lbs to win the head-to-head though.
He also broke the 400kg/882 lbs deadlift for reps world record, knocking out 6 reps. But, of course, the big goal is to smash that all-time record. Makarov has the same idea so perhaps it’ll be a battle between them but there’s no telling when that could happen as it would be a historical feat.
In the meantime though, Heinla is focused on improving and just hit a very impressive personal best of 470kg/1036 lbs.
We can’t say he made it look easy but it wouldn’t be for anyone (except Thor maybe).
Here’s what he wrote on Instagram to accompany the clip.
“470kg/1036lb new PB
Don’t matter if is Christmas or not 😎
If you have to train, then you have to train😇“
Heinla is clearly a man on a mission and this was certainly a nice little Christmas gift to himself!
Watch Rauno Heinla achieve a deadlift personal best below…
Rauno Heinla currently weighs 139kg/306 lbs so that’s more than 3x his bodyweight and absolutely insane.
It’s also 71 lbs/32kg away from breaking the all-time record. He’ll no doubt improve upon this number and hopefully, we’ll see him inch closer and closer to this massive feat.
2021 could be the year we see a new deadlift king.
