Strongman Grip & Hold Events: Hercules Hold, Crucifix & More
How grip and static-hold events work in strongman, including the Hercules hold and crucifix hold, and how endurance is judged.
Grip and static-hold events test how long an athlete can hold a heavy load rather than how fast they can move it. The Hercules hold and the crucifix hold are the signature events: both put the athlete in a fixed position and score the time before they can no longer hold on.
These events are pure endurance under load. There is no movement to break up the effort, so the athlete's grip, shoulders and core simply work until they fail. The margins are measured in seconds, and a strong hold can swing a whole contest.
Grip Events World Records & Top Performances
7 recorded| Event | Athlete | Country | Record | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Carry (300-319 kg) | Martin Wildauer |
Austria
|
2.68 m/s(300 kg, 40 m, 14.91 s) | 2014 SCL Hungary | Aug 29, 2014 |
| Frame Carry (320-339 kg) | Aivars Šmaukstelis |
Latvia
|
3.22 m/s(320 kg, 30 m, 9.31 s) | 2019 SCL Russia | Jul 20, 2019 |
| Frame Carry (340-359 kg) | Terry Hollands |
United Kingdom
|
2.20 m/s(340 kg, 40 m, 18.21 s) | 2013 SCL Portugal | Jul 27, 2013 |
| Frame Carry (360-379 kg) | Jerry Pritchett |
United States
|
2.00 m/s(365 kg, 30 m, 15.02 s) | 2016 Giants Live North American Open | Jun 26, 2016 |
| Frame Carry (400-419 kg) | Oleksii Novikov |
Ukraine
|
2.45 m/s(400 kg, 18 m, 7.35 s) | 2021 Arnold UK | Oct 3, 2021 |
| Keg for Height (15 kg) | Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson |
Iceland
|
7.77 m | 2024 Strongest Man on Earth | Aug 17, 2024 |
The main grip and hold events
In the Hercules hold, the athlete stands between two pillars and holds a heavy plate or handle in each hand, arms back, until the grip gives way. In the crucifix hold, the arms are held straight out to the sides with a weight in each hand, scoring the time before the arms drop. Both are timed to the moment of failure.
- Hercules hold: heavy handles held to the sides until the grip fails.
- Crucifix hold: weights held with arms straight out to the sides, timed.
- Axle / bar hold: a loaded bar held at the hips for time.
What it tests
Static holds reward grip endurance, shoulder stability and the ability to tolerate discomfort. Technique still matters: setting the shoulders, locking the elbows and finding the most efficient position can add valuable seconds before the inevitable failure.
Every Grip / Hold Event in Competition
Every contest instance that has featured a grip / hold event, sorted by date. Filter by year or division to study how the event has been programmed over time.
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