2 days ago
In July 2016, Britain’s Eddie Hall deadlifted 500 kg (1102lbs) at the strongman World Deadlift Championships. The equivalent of a half metric ton, this incredible feat of strength added 35 kg/77 lbs to the previous world record. Once deemed impossible, this lift shook the earth in the strength community. And yet, this astronomical lift went unnoticed in the wider world.
So, what is the deadlift? Put simply, to deadlift is to pick up a loaded barbell off the ground, and stand at full lockout with the shoulders, back, hips and knees locked out straight. It is the truest test of strength known to strength sports. Contrary to what I’ll refer to as “gym bro rhetoric,” the bench press is indeed not the metric by which we ought to judge the strength of a lifter. Unlike benching or even squatting, the deadlift engages every muscle in the body. Furthermore, an extra element of strength is contributed by the inoptimal location of the weight in front of the body. This ens