Raúl Flores has set a new deadlift world record after pulling an astonishing 511 kg in Birmingham, pushing the limit of human strength even further and rewriting one of the most iconic records in all of strength sport.
Deadlift records always carry a special kind of gravity. They are easy to understand, brutal to attempt and impossible to fake. There is no hiding behind complexity when the only task is to stand up with more than half a ton in your hands.
This time, it was Mexico’s Raúl Flores who delivered the moment. In doing so, he moved past Hafþór Björnsson’s previous 510 kg mark and gave the strongman world a new number to chase.
511 kg
That is approximately 1,126.6 lb of total load pulled from the floor.
Birmingham
The record was set at the World Deadlift Championships 2026.
510 kg
Hafþór Björnsson’s 2025 mark stood as the benchmark until now.
One Kilogram Changed the Record Books.
From the record attempt itself to the number Raúl Flores had to beat, scroll through the three moments that define the new deadlift world record.
The Lift That Changed the Number
Raúl Flores arrived at the World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham knowing that history required more than strength. It required moving a number nobody had officially completed before: 511 kilograms.
Flores first completed 470 kg before moving to the record attempt. The 511 kg bar left the floor, slowed dramatically through the upper portion of the pull and eventually reached full lockout.
One successful down signal later, the benchmark for the heaviest deadlift had moved again.
Thor Had Moved the Ceiling to 510 kg
Only one year earlier, Hafþór Björnsson had pushed the world record to 510 kg at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham.
That lift followed his 505 kg performance earlier in 2025 and continued a progression that had already included his famous 501 kg pull in 2020.
At this level, progress is no longer measured in dramatic jumps. A single kilogram can separate one era from the next.
That was all Flores needed to rewrite the record.
The Ceiling Has Moved Again
Eddie Hall made 500 kg feel impossible in 2016. Hafþór Björnsson eventually pushed the record through 501, 505 and 510 kg.
Now Flores has taken possession of the number.
The difference between 510 and 511 may look insignificant on paper. At the absolute limit of human strength, however, every additional kilogram represents another problem that training, technique and psychology must solve.
The most interesting question is no longer whether somebody can lift more than 510 kg.
Who will be the first to chase 512—or beyond?
Top 5 Heaviest Deadlifts in This Record Lineage
To keep the comparison clean, this table follows the major strongman/open deadlift record progression rather than mixing different federations and rule sets.
| Rank | Athlete | Lift | Event / Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raúl Flores | 511 kg / 1,126.6 lb | World Deadlift Championships 2026, Birmingham |
| 2 | Hafþór Björnsson | 510 kg / 1,124.4 lb | World Deadlift Championships 2025, Birmingham |
| 3 | Hafþór Björnsson | 505 kg / 1,113.3 lb | Eisenhart Black Deadlift Championships 2025, Bavaria |
| 4 | Hafþór Björnsson | 501 kg / 1,104.5 lb | Thor’s Power Gym, Iceland, 2020 |
| 5 | Eddie Hall | 500 kg / 1,102.3 lb | World Deadlift Championships 2016, Leeds |
Deadlift Power, Grip and Event Context
A world-record strongman deadlift is not the same as an Olympic lifting pull or a traditional gym deadlift. Strongman rules often allow straps and event-specific conditions, which is part of why these numbers are so unique.
If you want to better understand grip mechanics and pulling fundamentals, this story connects well with one of our earlier posts.
READ: HOOK GRIP IN WEIGHTLIFTINGWhy This Matters Beyond the Headline
Records inspire people because they turn abstract training into something visible. Every max effort, every heavy set and every difficult session exists in the shadow of moments like this.
Even if you never chase 511 kg, the mentality behind a lift like this still applies: prepare relentlessly, respect the process and commit when your moment arrives.
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If this record has you thinking about heavier pulls, one of the most relevant accessories to explore is a pair of lifting straps. For max-effort deadlift training, they can help reduce grip limitation so you can focus on overload and positioning.
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The Bottom Line
Records like this remind us why strength sport remains endlessly fascinating. The deadlift is brutally simple, yet the gap between “very strong” and “world record” is almost impossible to comprehend.
Raúl Flores has now placed his name above one of the most legendary marks in modern lifting. Whether the number holds for years or gets challenged sooner than expected, the message is already clear: 511 kg is the new mountain.
Chase the limit.
Build uncommon strength.