Elephant bar

The elephant bar is a barbell developed by Rogue Fitness which is specifically used for the strongman raw deadlift. It was first created in 2016 by Terry Todd, the director of the Arnold Strongman Classic. The bar is known for being 10 ft (3.05 m) long and made from 200,000 psi tensile strength stainless steel, making it bend more than a power bar, and whip both up and down as well as forwards and backwards, while the deadlift is being performed.

Elephant bar deadlift

Since its inception in 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, the elephant bar deadlift has been featured 10 times at the Arnold Strongman Classic and the Rogue Invitational. The event uses specially designed Arnold Schwarzenegger inscribed 2-inch thick deep dish stainless steel weight plates which allow the bar height to remain at the standard 9 inches off the floor. The rules state that no deadlift suits are allowed hence the lift should be performed raw. The event also allows only standard weightlifting straps and prohibits the use of figure 8 straps.

Throughout the years, it became one of the most internationally recognized deadlift events in strongman history.

World record

→ It is also the current all-time strongman raw world record irrespective of the bar
Note: In strongman, a raw deadlift is a lift performed without the use of any deadlift suit or power briefs.

Heaviest lifts in history

Only five men in history have deadlifted 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) or more raw on the elephant bar. Each instance is listed below.

Weight Athlete Event Remarks Ref.
474.5 kg (1,046 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2019 ASCWorld Record
472 kg (1,041 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2018 ASCFormer World Record
467.5 kg (1,031 lb)United States Jerry Pritchett2017 ASCFormer World Record, performed outside the allocated 3 attempts
465.5 kg (1,026 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2025 ASC
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2020 ASC
465 kg (1,025 lb)United Kingdom Eddie Hall2016 ASCFormer World Record, done using figure-8 straps
463 kg (1,021 lb)United States Brian Shaw2016 ASC
Canada Jean-François Caron2018 ASC
United States Brian Shaw2019 ASC
461 kg (1,016 lb)United States Brian Shaw2018 ASC
458.5 kg (1,011 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2018 ASC
456.5 kg (1,006 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2024 ASC
456 kg (1,005 lb)United States Jerry Pritchett2016 ASC

World Record progression

Weight Athlete Event Ref.
474.5 kg (1,046 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2019 ASC
472 kg (1,041 lb)Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson2018 ASC
467.5 kg (1,031 lb)United States Jerry Pritchett2017 ASC
465 kg (1,025 lb)United Kingdom Eddie Hall2016 ASC

Women's world record progression

Weight Athlete Event Ref.
318 kg (701 lb) United Kingdom Lucy Underdown 2026 ASWC
311 kg (686 lb) United Kingdom Lucy Underdown 2026 ASWC
309 kg (681 lb) United States Jennifer Lyle 2026 ASWC
306.5 kg (676 lb)United Kingdom Lucy Underdown2025 ASWC
304.5 kg (671 lb)United Kingdom Andrea Thompson2025 ASWC
302 kg (666 lb)United Kingdom Lucy Underdown2024 ASWC
295.5 kg (651 lb)United States Tamara Walcott2023 ASWC
United States Victoria Long2023 ASWC
291 kg (642 lb)United States Tamara Walcott2022 ASWC
281.5 kg (621 lb)United Kingdom Andrea Thompson2020 RRB
279.5 kg (616 lb)United States Kristin Rhodes2020 RRB

See also

References

  1. ↑ Terry Todd. "Making The Rogue Elephant Bar & Deep Dish Plates". roguefitness.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Elephant bar deadlift" (PDF). Rogue Record Breakers. 1 (1): 7–8. February 2016.
  3. ↑ Horaczek, Stan (19 January 2019). "Building a barbell for 1,000 pound deadlifts takes careful engineering and lots of testing". Popular Science.
  4. 1 2 3 Tabakovic, Vedad (12 January 2025). "Hafthor Bjornsson accepts $101,000 challenge to Lift 501-kg (1,104.5-lb) Elephant Bar Raw Deadlift at 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic". fitnessvolt.com.
  5. 1 2 "Should An Elephant Bar Deadlift Record Count, by Kalle Beck". www.barbend.com. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "STRENGTH RECORD, Section 01 - Deadlifts". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "2019 Arnold Strongman Classic". YouTube. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Rogue Fitness for ASC (4 March 2019). "2019 Arnold Strongman Classic - Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift Highlights". YouTube.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Rogue Fitness for ASC (5 March 2018). "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic - Deadlift Highlights - 8K". YouTube.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Jerry Pritchett (5 March 2017). "Jerry Pritchett 1031lbs Elephant Bar World Deadlift record!". YouTube.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "2025 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  12. ↑ "2020 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. ↑ Rogue Fitness for ASC (6 March 2016). "The Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift — 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic". YouTube.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  14. 1 2 "2016 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "2019 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "2024 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  18. ↑ "2019 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  19. ↑ "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "2017 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  21. ↑ "2016 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 "Full Live Stream - Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift | 2026 Arnold Strongwoman Classic". 7 March 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  23. 1 2 "2025 Arnold Strongwoman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  24. ↑ "2024 Arnold Strongwoman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  25. 1 2 "2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  26. ↑ "Heaviest elephant bar deadlift (female)". www.guinnessworldrecords.com. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Pro Strongwoman Kristin Rhodes and Andrea Thompson Break Women's Deadlift Record". Fitness Volt. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2025.

Notes:

  1. ↑ However, the organizers of the event deviated from this rule in 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic, where they allowed the athletes to wear 'power briefs', hence the lifts from that year are not considered raw.