The Challenge - Met! It took a few years and many valiant efforts since we first issued our challenge in 1993, with a nod at David Willoughby, to the first person to one-hand deadlift 300 pounds on our Rolling Thunder Deadlift Handle (at an official contest according to our Rolling Thunder Contest rules, this page). Congratulations to Mark Felix for meeting the challenge with his world record lift of 301 lb. on January 18, 2008, at the 2008 Rolling Thunder World Championships, held in conjunction with the Super Series Mohegan Sun Grand Prix. Mark takes home the $300 IronMind gift certificate, our long-standing offer for breaking the 300-lb. barrier. What’s next—is 325 lb. in danger? One-hand deadlifts have long been a preferred means of testing and building one's grip, and to put an edge on the challenge, a thick-handled bar was employed-this was the proving ground of many a grip legend. IronMind developed the Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle in 1993 and since then, it's become known by strong men worldwide. The Gillinghams institutionalized Rolling Thunder contests at their family holiday feasts, and Rolling Thunder competitions are often held in conjunction with major strongman events-and the Rolling Thunder is one of the Big Three grip tests of the GNC Grip Gauntlet. If you can't pull at least 250 or so on the Rolling Thunder and think you've got a world-class grip, you must be swimming in the wrong pool. It was huge: Mark Felix won the 2008 IronMind® Rolling Thunder® World Championships at the Mohegan Sun and set a new world record with this lift of 301 pounds. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Rolling Thunder World Champions

Men's Current World Record January 18, 2008 Mark Felix 301 lb.

Men's Past World Records August 2006 Laine Snook 274.2 lb. June 2003 Andrus Murumets 267 lb. June 2003 Magnus Samuelsson 262 lb. June 2001 Jan Bartl 258.5 lb.* May 2000 Jan Bartl 265.4 lb. * left handed

Women's Current World Record April 7, 2007 Elizabeth Horne 144.4 lb. (65.5 kg)

Women's Past World Record July 2002 Becca Swanstone 135 lb.

If you're interested in training for or holding a Rolling Thunder® contest, here are the rules: Rolling Thunder® Contest Rules 1. An authentic IronMind® Rolling Thunder® handle must be used, it cannot have been modified in any way, and it must be inspected to ensure that it revolves freely. The lift starts with the weight in between the lifter’s feet. In the world championships (and the U.S. nationals), the 15"; loading pin and large carabiner that IronMind sells are used (this standardizes the lifting height). Any other loading pin and carabiner with the same dimensions could be used. 2. The lifter grabs the Rolling Thunder handle in approximately its center and lifts with the handle remaining approximately parallel to the ground. A thumbless grip is not permitted. 3. Any contact between the lifter's hand and the non-revolving portion of the handle disqualifies the lift. 4. The lifter must fully straighten up; once standing straight, the lifter gets a down signal from the referee, and must then return the weight to the ground. Contact must be maintained between the lifter's hand and the handle until the weight is resting on the floor. The referee then indicates whether the lift was passed or not. 5. In contest situations, we give the lifter one minute to complete the lift after his/her name is called; during that minute, there is no limit to how many times the lifter may try to complete the lift. 6. Ordinary chalk may be used on the lifter's hand, but nothing else is permitted (tacky, for example, is specifically disallowed). You'll find our Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle in our on-line store. Visit IronMind's Grip-Tech hub.