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?" we asked in 2008, tossing out what seemed to be a Jules Verne like number.
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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.
Included in backyard meets and major fitness expo events, the Rolling Thunder soon became a staple of the grip strength world and the first Rolling Thunder World Championships was held in 2000 in conjunction with Odd Haugen's Beauty and the Beast strongman contest—a contest that included three World's Strongest Man winner.
There's little technique to the Rolling Thunder, so it just comes down to how strong you are: Our feeling at IronMind is that ff you can't pull at least 250 lb. 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.
IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo. |
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Rolling Thunder World Records
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Men's Current World Record
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| May 5, 2012 |
Mark Felix |
146.75 kg
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Men's Past World Records
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| January 18, 2008 |
Mark Felix |
301 lb. |
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| August 2006 |
Laine Snook |
274.2 lb. |
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| June 2003 |
Andrus Murumets |
267 lb. |
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| June 2003 |
Magnus Samuelsson |
262 lb. |
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| June 2001 |
Jan Bartl |
258.5 lb.* |
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| May 2000 |
Jan Bartl |
265.4 lb. |
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| * left handed |
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Women's Current World Record
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| September 22, 2012 |
Ludmila Gaiduchenko
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77.2 kg |
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Women's Past World Record
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May 26, 2012
January 28, 2012
April 7, 2007
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Jaana Tanner
Jaana Tanner
Elizabeth Horne
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69.25 kg
66.75 kg
65.51 kg
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If you're interested in training for or holding a Rolling Thunder® contest, here are the rules:
Rolling Thunder® Contest Rules
1. An authentic current-model 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 can 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; and other than incidental contact, the hand or Rolling Thunder handle must not touch the body before the lift is completed—dragging the hand or handle up the leg is cause for an immediate "No lift."
4. The lifter must fully straighten up (back erect, legs and hips locked out); once standing straight, the lifter must maintain control of the lift for 1 second before getting 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).
Print out a copy of the Rules and Referee Form and take it with you to your official attempt. The referee will complete the form and return it to us.
You'll find our Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle in our on-line store.
Visit IronMind's Grip-Tech hub.
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