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Hafthro Bjornsson deadlift world record broken by Raul Flores of Mexico
There is a new deadlift world record. Mexican strongman Raúl Flores has broken the all-time deadlift world record at 511 KG, or 1,126.56 pounds to be exact.
The previous deadlift world record was held by Icelandic strongman Hafthór Björnsson aka ‘The Mountain’ from HBO’s Game of Thrones. He held the previous deadlift world record at 510 kgs, or 1,124.36 pounds. But at the 2026 World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham, England, Raúl Flores set a new all-time mark.
Raúl Flores Beats ‘The Mountain,’ Sets New Deadlift World Record
At 37-years-old, Hafthór Björnsson is still one of the strongest men on planet earth but he is aging. With a record like this is was really only a matter of time until it was broken.
Raúl Flores is just 26-years-old. He is originally from Ciudad Victoria in Tamaulipas, Mexico but powerlifting has already enabled him to travel the world. Nicknamed ‘Tayzon,’ he won the Mike Strongman regional championship back-to-back in 2023 and 2024 in Deadlifting. Flores also became the first weightlifter from Mexico to ever qualify for the Arnold Strongman Pro/Am where he finished top-5 in 2025.
With a 4th place finish at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships, Raúl Flores came into the 2026 competition with unfinished business. He stands 5’9″ and weighs a hefty 363 pounds. Take a moment to let that sink in before you watch the video below of him setting the new Deadlift world record.
Pouring a little salt in the wounds of his Deadlift world record and unseating Hafthór Björnsson, ‘The Mountain’ himself finished second at the 2026 World Deadlift Championships with a total lift of 480 kg or 1,058.22 pounds. Raúl’s fellow Mexican powerlifter Austin Andrade finished tied for 4th in the event with 453.5 kg.
Outside of competition, Raúl Flores’ personal bests are 504.04 kg (1,111 lb) for Equipped Deadlift with straps and 482.5 kg (1,064 lb) x 2 for Equipped Deadlift for reps (with straps). He has also put up 1,036 lb for 3 reps with straps. Just an absolute beast of a man.
For those that want to see all of the action from the 2026 World Deadlift Championships, you are in luck. This video splices together all of the major lifts of note:
I have been laying off deadlifting this year after hurting my back in March… But seeing these guys chase the unknown has me wanting to pick up the bar again.
For context, British strongman Andy Bolton was the first person to Deadlift over 1,000 pounds. He eclipsed that mark in Lake George, NY back in 2006. Since then, the record has been broken 13 times and gone from 1,003.1lbs up to 1,126.56 pounds as of this past weekend. Just an incredible jump in the past two decades.