The elephant bar is a barbell developed by Rogue Fitness which is specifically used for the strongman raw deadlift.[1] 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[2] and made from 200,000 psi tensile strength stainless steel,[3] 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.[4]
Since its inception in 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, the elephant bar deadlift has been featured 9 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.[note 1] The event also allows only standard weightlifting straps and prohibits the use of figure of 8 straps.[2]
Throughout the years, it became one of the most iconic and internationally recognized deadlift events in strongman history.[4][5]
(2019 Arnold Strongman Classic)[6][7]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) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2019 ASC | World Record | [8] |
| 472 kg (1,041 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2018 ASC | Former World Record | [9] |
| 467.5 kg (1,031 lb) |  Jerry Pritchett |
2017 ASC | Former World Record, performed outside the allocated 3 attempts | [10] |
| 465.5 kg (1,026 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2025 ASC | [11] | |
| Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2020 ASC | [12] | ||
| 465 kg (1,025 lb) |  Eddie Hall |
2016 ASC | Former World Record, done using figure-8 straps | [13] |
| 463 kg (1,021 lb) | Brian Shaw |
2016 ASC | [14] | |
 Jean-François Caron |
2018 ASC | [15] | ||
| Brian Shaw |
2019 ASC | [16] | ||
| 461 kg (1,016 lb) | Brian Shaw |
2018 ASC | [15] | |
| 458.5 kg (1,011 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2018 ASC | [15] | |
| 456.5 kg (1,006 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2024 ASC | [17] | |
| 456 kg (1,005 lb) | Jerry Pritchett |
2016 ASC | [14] |
| Weight | Athlete | Event | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 474.5 kg (1,046 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2019 ASC | [18] |
| 472 kg (1,041 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
2018 ASC | [19] |
| 467.5 kg (1,031 lb) | Jerry Pritchett |
2017 ASC | [20] |
| 465 kg (1,025 lb) | Eddie Hall |
2016 ASC | [21] |
| Weight | Athlete | Event | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 306.5 kg (676 lb) | Lucy Underdown |
2025 ASWC | [22] |
| 304.5 kg (671 lb) | Andrea Thompson |
2025 ASWC | [22] |
| 302 kg (666 lb) | Lucy Underdown |
2024 ASWC | [23] |
| 295.5 kg (651 lb) | Tamara Walcott |
2023 ASWC | [24] |
| Victoria Long |
2023 ASWC | [24] | |
| 291 kg (642 lb) | Tamara Walcott |
2022 ASWC | [25] |
| 281.5 kg (621 lb) | Andrea Thompson |
2020 RRB | [26] |
| 279.5 kg (616 lb) | Kristin Rhodes |
2020 RRB | [26] |
Notes:
