Eddie Hall earned his title as the strongest man in the world through a combination of record-breaking achievements, most notably becoming the first human to deadlift 500 kilograms in 2016 and claiming the World’s Strongest Man championship in 2017.
His journey from a swimmer battling childhood anxiety to breaking what many considered impossible barriers in strength sports demonstrates the extraordinary physical and mental dedication required to reach the pinnacle of human strength.
Key Takeaways
- Historic 500kg Deadlift: Hall became the first person to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) in 2016, an achievement that came at an extreme physical cost including temporary blindness and bleeding from the intense strain.
- World’s Strongest Man Victory: His 2017 World’s Strongest Man title ended a 24-year drought for Great Britain and established him as one of the sport’s all-time champions.
- Extreme Physical Commitment: Hall maintained a competition weight of 157kg while consuming over 10,000 calories daily, enduring routine injuries including burst blood vessels and torn ligaments during his pursuit of strength records.
- Diverse Athletic Background: His foundation as a nationally competitive swimmer who won four gold medals and set British records provided the cardiovascular conditioning and discipline that later translated to strongman success.
- Entertainment Career Evolution: After retiring from competitive strongman, Hall successfully transitioned into television, film, and combat sports, including boxing matches and MMA fights that expanded his influence beyond traditional strength sports.
From Pool to Platform: The Origins of a Strongman
Eddie Hall’s path to becoming the world’s strongest man began with an unexpected athletic foundation. He excelled as a competitive swimmer during his youth, capturing four gold medals and setting British records. This aquatic background provided him with exceptional cardiovascular conditioning and mental discipline that would prove essential in his later strongman career.
His transition from swimming to strength sports occurred during his teenage years when he discovered powerlifting. Hall quickly demonstrated natural aptitude for moving heavy weights, though few could have predicted the historic achievements that lay ahead. Early competitions revealed his potential, but his dedication to extreme training methods set him apart from other athletes.
The Legendary 500kg Deadlift
The 500-kilogram deadlift stands as Hall’s most famous achievement and represents one of the most significant milestones in strength sports history. This lift required years of preparation and pushed his body beyond conventional limits. Hall collapsed immediately after completing the lift, experiencing temporary blindness and bleeding from his eyes due to the extreme blood pressure spike. Medical professionals later confirmed that the physiological stress nearly cost him his life.
Unprecedented Commitment to Training
Hall’s training regimen defied conventional wisdom about human limitations. He consumed more than 10,000 calories daily to maintain his competition weight of 157 kilograms. His daily routine included multiple training sessions, carefully planned nutrition, and recovery protocols that bordered on obsessive. Injuries became routine occurrences, with burst blood vessels, torn ligaments, and muscle strains happening regularly throughout his competitive career.
World’s Strongest Man Title
The 2017 World’s Strongest Man championship validated Hall’s position as the planet’s strongest human. His victory ended Great Britain’s 24-year championship drought and cemented his legacy among the sport’s greatest competitors. The competition tested multiple strength disciplines, requiring athletes to excel across various implements and movement patterns rather than specializing in a single lift.
Multi-Disciplinary Strength Warrior
Hall’s competitive career spanned multiple strength disciplines beyond strongman competition. He set records in powerlifting, participated in grip strength contests, and dominated various strength challenges that tested different aspects of human power output. This versatility distinguished him from athletes who focused on single disciplines and demonstrated his comprehensive strength development.
Transition into Entertainment and Combat Sports
After retiring from competitive strongman, Hall successfully transitioned into entertainment and combat sports. He appeared in television shows, documentaries, and films while simultaneously pursuing boxing and mixed martial arts training. These ventures expanded his audience beyond traditional strength sports fans and established him as a mainstream entertainment figure.
Educational Outreach and Motivational Work
Hall’s influence extends beyond his competitive achievements through his educational content and motivational speaking. He shares training insights, nutrition strategies, and mental preparation techniques that benefit athletes across various disciplines. His approach emphasizes the importance of systematic progression, mental resilience, and unwavering commitment to long-term goals.
Post-Retirement Health and Longevity Adjustments
The physical toll of Hall’s competitive career required careful management of his post-retirement health. He implemented dramatic lifestyle changes, including significant weight loss and modified training approaches that prioritized longevity over maximum strength output. These adjustments allowed him to pursue new athletic challenges while preserving his health for future endeavors.
Legacy of a Modern Titan
Hall’s legacy in strength sports continues to inspire new generations of athletes who study his training methods and mental approach. His willingness to push beyond established limits redefined what people considered possible in human strength development. Current strongman competitors regularly reference his techniques and mindset as they pursue their own record-breaking goals.
Modern strength athletes benefit from studying Hall’s systematic approach to breaking through performance plateaus. His emphasis on progressive overload, recovery optimization, and mental preparation provides a blueprint for achieving extraordinary results in strength sports. These principles apply across various disciplines and continue to influence training methodologies worldwide.
Lessons Beyond the Arena
Hall’s story demonstrates that exceptional achievements require extraordinary commitment and sacrifice. His willingness to endure physical pain, maintain extreme discipline, and push beyond conventional limits enabled him to reach heights that few humans have achieved. These lessons extend beyond strength sports and apply to any pursuit requiring exceptional performance levels.
The Historic 500kg Deadlift That Changed Everything
Eddie Hall etched his name into strongman history on July 9, 2016, at Giants Live’s Europe’s Strongest Man in Leeds. The monumental moment arrived when he became the first human being to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) at the World Deadlift Championships. This achievement didn’t just break a record—it shattered what many believed was physically possible for the human body.
The immediate aftermath of Hall’s historic lift revealed the extreme price of pushing human limits. He fainted within seconds of completing the deadlift, his body overwhelmed by the immense strain. Blood streamed from his nose and ears as the crushing pressure took its toll, while his vision temporarily disappeared entirely. These dramatic physical responses highlighted just how close Hall had pushed himself to the absolute edge of human capability.
The Journey to 500kg
Hall’s path to the 500kg milestone wasn’t a sudden leap but rather a calculated progression of record-breaking lifts. His systematic approach to increasing his deadlift showed remarkable consistency and determination. In 2014, he lifted 461kg (1,016 pounds) in Leeds, establishing himself as a serious contender for the ultimate record. The following year brought steady improvements:
- 462kg (1,019 pounds) at the 2015 Arnold Classic Australia
- 463kg (1,021 pounds) in England
- 464kg (1,021 pounds) at the 2015 World Deadlift Championships
Each incremental increase represented months of intense training and physical preparation. Hall’s methodical approach demonstrated that even superhuman feats require careful planning and gradual progression. His ability to consistently add weight while maintaining proper form showed the dedication required to reach such extraordinary levels of strength.
Beyond the Deadlift
While the 500kg deadlift remains Hall’s most famous achievement, his prowess extended to other strongman disciplines. His overhead lifting capabilities proved equally impressive, showcasing his well-rounded strength profile. At the 2017 World Log Lift Championship, Hall shared first place with a remarkable 213kg performance, demonstrating his versatility beyond just pulling massive weights off the ground.
Hall’s ambition in overhead lifting nearly resulted in another world record. During an attempt at 230kg, he came tantalizingly close to success but failed to complete the lockout, missing what would have been another historic moment. This near-miss illustrated both his incredible capability and the fine margins that separate success from failure at the highest levels of strength sports.
The physical consequences of Hall’s 500kg deadlift served as a stark reminder of what elite strongman competition demands. His temporary blindness and bleeding highlighted the extreme cardiovascular stress these lifts place on athletes. The human body simply wasn’t designed to handle such forces, yet Hall’s achievement proved that with proper preparation and unwavering determination, even the impossible becomes possible.
Hall’s historic deadlift transformed perceptions about human strength limits. Before his achievement, many experts questioned whether 500kg was even physiologically possible. His success opened new discussions about the boundaries of human performance and inspired a new generation of strongmen to push their own limits. The lift became a benchmark that future competitors would measure themselves against, similar to how legendary athletes in other sports set standards for greatness.
The immediate physical trauma Hall experienced also sparked important conversations about athlete safety in strength sports. His willingness to risk his health for the sake of achieving something extraordinary demonstrated the mindset required to reach the pinnacle of any sport. The dramatic visuals of his collapse and recovery became iconic, representing both the glory and the cost of pursuing absolute strength.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuSHOQ6gv5Y
2017 World’s Strongest Man Victory That Made History
Eddie Hall’s crowning achievement arrived in spectacular fashion when he claimed the World’s Strongest Man title in 2017. This victory ended a painful 24-year drought for Great Britain, making Hall the first British competitor to win the prestigious competition since Gary Taylor’s triumph in 1993. I’ve watched strongman competitions for years, and few victories have carried such emotional weight or national significance.
Building the Foundation for Greatness
Hall’s path to global dominance began with exceptional domestic achievements that established him as Britain’s premier strongman athlete. Between 2014 and 2018, he secured five consecutive Britain’s Strongest Man titles—a record that remains unmatched among British competitors. This sustained excellence at the national level demonstrated the consistency required for international success.
His ascent started even earlier with breakthrough victories that signaled his potential. Hall captured England’s Strongest Man in 2010, marking his emergence as a serious contender. The following year brought his UK’s Strongest Man victory in 2011, where he became the youngest-ever champion in the competition’s history. These early wins provided the momentum and confidence needed for his eventual assault on international strongman competitions.
International Recognition and the Road to Glory
Hall’s international career showcased steady progression toward his ultimate goal. His fourth-place finish at the 2015 World’s Strongest Man competition proved he belonged among the sport’s elite competitors. I observed how this near-miss fueled his determination to reach the podium’s top step.
The 2017 season demonstrated Hall’s peak competitive form across multiple international competitions. His second-place finish at the 2017 Europe’s Strongest Man competition served as the perfect preparation for his World’s Strongest Man attempt later that year. This silver medal performance validated his training approach and confirmed his readiness for the sport’s biggest stage.
When Hall finally claimed the World’s Strongest Man crown in 2017, the victory represented more than personal achievement. British strongman fans had waited nearly a quarter-century for one of their own to reach the summit again. Hall’s triumph reinvigorated interest in strongman competition throughout the UK and inspired a new generation of British strength athletes.
The historical significance of Hall’s 2017 victory extends beyond mere statistics. His win demonstrated that British strongmen could compete with Iceland’s dominant athletes and other international powerhouses. Hall’s success opened doors for future British competitors and established new training standards within the sport. Much like how wrestling legends inspire future generations, Hall’s achievement continues to influence aspiring strongmen worldwide.
Hall’s journey from domestic champion to global titleholder illustrates the dedication required to excel in strength sports. His five consecutive Britain’s Strongest Man titles provided the foundation for international success, while his consistent top-level finishes proved his ability to perform under pressure. The 2017 World’s Strongest Man victory stands as the culmination of years of strategic preparation and unwavering commitment to his craft.
This historic achievement forever changed Hall’s legacy within strongman competition. His 2017 triumph validated his status as one of Britain’s greatest strength athletes and secured his place among the sport’s all-time champions. The victory also marked the beginning of a new era for British strongman competition, proving that dedication and proper training could overcome any international competition.
Watch the full 2017 World’s Strongest Man competition highlights here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm-IlBhgJSo
The Physical Beast: Stats and Extreme Training Regimen
Eddie Hall’s physical presence commands immediate attention, standing 6’3″ (1.91m) tall with a competition weight that fluctuated around 157kg (345lb) during his peak years. At 37 years old, the January 15, 1988-born athlete has accumulated an estimated net worth of approximately £3.6 million GBP ($5 million USD) through his extraordinary strength career.
Fueling the Machine
Hall’s daily nutritional requirements bordered on the extreme, consuming over 10,000 calories daily to support muscle growth and recovery. This massive caloric intake wasn’t simply about eating more food—it represented a calculated approach to maintaining his colossal frame while ensuring his body could handle the punishment of world-class strongman training. I’ve observed that most elite strongmen require extraordinary nutritional protocols, but Hall’s approach pushed these boundaries to new limits.
His training intensity matched his nutritional extremes, often resulting in serious physical consequences. The regimen was so demanding that injuries became almost routine—burst blood vessels and torn ligaments were common occurrences during his preparation phases. This level of physical sacrifice demonstrates the price athletes pay when pursuing world records, particularly in strength sports where the human body operates at its absolute limits.
From Pool to Platform
Hall’s athletic foundation began far from the strongman platform. As a teenager, he dominated competitive swimming, earning recognition as a nationally competitive athlete. His 2001 performance at the UK nationals showcased his early athletic prowess, where he claimed four gold medals and one silver medal while setting two British records in the sport.
This swimming background provided crucial advantages that many overlook. The cardiovascular conditioning, discipline, and body awareness developed through competitive swimming translated directly into his later strength training success. Understanding more about athletic development patterns shows how early sport specialization can create unexpected foundations for future success.
The transition from swimming to strongman illustrates Hall’s remarkable athletic adaptability. Where swimming demanded lean muscle and cardiovascular efficiency, strongman required massive muscle mass and explosive power output. His ability to completely transform his physical composition while maintaining elite-level performance speaks to both his genetic gifts and unwavering dedication to excellence.
Hall’s physical statistics tell only part of his story. The combination of his imposing frame, extreme training methods, and diverse athletic background created the perfect storm for strongman dominance. His willingness to push his body beyond conventional limits, accepting injuries as part of the process, separated him from competitors who might possess similar physical gifts but lack his mental fortitude.
From Anxiety to Inspiration: The Personal Journey
Eddie Hall’s path to becoming the strongest man in the world began in the modest town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK, where his early years were marked by unexpected challenges. Despite what many might assume about future strongman champions, Hall battled severe anxiety and depression during his childhood. These mental health struggles shaped his character in ways that would later fuel his extraordinary determination.
Before Hall ever touched a barbell, he dominated swimming pools across England as a young prodigy. His natural athletic ability was evident from an early age, but life had different plans for him. The transition from swimming lanes to weight rooms happened when Hall reached age 20, marking the beginning of his bodybuilding journey.
Hall’s professional life took an unconventional route as he worked as a mechanic while pursuing his strength training goals. The decision to leave his steady job and commit fully to strongman competition required tremendous courage, especially considering his family responsibilities. This leap of faith from mechanic to full-time strongman athlete demonstrated the same fearlessness that would later define his record-breaking performances.
Overcoming Setbacks and Building Resilience
Hall’s rapid ascent in competitive strongman began just two years after he started bodybuilding, when he captured the England’s Strongest Man title. This early success, however, came at a significant physical cost. His pursuit of strength excellence demanded sacrifices that few athletes would willingly make, similar to how boxing matches require intense physical preparation.
The injuries Hall sustained during his career read like a medical textbook of extreme sports trauma. Torn ligaments became routine setbacks rather than career-ending disasters. Perhaps most shocking was the burst eyeball vessel he suffered during one particularly intense lift, a graphic reminder of the physical toll strongman competition extracts from its participants.
Hall’s work ethic became legendary among fellow competitors and fitness enthusiasts alike. His training sessions pushed beyond conventional limits, often lasting several hours and incorporating techniques that other athletes considered dangerous. This relentless approach stemmed partly from his childhood experiences with anxiety and depression, which taught him that mental toughness was just as important as physical strength.
Each setback only strengthened Hall’s resolve to achieve greatness. His ability to bounce back from serious injuries while maintaining peak performance levels set him apart from other strongman competitors. The combination of natural talent, unwavering determination, and an almost superhuman pain tolerance created the perfect storm for record-breaking achievements that would eventually make him a household name in strength sports.
Beyond Strongman: TV, Film and Unique Combat Sports
Eddie Hall’s transition from strongman competitions to entertainment and combat sports demonstrates his versatility as a performer. His television career began gaining momentum in 2018 when he starred in the Travel Channel’s Eddie Eats America, showcasing his personality beyond pure strength demonstrations. The following year brought even greater exposure through his co-featuring role on The Strongest Man in History on the History Channel in 2019, where he explored historical feats of strength alongside other renowned strongmen.
Film opportunities followed naturally from his television success. Hall stepped into the action movie genre with his appearance in Expend4bles in 2023, proving that his physical presence could translate effectively to the big screen. This move into Hollywood represents a significant expansion of his brand beyond traditional strength sports.
Combat Sports Adventures
Hall’s exploration of combat sports has created some of the most talked-about matches in recent years. His boxing venture in 2022 generated massive attention when he participated in The Heaviest Boxing Match in History against Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. Despite losing this highly publicized bout, the event demonstrated Hall’s willingness to challenge himself in unfamiliar territory while creating entertainment value for fans.
Mixed martial arts became his next frontier, where he found greater success. His 2025 MMA victory against Mariusz Pudzianowski marked a significant achievement, showing that his strength could be effectively adapted to different combat disciplines. This win validated his decision to continue pursuing combat sports despite his earlier boxing setback.
Arm wrestling presented another unique challenge for Hall. His 2024 match against Brian Shaw resulted in defeat, but it highlighted the specialized nature of different strength competitions. Even someone with Hall’s extraordinary power can face difficulties when competing outside their primary discipline, much like how wrestling legends must adapt their skills when transitioning between different forms of competition.
Expanding Entertainment Horizons
These diverse ventures have allowed Hall to maintain relevance long after retiring from competitive strongman events. His television appearances have shown audiences a more personable side, while his film work demonstrates his potential as an action star. The combat sports matches, regardless of their outcomes, have kept him in the public eye and generated significant pay-per-view revenue.
Hall’s approach to these new challenges reflects his competitive nature. Rather than resting on his strongman achievements, he continues pushing boundaries in different arenas. His willingness to risk defeat in boxing and arm wrestling shows the same fearless attitude that made him successful in strongman competitions.
The entertainment industry has embraced Hall’s unique combination of strength, personality, and authenticity. His television shows have been well-received, and his film appearance suggests more opportunities may follow. These projects have also introduced him to new audiences who might not be familiar with strongman competitions but appreciate his larger-than-life persona.
Combat sports have provided Hall with platforms to showcase his competitive drive while generating substantial income. Each match, whether won or lost, has contributed to his growing legend and demonstrated that strength athletes can successfully transition into other combat disciplines. His victories and defeats alike have created compelling storylines that keep fans engaged.
Hall’s post-strongman career illustrates how elite athletes can leverage their achievements into broader entertainment opportunities. His success across television, film, and combat sports has established him as more than just a former strongman competitor. These ventures have transformed him into a multimedia personality whose influence extends far beyond traditional strength sports.
The Legacy of Breaking Human Limits
Eddie Hall’s journey to becoming the strongest man alive represents something far greater than athletic achievement. His historic 500kg deadlift didn’t just break a record—it shattered preconceptions about human physical limitations and established a new frontier for strength sports enthusiasts worldwide.
The moment Hall pulled 500 kilograms from the floor, he accomplished what many believed impossible. This lift stands as the ultimate benchmark in powerlifting, a feat that required years of systematic training and an almost obsessive dedication to pushing his body beyond conventional limits. His achievement demonstrates that with proper preparation and unwavering commitment, athletes can transcend what science previously considered the ceiling of human strength.
Entertainment Value and Modern Appeal
Hall’s transition from competitive strongman to entertainment personality showcases how elite strength athletes can leverage their achievements in today’s media landscape. His ventures into boxing matches, television appearances, and social media content creation have introduced strength sports to audiences who might never have watched traditional strongman competitions. This crossover appeal has fundamentally changed how strength athletes build their careers and monetize their exceptional abilities.
His boxing match against Thor Björnsson exemplified this trend, drawing massive viewership and proving that strength sports personalities can command significant attention across multiple entertainment platforms. The event demonstrated how elite strongmen can successfully transition their physical prowess into marketable entertainment ventures, much like how wrestling legends have evolved their careers beyond the ring.
Hall’s success in entertainment mirrors broader trends where athletes expand their influence through diverse media channels. His approach has inspired other strength athletes to consider similar paths, showing that exceptional physical achievements can serve as launching pads for entertainment careers. This evolution reflects how modern audiences crave authentic personalities who’ve proven themselves through genuine accomplishment rather than manufactured celebrity.
The financial opportunities available to today’s strength athletes differ dramatically from previous generations. Hall’s ability to monetize his achievements through various channels—from sponsored content to exhibition matches—has created a blueprint for future strongmen looking to build sustainable careers beyond competition. His success demonstrates that strength sports can provide viable long-term career paths when athletes think strategically about brand building and audience engagement.
However, Hall’s journey also reveals the substantial physical price of pursuing such extreme goals. His training regimen and competitive career took an enormous toll on his body, resulting in multiple injuries and documented neurological effects. The temporary blindness he experienced after his record-breaking deadlift serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in pushing human physiology to its absolute limits.
The long-term health implications of extreme strength training remain a serious consideration for anyone inspired by Hall’s achievements. His openness about these challenges provides valuable insight for aspiring strength athletes who might otherwise underestimate the physical costs of elite-level training. This transparency helps create more informed decision-making among those considering similar pursuits.
Hall’s legacy extends beyond individual achievement to influence how society views human potential. His accomplishments have inspired countless individuals to reconsider their own limitations and pursue ambitious physical goals. The psychological impact of witnessing someone break what seemed like an unbreakable barrier creates ripple effects throughout the fitness community and beyond.
The scientific community has also benefited from studying Hall’s achievements and training methods. Researchers examining his approach to strength development have gained insights into optimal training protocols, recovery strategies, and the physiological adaptations required for extreme strength gains. This knowledge contributes to advancing training methodologies for athletes across various disciplines.
Modern strength sports continue to evolve partly due to Hall’s influence on the sport’s visibility and commercial viability. His success in building a personal brand around his achievements has shown other athletes how to leverage social media and entertainment opportunities to expand their reach beyond traditional strongman audiences. This evolution has attracted new sponsors, increased prize money, and elevated the overall profile of strength competitions.
Hall’s story ultimately illustrates both the incredible potential and inherent risks of pursuing human physical limits. His achievements inspire while his struggles remind us that extraordinary accomplishments often require extraordinary sacrifices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-p8XgTlRk
Sources:
Giants Live: “Eddie Hall athlete profile”
Jowandermanagement.com: “Eddie Hall is the World’s Strongest Man 2017 and the record holder for the heaviest deadlift in history of half a tonne”
YouTube, Giants Live Strongman: “Eddie HALL | Deadlift WORLD RECORD 463KG/1021lbs”
Greatest Physiques: “Eddie Hall”
Wikipedia: “Eddie Hall”
