Despite being in his early 40s, Rauno Heinla defies the bounds of age as he competes against younger, vigorous athletes in the world of Strongman. His exceptional ability in the deadlift underscores his formidable power, making him a strong contender for the title of the world’s most powerful deadlifter. Remarkably, Heinla has managed to further his prowess in this event by setting a staggering new world record for an 18-inch deadlift at 540 kilograms (1,190.5 pounds). Following this feat, he turned to Instagram to share this extraordinary achievement with his followers.
A New Record on Home Turf
The stage for this impressive feat was the 2023 Tartu Rammumees ja Rammunaine competition held in Tartu, Estonia on July 22nd. Observers speculate that Heinla participated in the competition with the sole objective of shattering the previous record – a goal he accomplished with absolute success.
The Lift Heard Round the World
For this record-setting lift, Heinla donned a lifting belt and figure-eight lifting straps. In an effort to facilitate the lift, he chose to go shoeless. Taking his position at the bar, he began his ascent. The weight of 540 kilograms (1,190.5 pounds) seemed to almost float upward, with Heinla showing no sign of a struggle.
A Record Surpassed and Celebrated
The previous record-holder for the 18-inch deadlift was Oleksii Novikov, who set the bar at 537.5 kilograms (1,185 pounds) at the 2020 World’s Strongest Man event. Demonstrating sportsmanship, Novikov took to the comments section of Heinla’s post to congratulate him on his new world record.
View this post on Instagram
Reactions and Reflections
Following Heinla’s lift, many of his followers remarked that his record-setting 540-kilogram (1,190.5-pound) 18-inch deadlift appeared effortless. In response to one such comment, Heinla revealed his thoughts on the lift.
“You made that look easy!! 🙌🏽💪🏽” wrote one commenter.
“it was 😂” responded Rauno Heinla.
A Triumphant Year for Heinla
The recent 18-inch deadlift record is just one of Rauno Heinla’s stunning achievements within a little over a year. He began this series of world records with a groundbreaking Silver Dollar Deadlift of 580 kilograms (1,278.7 pounds) in June 2022. Barely two months later, he set another record, this time in the Masters Deadlift category, lifting a standard barbell with an astounding weight of 476 kilograms (1,049.4 pounds).
Estonia’s Prolific Strongman
Over the course of his 14-year career, Heinla has competed in 51 international Strongman competitions, emerging victorious in four. Additionally, his six National Championship wins have cemented his status as Estonia’s Strongest Man.
A Comeback Story
Heinla’s journey has not been devoid of challenges; he has spent considerable time dealing with injuries and illnesses. However, he’s currently in excellent health and gearing up for the 2023 Giants Live World Open & Deadlift World Championships scheduled for September 2nd.
View this post on Instagram
A Champion in the Making
Looking ahead, Heinla is set to compete for the title of 2023 World’s Strongest Master at the OSG Games in December. His recent record in the 18-inch deadlift positions him as a strong contender. With three world records already to his name, it is exciting to speculate about what heights Rauno Heinla might aspire to conquer next.
Overview
Estonian strongman Rauno Heinla, renowned for his extraordinary deadlift prowess, has set a new 18-inch deadlift world record of 540 kilograms (1,190.5 pounds). This achievement, accomplished at the 2023 Tartu Rammumees ja Rammunaine competition, is the latest in a series of records set by Heinla over the past year. Despite being in his early 40s and having faced health challenges, Heinla’s career continues to thrive. With his health now in top shape, he is preparing for the 2023 Giants Live World Open & Deadlift World Championships and the title of 2023 World’s Strongest Master at the OSG Games. With three world records under his belt, Heinla’s future prospects in the Strongman circuit are highly anticipated.
Featured Image @rauno_heinla (Instagram)
