Top Lifts on the One Hand Lift/Deadlift
Researched by David Horne. Updated 9 Sept 2011.
Here are the rules for a One Hand Deadlift, and a One Hand Lift. Obviously a One Hand Deadlift with a hook grip is exactly that.
There are 3 things that make lifting something with one hand harder.
1. Thickness of handle
2. Speed the bar rotates.
3. How near to the floor the handle/bar is.
4. What kind of grip is employed.
So there you have it.
Top Lifts
One Hand Lift (short range lift with a handle)
In an All-round contest (official)
335k David Horne 28 July 2001 at British Champs. Stafford, England. (1" lift) (R/H)
330k Steve Gardener 19 May 2007 at British Champs. Gloucester, England (2" lift) (R/H)
320k Benny Wennberg 14 Aug 2004 at European Champs. Loddekopinge, Sweden (2" lift) (R/H)
200k Elizabeth Talbot 14 Aug 2004 at European Champs. Loddekopinge, Sweden (2" lift) (R/H & L/H)
Single event contest (official)
304.3k Willie Whoriskey 26 November 1983 Bloxwich, England (Celcon Solar Building Blocks with a handle)
303.5k Clive Lloyd 12 August 1983 London, England (Celcon Solar Building Blocks with a handle)
Record (official)
207.5k Elizabeth Talbot 22 March 2007 Stafford, England (2" lift) (R/H & L/H)
In a strength performance
333k Herman Goerner 20 July 1920 Dresden, Germany (Block of sandsone with handle attached)
One Hand Deadlift using an Olympic bar (with a hook grip)
In an All-round contest (official)
255.1k Frank Ciavattone 10 September 2005 Frank Ciavattone Sr. Memorial meet, Mass., USA. IAWA Rec (R/H) [aged 50]
235.5k [4th attempt] 228k in the contest Andrew Durniat 14 May 2011 Black Swamp meet, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. (L/H) Video
220k David Horne 31 December 1995 Stafford, England. IAWA Rec (R/H) [All-round Team Postal league]
205k Andy Tomlin 14 June 1997 at IAWA British Champs, Glasgow, Scotland. (R/H)
200k [4th attempt] 180k in the contest Steve Sherwood 18 August 1991 IAWA All-round World Champs, Plymouth Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, USA. IAWA Rec. (L/H)
Single event contest (official)
221k Nick McKinless 15 November 1997 IAWA One Hand Deadlift Challenge, Burton, England. IAWA Rec (R/H)
221k Steve Angell 15 November 1997 IAWA One Hand Deadlift Challenge, Burton, England. (L/H)
Record (official)
273.1k Herman Goerner 1927 Camberwell Weightlifting club, London, England. Goerner held it for several seconds for the famous weightlifting referee W.J. Lowry. Getty, the famous millionaire was so impressed with this feat he gave Goerner £25 in cash. (R/H) [This seems to be the biggest official lift done by Goerner. Pullum stated that Goerner was to attempt a World Recordin front of referee W.J. Lowry.] Did they use an olympic bar here? Goerner was used to using a Berg olympic barbell in Europe, so maybe it was.
225k Mark Felix 30 May 2010 Guinness Record, at Seni, London, England. (L/H)
200k Bob Hirsh 15 October 1995 Art Montini's Birthday Bash, Ambridge, PA, USA (L/H)
In a strength performance
204.1k Walt Cuzzimano 1950s at John Terlazzo Show, USA.
Training lift
276.6k Steve Ekdal c.1970 New Jersey, USA. (did his deadlifts with the bar at the front of his body)
Debatable lift
330k? Herman Goerner 8 October 1920 Leipzig, Germany. Unofficial lift. (used a Berg revolving bar) *
One Hand Deadlift using an Olympic bar (with no hook grip)
In an All-round contest (official)
151.95k Steve Gardener 31 July 2010 European Grip Champs, Madrid, Spain. (R/H) [Eleiko Powerlifting bar].
151.3k Frank Ciavattone 1 October 2006 USA. IAWA Rec
145.1k Ryan Klein 28 July 2007 Michigan Grip contest. Three Rivers, MI, USA.
133.8k Jedd Johnson 28 July 2007 Michigan Grip contest. Three Rivers, MI, USA.
131.5k Dave Thornton 28 July 2007 Michigan Grip contest. Three Rivers, MI, USA.
130k Martin Arildson (Swe) 2006 European Grip Champs, Germany. (Ivanko OBX20 PL bar)
130k Florian Kellersmann 2006 European Grip Champs, Germany. (Ivanko OBX20 PL bar)
Record (official)
135k Laine Snook 8 Nov 2008 BHSA Record Day, Gloucester, England.
Training lift
135k David Horne 1 August 1997 Stafford, England. [Uddeholm olympic bar]
One Hand Deadlift using an Olympic bar (with a thumbless grip - fingers and thumbs on the same side of the bar)
In an All-round contest (official)
116.2k Steve Gardener 12 Nov 2005 Champion of Champions, Gt. Haywood, England. (R/H) [Uddeholm olympic bar]
116.2k David Horne 12 Nov 2005 Champion of Champions, Gt. Haywood, England. (R/H) [Uddeholm olympic bar]
Record (official)
135k Laine Snook 8 Nov 2008 BHSA Record Day, Gloucester, England.
125k Steve Gardener 8 Nov 2008 BHSA Record Day, Gloucester, England.
Other One Hand Deadlifts (don't know what kinds of bars were used)
250.3k Arthur Dandurand Born 1889. French/Canadian.
249.4k Malcolm Brenner October 1947 USA.
226.7k Richard Sorin USA.
215.4k August W. Johnson Sweden.
* This lift was an unofficial lift. His best official lift was performed in England with Paul Getty and W.A. Pullum as witnesses to this world record attempt. In a very interesting article in the Health & Strength mag of Dec 5, 1957 Pullum tells the readers the story. On this occasion Goerner lifted 602 1/4lb (273.1k) and held it for several seconds for the famous weightlifting referee W.J. Lowry. Getty, the famous millionaire was so impressed with this feat he gave Goerner £25 in cash. Goerner was so struck by this gesture, he asked for another 50lb to be placed on the bar, so that Getty got value for his money. Goerner lifted this 652 1/4lb (295.8k) succesfully but as the referee was about to count the hold, the bar rolled out of his hand and took a large flap of skin with it. It's not noted what kind of barbell was used here, but if it was an olympic bar then it would be his biggest official record lift.
My opinion on Goerner's 330k is that he may have got it, or could have at least been close, as it needs a good grip, very strong back, and a good hook grip, in which Goerner had most of these. Regarding his 251.5k that he was meant to have done without a hook grip, well all I can say on the subject is that if he couldn't hold onto 295.8k with a hook grip, then no way is he lifting 251.5k without. Obviously the bar on the 251.5k lift did not revolve, or is a slightly cambered in which you wouldn't really need a hook grip. For this reason I don't include it in the list.
Hope you enjoy this newly evaluated account.
David
