Some rules were made to be broken. Others, like that of physics, are really tested, however at the 2022 Shaw Classic Competition, Ukrainian strongman Oleksii Novikov did precisely that. The 2020 World’s Strongest Man took to the stage to deadlift an incredible 1,210 lbs (549kg), shattering the world record and sending a collective shudder down our spines.
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Brain Shaw competing in the Hummer Tire Deadlift event at the Shaw Classic in 2021 | Image: Shaw Classic
Held in Loveland, Colorado in August, the 2022 edition of the Shaw Classic promised to be the biggest in recent memory and it didn’t disappoint. The annual event sees the world’s strongest men battle it out against four-time champion Brian Shaw in a mixed discipline competition that includes fan favourites such as the Super Yoke Carry, Circus Dumbbell, Atlas Stones and of course, the Car Leg Press. While Texas strongman Trey Mitchell took home the title for the second straight year, it was a monumental effort from Ukrainian hero Oleksii Novikov in the Max Hummer Tire Deadlift event that got fans off their feet.
The event sees athletes tasked with lifting a giant barbell loaded with Hummer tires across a series of rounds. The rising bar system meant that each competitor is challenged to lift the heaviest weight possible, with total weights increased each round. Coming into the final round, a number of competitors tried and failed to lift the 1,210 lbs figure, but that was before Novikov stepped up to the plate.
Oleksii Novikov at Bradenton Florida in 2021 | Image: YouTube
The 26-year-old gathered his poise, assumed the position and casually picked up 549kg of steel and rubber, smashing the world deadlift record in the process. The feat was captured on film by Shaw himself, along with a number of fans in attendance, and has quickly gone viral across Reddit and Instagram. Since being posted to strongman forums, many fans have been quick to point out that Novikov’s power-to-weight ratio is among the world’s best.
Standing just 185cm tall and weighing 136kg, Novikov’s deadlift maximum is more than four times his total bodyweight. The feat was made all the more impressive after it was revealed that Novikov had next to no training leading up to the event, in light of the ongoing conflict in his home country. You can check out the clip above and learn more about the Shaw Classic via the link below.
