Tommy Fury has been putting in some serious graft in the gym. Having recently competed in a Hyrox doubles event and clocked an impressive 1:37 half marathon, the professional boxer has now added another achievement to his list: a 240kg deadlift.
The lift puts him above the advanced strength standard for male lifters, although there’s one very important caveat. Fury performed the deadlift from blocks, reducing the range of motion and making it a different proposition from pulling the weight off the floor.
‘Pulling a 240kg deadlift, well over double my body weight, is something I’m really happy with, especially whilst balancing all of my other training,’ says Fury in his caption. ‘Hybrid training is something I’ve always loved, and at the minute I’m mixing in running, Hyrox training and strength work alongside my non-negotiable boxing training and sparring. Building a bit of everything without compromising what matters most.’
Nevertheless, it’s a seriously impressive display of strength, particularly alongside his endurance training. So, just how good is a 240kg deadlift, and how does yours compare?
How Does Your Deadlift Compare?
According to Strength Level, which compiles lifting data submitted by its community*, the average one-rep max deadlift among men who lift weights is 154kg. Here’s how the different strength standards compare:
Beginner: 80kgNovice: 113kgIntermediate: 154kgAdvanced: 202kgElite: 253kg
It’s again important to note that these are deadlifts pulled from the floor, whereas Fury’s is pulled from blocks. As with sumo deadlifts, the reduced range of motion can allow you to pull more weight.
However, shifting 240kg is no small feat, particularly when balancing strength training with running, Hyrox and boxing. While Fury’s block pull can’t be directly compared with conventional deadlift standards, it’s certainly an impressive display of strength from an athlete who isn’t solely focused on lifting heavy.
Don’t be put off by the fact that this massive number isn’t even considered ‘elite’, either: Strength Level’s data is based on people who actively track and submit their lifting numbers – presumably fairly serious trainees, even at the novice level – so these figures shouldn’t be interpreted as representative of the general male population.
As Men’s Health Fitness Director Andrew Tracey points out:
‘More than a quarter of men in England do less than 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity a week, let alone lift heavy weights. Fury’s lift is probably closer to the top 1% of men at a population level.’
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