Strength sports present an interesting height dynamic. In powerlifting, shorter athletes have biomechanical advantages for squat and bench press due to shorter range of motion. However, in strongman competitions where events include carrying, loading, and overhead pressing, taller athletes can carry more muscle mass and excel at events that reward sheer size and strength. The tallest strength athletes are among the most physically imposing humans on the planet.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- The tallest powerlifting and strongman player ever is Hafthor Bjornsson at 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
- This list covers the top 10 tallest powerlifting and strongman players of all time
- Heights are shown in both feet/inches and centimetres
Complete List: Top 10 Tallest Powerlifting and strongman Players
| Rank | Player | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hafthor Bjornsson | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) | Iceland |
| 2 | Brian Shaw | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | United States |
| 3 | Eddie Hall | 6 ft 3 in (190 cm) | United Kingdom |
| 4 | Zydrunas Savickas | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | Lithuania |
| 5 | Oleksii Novikov | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | Ukraine |
| 6 | Tom Stoltman | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | United Kingdom |
| 7 | Mitchell Hooper | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | Canada |
| 8 | Luke Stoltman | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) | United Kingdom |
| 9 | Julius Maddox | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | United States |
| 10 | Ray Williams | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | United States |
1. Hafthor Bjornsson — 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Country: Iceland
Hafthor Bjornsson, famous for playing the Mountain on Game of Thrones, won the World’s Strongest Man competition in 2018 and set the all-time deadlift world record of 501 kg in 2020. The Icelandic giant stood 6 ft 9 in and weighed over 450 lbs during his strongman career. Bjornsson later transitioned to boxing and lost over 100 lbs for his fighting career.
2. Brian Shaw — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: United States
Brian Shaw won the World’s Strongest Man competition four times, making him one of the most successful strongmen in history. The American stood 6 ft 8 in and competed at weights exceeding 440 lbs. Shaw was known for his incredible grip strength and performance in Atlas stone events where his height allowed him to load the highest platforms.
3. Eddie Hall — 6 ft 3 in (190 cm)
Country: United Kingdom
Eddie Hall won the 2017 World’s Strongest Man and was the first man to deadlift 500 kg in competition in 2016, a feat he accomplished at the World Deadlift Championships. The British strongman known as The Beast competed at over 400 lbs and was known for his incredible pulling power. Hall later pursued boxing against Hafthor Bjornsson.
4. Zydrunas Savickas — 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Country: Lithuania
Zydrunas Savickas is widely regarded as the strongest man to ever live, winning the World’s Strongest Man and Arnold Strongman Classic multiple times each. The Lithuanian held numerous world records across pressing, deadlifting, and carrying events. Savickas competed at the top level of strongman for nearly two decades.
5. Oleksii Novikov — 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Country: Ukraine
Oleksii Novikov won the 2020 World’s Strongest Man at age 24, becoming one of the youngest champions in history. The Ukrainian combined his tall frame with exceptional athletic speed and endurance. Novikov was known for his incredible performance in moving events and his charismatic competitive personality.
6. Tom Stoltman — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: United Kingdom
Tom Stoltman won back-to-back World’s Strongest Man titles in 2021 and 2022 and holds the Atlas Stone world record. The Scottish giant competes alongside his brother Luke and has been one of the most dominant overhead pressers in strongman history. Stoltman uses his 6 ft 8 in frame to load Atlas stones onto record-height platforms.
7. Mitchell Hooper — 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Country: Canada
Mitchell Hooper won the 2023 World’s Strongest Man in his first appearance at the competition, a remarkable achievement. The Canadian strongman combined strength with exceptional athletic conditioning and speed in moving events. Hooper represented a new generation of well-rounded strongman competitors.
8. Luke Stoltman — 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Country: United Kingdom
Luke Stoltman is one of the tallest elite strongman competitors and competes alongside his brother Tom. The Scottish giant has finished on the podium at the World’s Strongest Man and is known for his deadlifting and overhead pressing strength. The Stoltman brothers are the most famous sibling duo in strongman history.
9. Julius Maddox — 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Country: United States
Julius Maddox holds the all-time world record raw bench press at 355 kg, the heaviest bench press ever performed without a bench shirt. The American is one of the strongest pressers in human history and competes in super-heavyweight powerlifting. Maddox uses his long arms and massive chest to bench press weights that seem impossible.
10. Ray Williams — 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Country: United States
Ray Williams held the all-time world record raw squat at over 490 kg and was the most dominant super-heavyweight squatter in powerlifting history. The American was the first man to squat over 1,000 lbs raw in IPF competition. Williams proved that in the heaviest powerlifting classes, height combined with mass creates unstoppable strength.
📏 Want to see how you compare?
Use our free Height Converter to convert your height, or try the Height Comparison Tool to visually compare yourself with these powerlifting and strongman giants. Browse our Celebrity Heights database or check out Average Height by Country for more data.
Final Thoughts
Height in strength sports creates fascinating trade-offs. While shorter powerlifters dominate in bench press and squat due to reduced range of motion, the tallest strongmen use their enormous frames to carry record-breaking muscle mass and dominate in events that reward size. The giants on this list represent the absolute pinnacle of human physical capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does height help in strongman?
Height is a major advantage in strongman competitions. Taller athletes can carry more muscle mass, have advantages in loading events like Atlas stones, and excel in overhead pressing. However, shorter athletes have advantages in events like deadlift and squat due to shorter range of motion.
Who is the strongest man ever?
Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania is often considered the strongest man ever based on his combined performances across pressing, deadlifting, and carrying events over a two-decade career. Hafthor Bjornsson holds the deadlift record at 501 kg.
What is the difference between powerlifting and strongman?
Powerlifting tests three specific barbell lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Strongman competitions feature varied events including carrying, loading, pressing, pulling, and endurance challenges. Powerlifting rewards precision while strongman rewards versatile strength.