Eddie Hall
British retired strongman (born 1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward Stephen Hall (born 15 January 1988) is a British retired strongman competitor. He is best known for his former world record 500 kg (1,102 lb) deadlift[5] and for winning 2017 World's Strongest Man competition.[6] He has also won national competitions such as England's Strongest Man, Britain's Strongest Man, and UK's Strongest Man multiple times in the national circuit.
15 January 1988
- Media personality
- strongman
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | The Beast |
| Born | Edward Stephen Hall 15 January 1988 Newcastle-under-Lyme, England |
| Occupations |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1][2] |
| Weight | 142–196.5 kg (313–433 lb)[3][4] |
Spouse | Alexandra Hall |
| Children | 4 |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Genre | Strength Training/Strongman |
| Subscribers | 3.44 million |
| Views | 573.76 million |
| Last updated: 1 March 2026 | |
| Sport | |
| Sport | |
Medal record | |
Venturing into other sports, in 2022, he was defeated by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson in boxing, and in 2024, was defeated by Brian Shaw in arm wrestling.[7] In 2025, he defeated Mariusz Pudzianowski in mixed martial arts.
In 2025, he launched his own podcast titled 'The Good, the Bad and The Beast'[8] interviewing various strongman athletes and other athletes.
Early life
Hall was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, in Staffordshire, England on 15 January 1988.[9] As a teenager, he was a competitive swimmer in his age group; having competed in the UK Nationals swimming competition in 2001, winning four gold medals and one silver while setting two British records.[10][11] He attended Clayton Hall Academy, but was expelled at the age of 15 and began homeschooling.[12] At the age of 16, he began an apprenticeship as a technician at Lex Commercials, the local DAF Trucks site in Stoke-on-Trent. Upon completion of his apprenticeship in 2008, he began working as a mechanic and technician at the Robert Wiseman Dairies site in Market Drayton until 2016.[11][13]
Athletic career
Strongman
In 2007, Hall entered his first hometown strongman competition, where he achieved a 5th-place finish. A 3rd-place podium finish during a regional strongman competition in 2009 secured Hall an invitation to that year's official England's Strongest Man qualifier, where he narrowly missed qualification.[11]
In 2010, after replacing an injured Dave Meer of Tamworth at that year's England's Strongest Man championships, Hall secured his first competition win.[14] He achieved another competition win at UK's Strongest Man 2011 competition in Belfast, with Ken Nowicki in second and Rich Smith in third.[15] During the competition, Hall set a new national record in the Viking Hold, holding on to 20 kg (44lbs) axes in each hand at full stretch for one minute and 18 seconds. Although sustaining a minor tendon injury during the competition, Hall remained hopeful about receiving an invitation to that year's World's Strongest Man (WSM) competition, to be held in September. His improved results, however, would only secure an invitation to the following year's World's Strongest Man contest.[16]
Winning the UK title meant that Hall became the first choice to replace Jono MacFarlane of New Zealand in the Giants Live Melbourne event in February 2012, when the latter suffered a back injury.[17] He placed fourth. Later, in April 2012, he was invited to compete at Europe's Strongest Man at Headingley Carnegie Stadium. He finished in seventh place.[18] Also in 2012, Hall competed at the World's Strongest Man competition for the first time, but did not progress beyond his qualifying group, which contained Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and Mike Jenkins, who qualified for the finals.[19] He competed furthermore across international shows and emerged tenth at Ultimate Strongman series and thirteenth at Gateshead Grand Prix.
In 2013, Hall failed to qualify for Europe's Strongest Man. However, he was given a second chance when Ervin Katona was forced to retire due to injury. Hall competed in his place and came in eighth place. The same year, he placed eleventh at Super Series and was featured on BBC One's Watchdog series when the producers enlisted his help to test the strongest of drivers in specific circumstances.[20] He also competed at that year's World's Strongest Man, winning two events in his heat but narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final. He also placed twelfth at 2013 Giants Live British Open.
In 2014, Hall reached the final of WSM for the first time, coming second in the squat lift and finishing sixth, in one of the most stacked lineups on competitions history which consisted of Žydrūnas Savickas, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and Brian Shaw in the podium. He also placed fourth at 2014 SCL FIBO and third at Giants Live Hungary behind Jason Bergmann and Matjaz Belsak. In Europe's Strongest Man and SCL World Finals, he finished seventh and second respectively and both competitions were won by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.
In 2015 he entered a competition called Winter Strongman Challenge in Dartford, England which was escalated to an international competition and eventually won it. After placing sixth and fourth in the Arnold Strongman Classic and Arnold Australia, he finished fourth at the World's Strongest Man behind Shaw, Savickas and Björnsson. Also in 2015, Hall surpassed Benedikt Magnússon's deadlift world record with a lift of 462 kg (1,019 lb) in a lowered down deadlift suit and with lifting straps.[21] He placed ninth at Europe's Strongest Man, tenth in Toyota cup and won Battle of the North competition held in Faroe Islands. In December, a feature documentary about Hall called Eddie: Strongman was released. The film, directed by Matt Bell, follows Hall for two years as he strives to become the strongest man in the world.
In 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, Hall achieved a new world record in the Elephant bar deadlift by grinding 465 kg (1,025 lb)[22] which eventually made him withdraw from the rest of the competition. He then finished third at the World's Strongest Man behind Shaw and Björnsson. In July 2016 Hall broke the deadlift world record under strongman rules (standard bar with figure 8 straps and multi-ply suit) by lifting 500 kg (1,102 lb) at the World Deadlift Championships besting the world record 465 kg (1,025 lb) he previously shared with Jerry Pritchett and Benedikt Magnússon earlier that same day.[23] The 500 kg lift made Hall bleed from his ears and nostrils, and made him temporarily blind before he fainted to the floor.[24][25] The record stood for 3 years and 9 months until May 2020, when it was beaten by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who deadlifted 501 kg (1,105 lb) at the World's Ultimate Strongman Feats of Strength series.[26][27] Hall heavily disputed the legitimacy of the lift as it took place in his home gym.[28] However, Björnsson returned and deadlifted 505 kg (1,113 lb) at the 2025 Eisenhart Black Deadlift Championships in Germany,[29] and then 510 kg (1,124 lb) at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships.[30] He finished the 2016 calendar year by participating at Ultimate Strongman World Championships organized by Glenn Ross and finishing in twelfth place.
In 2017 Europe's Strongest Man, Hall finished second behind Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson after a close battle and won Britain's Strongest Man in the national circuit. He then won 2017 World's Strongest Man 1 point ahead of Björnsson, achieving his first and only major win. However, five years later in 2022, the circumstances under this win became notorious after Luke Stoltman's private conversation with World's Ultimate Strongman director Mark Boyd was released to the public, which indicated that it might have been rigged by Colin Bryce in favour of Eddie.[31][32] Hall ended 2017 with a tenth place finish at Giants Live World Tour Finals.
In 2018, Hall won his fifth Britain's Strongest Man title and shared first with Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and Cheick 'Iron Biby' Sanou at the 2018 World Log Lift Championships with 213 kg (470 lb)[33] and retired from Strongman due to serious health issues.[34][35]
Boxing
Hall started his boxing career in 2020 when his rival Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson challenged him after breaking the deadlift world record. He confidently responded "I'm going to train the hardest, eat the hardest, sleep the hardest and recover the hardest" amidst having boxed before and with his swimming background, claiming superior levels of cardio and endurance. He incorporated a lot of explosive punches, punching boxing machines and many athletes including gymnast Nile Wilson, pop musician Peter Andre and his training partners as hard as he can.[36][37] Hall's extensive training regime also incorporated a lot of bench presses, squats, deadlifts, medicine ball slams and burpees.[38]
On 19 March 2022, Hall faced Björnsson in Dubai, in a titan weight class boxing match which was tag-lined the heaviest match in history. Hall took the better of the first couple of rounds and managed to put Björnsson down while knocking him against the ropes at the beginning of the second round. But Björnsson bludgeoned Hall and knocked him down twice to the floor in rounds three and six. Hall sustained cuts on top of both eyes and lost by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 57–54 in favour of Björnsson.[39][40] Hall's boxing stance during the fight (especially from the fourth round onwards) garnered a lot of attention because of its uniqueness, having kept distinctly leaning over to the right side mimicking the natural movement of a Fiddler Crab, trying to negate the reach and height advantage of Björnsson.[41]
On 20 April 2022, Hall got a tattoo on his foot stating "World’s Strongest Man - Hafthor Julius Bjornsson" to commemorate the fight and his loss.[42]
Mixed Martial Arts
On 7 June 2024, Hall made his MMA debut competing in a 2v1 bout against social media influencers the Neffati brothers (Jamil and Jamel). Hall won the bout defeating both opponents.[43]
On 26 April 2025 Hall made his professional mixed martial arts debut for KSW facing off against former strongman and mixed martial artist Mariusz Pudzianowski. Hall overwhelmed his opponent and won the bout by TKO within 30 seconds of the first round.
Arm wrestling
On 14 December 2024, Eddie Hall lost to Brian Shaw during King Of The Table 13.[7]
In other media
Since his retirement from strongman in 2018, Hall has provided commentary for subsequent competitions. In 2018, Hall appeared on the Channel 5 show Celebs In Solitary, where he attempted to spend five days in solitary confinement.[44] In 2019, Hall presented the SPORTbible webseries Beasted! where he, along with Luke Fullbrook and Chris Peil, helped guide eight men through exercise plans and diets to improve their fitness.[45][46][47] Hall is also one of four strongmen, together with Nick Best, Robert Oberst, and Brian Shaw, featured in the History Channel series, The Strongest Man in History[48] where they tried to replicate or surpass historical feats of strength. Hall also had his first acting role as an extra in the action film Expend4bles (2023)[49] and initiated a gameshow titled Battle of the Beasts in Malta.
Personal life
Hall is married to Alexandra, a barbershop owner in Trent Vale, with whom he has a son named Maximus born in 2013 and two daughters born in June 2023 and October 2024.[50][51][52] He also has a daughter named Layla from a previous relationship.[53]
In December 2019, Hall announced he has the Hercules gene, which allows him to build more muscle mass than the average human being.[54][55]
Personal records
Competitions:
- Deadlift (standard bar with figure 8 straps and multi-ply suit) – 500 kg (1,102 lb) (2016 World Deadlift championships/ Europe's Strongest Man) (former world record)[56]
- Rogue Elephant bar Deadlift (with figure 8 straps and without suit) – 465 kg (1,025 lb) (2016 Arnold Strongman Classic) (former world record)[22]
- Raw Deadlift – 360 kg (794 lb) (without suit or straps) (2013 UK's Strongest Man)
- Deadlift (for reps) – 362.5 kg (799 lb) × 10 reps (multi-ply suit w/ figure 8 straps) (2017 Europe's Strongest Man)
- Circus Barbell Squat (for reps) – 317.5 kg (700 lb) × 15 reps (multi-ply suit w/ wraps) (2017 World's Strongest Man)
- Bench press – 280 kg (617 lb) (raw with elbow sleeves, touch and go) (2015 Eisenhart Challenge)
- Axle press – 216 kg (476 lb) (2017 Europe's Strongest Man) (former world record)
- Log press – 213 kg (470 lb) (2018 Europe's Strongest Man)
- Circus Dumbbell press – 100 kg (220 lb) x 4 reps (2014 Britain's Strongest Man), 124 kg (273 lb) Cyr Dumbbell x 1 rep (2015 Arnold Strongman Classic)
- Keg toss – 6 kegs 18–22.5 kg (40–50 lb) over 4.90 metres (16 ft 1 in) in 60.0 seconds (2014 World's Strongest Man)
- Weight over bar – 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 4.80 metres (15 ft 9 in) (2013 Giants Live Hungary)
- Atlas Stones – 5 Stones (heavy set) 120–200 kg (265–441 lb) in 23.81 seconds (2017 Europe's Strongest Man), 5 Stones (light set) 100–180 kg (220–397 lb) in 17.94 seconds (2016 Britain's Strongest Man)
- Húsafell Stone (replica) – 180 kg (397 lb) for 27.15 metres (89 ft 1 in) (2013 UK's Strongest Man)
- Dinnie Stones (original) – 2 Stones weighing 188 kg (414 lb) & 144.5 kg (319 lb) for 2.09 metres (6 ft 10 in) (2019 Strongest Man in History TV show)[57]
- Bale Tote (Super Yoke) – 680 kg (1,499 lb) for 2.67 metres (8 ft 9 in) (2015 Arnold Strongman Classic)
- CrossFit Isabel – 60 kg (132 lb) for 30 repetitions in 50.9 seconds (2019 CrossFit European Championships) (world record)
Training:
- Deadlift – 450 kg (992 lb) with straps (two man long bar)
- Squat – 405 kg (893 lb) (raw, beltless) (self-claim)[58]
- Long bar Squat (for reps) – 345 kg (761 lb) for 8 reps (beltless, on 8 foot bar)
- Safety bar Squat (for reps) – 350 kg (772 lb) for 6 reps (beltless)[59]
- Equipped Bench press – 300 kg (661 lb)
- Bench press (for reps) – 265 kg (584 lb) for 6 reps (8 foot bar, paused between reps),[60] 225 kg (496 lb) for 10 reps (8 foot bar)
- Incline bench press – 265 kg (584 lb),[61] 225 kg (496 lb) for 7 paused reps
- Incline dumbbell press – 100 kg (220 lb) per hand for 7 reps, 90 kg (198 lb) per hand for 10 reps
- Dumbbell shoulder press – 60 kg (132 lb) per hand for 40 reps
Competitive strongman record
Winning percentage: 9.67%
Podium percentage: 25.80%
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Podium | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 17th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International competitions | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
Other sporting records
Boxing
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Year | Venue/ event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 |  Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
UD | 6 | 19 Mar 2022 | Aviation Club Tennis Centre, Dubai, U.A.E. |
Arm wrestling
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Outcome | Hand | Year | Venue/ event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Win | 1–2 |  Robert Oberst |
2-1 | Right hand | 2025 | East vs West |
| 2 | Loss | 0–2 | Brian Shaw |
2-4 | Right hand | 2024 | King Of The Table 13 |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 |  Vytautas Lalas |
0-1 | Right hand | 2020 | 2020 Europe's Strongest Man |
Mixed martial arts
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Round, time | Year | Venue/ event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 |  Mariusz Pudzianowski |
TKO (punches) | 1, 0:30 | 2025 | KSW 105, Gliwice, Poland |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Eddie: Strongman | Himself | |
| 2017 | Transformers: The Last Knight | Saxon Warrior | (Uncredited) |
| 2017 | Born Strong | Himself | |
| 2020 | How to be Behzinga | YouTube Premium series, 1 episode | |
| 2023 | Expend4bles | Bartender |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2025 | World's Strongest Man | Himself – Competitor/Pundit | |
| 2016 | A League of Their Own | Himself | Series 10, Episode 3 |
| 2016 | Couples Come Dine with Me | Series 3, Episode 69 | |
| 2018 | The Chase | Series 8, Episode 4 | |
| 2018 | Celebs In Solitary | 1 series | |
| 2018 | Eddie Eats America | 1 series | |
| 2019 | The Strongest Man in History | 1 series | |
| 2020 | Eddie Eats Christmas | 1 series | |
| 2022 | Eddie Hall: The Beast v The Mountain | ||
| 2026 | Battle of the Beasts | Himself – Host |