Life
Rauno Heinla is a professional strongman from Estonia who has been competing for over twenty years and has amassed several world records in variations of his favourite event – the deadlift. He is a two-time World Deadlift Champion and despite having long since moved into his forties, is still regarded as one of the best pullers on the planet.
Heinla still seems to be improving his strength and is showing little sign of winding down his competitive activities, nor his pursuit of the illusive 505kg deadlift world record. He has a daughter, Marie Heinla, and when not training and competing he works with clients as a certified personal trainer.
Career
Rauno began his competitive strength career in powerlifting and deadlifted over 400kg/882lb lifting “sumo” style, long before he came to the fore in strongman. He became involved in local strongman competitions in 2000 and won his first international contest – Estonia’s Strongest Man – in 2008. In fact, Rauno is the only Estonian to capture this title six times, with compatriots Tarmo Mitt and Andrus Murumets taking five titles apiece.
It took over twenty years of competing in strongman before Rauno finally made his debut at World’s Strongest Man and he has appeared only occasionally at major contests such as Europe’s Strongest Man or the Arnold Strongman Classic. Instead, he has become renowned for single lift events in the deadlift, and this is where he has made his greatest achievements. His 4th place finish at the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man is arguably his best competitive result over a full contest, although he has also picked up competition wins at Strongman Champions League and Arnold Pro Strongman World Series events.
Rauno has twice claimed the World Deadlift Championships title, in 2019, sharing the win with USA’s Jerry Pritchett and in 2022, where he also established a new masters’ World Record of 476kg/1,049lb. This lift added an astonishing 40kg/88lb to Mikhail Shivlyakov’s previous world record.
Heinla holds records in multiple variations of the deadlift; in 2020 he set a new record for lifting 400kg/882lb for repetitions, achieving six successful lifts as part of the WUS Feats of Strength online series. He also holds the world’s best in the Silver Dollar Deadlift, with a gargantuan 580kg/1,279lb.
Best Title
In 2022, at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, Heinla successfully lifted the third heaviest competitive deadlift in strongman history, when he beat all-comers with a new Masters’ World Record lift of 476kg/1,049lb to win the Giants Live World Deadlift Championships.
After the contest Heinla remarked that he felt this lift was not his maximum, but he knew that if he attempted a new open world record it would most likely have ended in injury.
Competition Results
Europe’s Strongest Man 2025: 7th place
World’s Strongest Man: 2024 – 6th in group, 2023 – 3rd in group
Europe’s Strongest Man 2024: 7th place
World Deadlift Championships: Winner in 2019 and 2022
Europe’s Strongest Man: 2021 – 4th place, 2025 & 2024 – 7th place, 10th place, 2022 – 12th place
2022 World Tour Finals: 6th place
Strongman Open: 2022 – 6th place, 2021 & 2022 – 8th place, 2023 – 10th place
Wembley 2019: 10th place. Norway 2014: 5th place, Finland 2011: 3rd place
Master’s World’s Strongest Man: 2024 – Winner, 2022 – runner-up
Arnold Strongman Classic: 2019 – 6th place, 2018 – 8th place
Arnold Pro Strongman World Series: Winner – 2017 South Africa & 2018 Australia
Arnold UK: 2022 – 3rd place. 2024 – 8th place
2023 World Strongman Championships: Runner-up
2023 Australia’s Strongest Man (international): Runner-up
Strongman Champions League: Winner – 2014 & 2015 Savickas Classic, 2014 Estonia
Força Bruta: Runner-up, 2021 & 2022
Best Lifts
Competition Lifts
Deadlift: 476kg/1,049lb (Masters’ World Record)
Silver Dollar Deadlift: 580kg/1,279lb (World Record)
Deadlift for repetitions: 400kg/882lb x 6 repetitions (World Record)
18-inch deadlift: 505kg/1,113kg
Log lift: 192.5kg/430lb
Axle press: 181.4kg/400lb x 2 repetitions
Atlas Stones: 5 stones from 100-180kg/220-398lb in 21.2 seconds
Training Lifts
Squat: 360kg/794lb (raw)
Bench Press: 240kg/529lb (raw)
Media
Rauno has his own website: raunoheinla.com which he uses to promote his personal training. He can be found on many social media platforms, including Instagram where he goes under the handle of @rauno_heinla. His account has some 36.8k followers who are regularly treated to his astounding deadlift feats. He is also active on Facebook as Rauno Heinla.
There is a multitude of videos featuring Heinla available to view on YouTube, mostly showcasing his training and competition performances. There are some interviews, including content from his 2022 World Deadlift Championships victory.
Rauno will feature on UK terrestrial’s Channel 5, over the Christmas period, as part of their World’s Strongest Man TV series, which includes the finals as well as the Giants Live WSM Arena Tour.
