Fitness influencer set Guinness World Record with insane one-finger deadlift

They say people are lazy when they don’t lift a finger but fitness influencer Liu Weiqiang’s finger is not like everyone elses.

Liu Weiqiang has broken a Guinness World record, and all he had to do was, quite literally, lift a finger.

The Chinese fitness influencer deadlifted a jaw-dropping 144 kilograms with just his middle finger, breaking the previous record set by Egmond Molina, who achieved a one-finger deadlift of 138.5 kilograms in March 2024.

To put 144 kilograms into perspective, that’s roughly the weight of a washer and dryer combo, a bathtub full of water, a small motorbike, or even two full kegs of beer.

Yep. So, very impressive.

The strongman attached a carabiner to a sturdy fitness pole. Picture: Guinness World Records

Then added the weights to the pole. Picture: Guinness World Records

To achieve this whopping accomplishment, Liu built a weighted device he could lift with just one finger. He clipped a carabiner to a sturdy fitness pole and loaded it with four 25 kilogram plates and two 20 kilogram plates.

Then, while in a deadlift position - legs apart and a neutral spine - he looped his right middle finger around the carabiner and pulled the weight up, his face the picture of pain as he grimaced through the movement. The entire lift took almost an entire 10 seconds.

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You can feel it through the screen. Picture: Guinness World Records

Onlookers watching on. Picture: Guinness World Records

Impressive as the feat is, Liu is no stranger to breaking world records.

In 2023, he set eight Guinness World Records, including the heaviest weighted pull up (109.20 kg), most pull ups in one minute with a 36 kilogram pack (25 pull ups), and the most ring dips in one minute carrying a 45 kilogram pack (20 dips).

Contrary to his impressive rep sheet, the strongman did not set out with the intention of setting such records.

“Due to the pressures of work and the natural ageing process, I found myself with less energy for fitness than before,” Weiqiang previously told Guinness World Records.

“I believed that my training performances were already approaching record levels, so I decided to put myself to the test.

“I chose several challenges with a higher chance of success and scheduled them during the beginning of this year’s vacation.

“Since starting my job, I’ve had less time for fitness, and I’ve felt a bit slack. However, after proving myself through these records, I find fitness to be relaxing and enjoyable.”

Aussies have also gotten a piece of the world record pie as well.

In 2023, Brisbane accountant Lucas Helmke went down in history after beating the world record for the most push-ups in one hour as he performed 3206 pushups in 60 minutes.

For those having trouble wrapping your head around that figure, that’s an average of 53 per minute.

Lucas Helmke averaged 53 push-ups per minute. Picture: Guinness World Records

The previous record of 3182 was set by another Aussie, Adelaide mechanic Daniel Scali, in April 2022.

Mr Helmke attempted this record to “provide inspiration” for his one-year-old son in a bid to “show him nothing is impossible”.

The Queensland man trained for three years to break the record, with the official attempt taking place at powerlifting gym Iron Underground, Brisbane.

Originally published as Fitness influencer set Guinness World Record with insane one-finger deadlift