Eddie Hall, British weightlifter and winner of the title of World’s Strongest Man in 2017, made history by being the first to lift 500 kilograms, in 2016. The feat, however, resulted in serious physical consequences. During the survey, Hall suffered an explosion of blood vessels in his brain, which caused hemorrhages in his ears, eyes and nose, as explained on the website. After the extreme effort, the athlete temporarily lost his vision and passed out on the spot.
The episode occurred while Hall was trying to surpass the world weightlifting record, which at the time was 465 kilograms and had been shared with two other athletes. Determined to win the record individually, Hall concentrated all his physical and mental strength to lift 500 kilograms. However, just seconds after completing the lift, the athlete passed out and became unconscious.
During recovery, Hall reported that he feared for his life. Lying on the ground with no vision, he thought he might not survive. Reports indicate that he had severe bleeding and needed immediate care. Despite the complications, Hall made a full recovery and continued to compete in the sport.
Hall’s record was surpassed three years later by Icelandic Hafþór Björnsson, who lifted 501 kilograms, also being awarded the title of strongest man in the world. The rivalry between the two athletes culminated in 2022, when they faced each other in a boxing match. Despite losing the fight, Hall showed pride in his career and his physical endurance.
Eddie Hall’s quest to overcome physical limits illustrates the extreme risks faced by elite athletes. This episode remains one of the most remarkable in the history of weightlifting and raises questions about the limits of human capacity and the costs of reaching such milestones.
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