Weight over bar (or Highland games 'one arm' weight over bar) (Scottish Gaelic: cuideam thairis air a 'bhàr, tilgeil cuideam air son àirde) is a traditional strength sport derived from ancient Scottish Highland games that involves the heaving of a 25.5 kg (56 lb) (half hundredweight) weight, over a bar using one hand.[1]
Unlike its other counterpart, the Weight throw which involves a full body rotating spinning technique,[2] the Weight over bar (classic method) requires the weight to be kept between the legs before swinging it up in a pendulum like manner, and releasing when it is at its apex, directly overhead.
In addition to classic method which is used frequently and accepted by all federations, there is also another traditional method called 'spin technique' which is described below under variations.
History
The event dates back to about 600 years ago in ancient Scottish highland games where athletes threw a heavy block of iron using only one arm. The iron block was attached to a fixed small ring which itself was attached to a freely moving large ring used to grip the weight. The weight measurement derived from the imperial unit Stone, where a weight of 4 stones (1 stone = 14 lb) was used as a counterbalance for weight measurements when buying or selling in the ancient Scottish markets.[3]
In 1980 World's Strongest Man, the event was introduced to Strongman for the first time where the competitors had to throw the same 25.5 kg (56 lb) weight using only 1 arm for max height.[4] With each successful attempt, the bar was raised higher, eliminating the competitors one by one. Each competitor usually gets three attempts to clear each height.
World record
- 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 6.17 metres (20 ft 3 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
(2022 Rogue Invitational)[5][6]
- → Having broken the world record a total of twelve times, Hafþór is widely regarded as the undisputed greatest of all time at this event. He is also the only man who has ever cleared 5.95 metres (19 ft 6 in) or more, which he has done eight times.
Second best athlete in history is Highland games specialist Spencer Tyler
who has cleared 5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in), and third best athlete in history is former world record holder and Highland games specialist Mike Zolkiewicz who has cleared 5.82 metres (19 ft 1 in). Even though it happened during 56 lb versus 55 lb weight discrepancy of 2012–2013, pro strongman athletes Mikhail Koklyaev 
and Mike Burke both have also cleared 5.82 metres (19 ft 1 in) but with the 25 kg (55 lb) weight making them the joint-fourth best athletes in history.[7]
Progression of the world record
| Height | Holder | Year and Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.17 metres (13 ft 8 in) |  George Clark | 1951 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.26 metres (14 ft 0 in) | Henry Alexander Gray | 1958 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.32 metres (14 ft 2 in) |  Arthur Rowe | 1963 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.43 metres (14 ft 6 in) | Arthur Rowe | 1965 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.50 metres (14 ft 9 in) |  Paul Bidwell | 1969 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.56 metres (15 ft 0 in) | Bill Anderson | 1970 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.64 metres (15 ft 3 in) | Paul Bidwell | 1971 | (To be confirmed) |
| 4.75 metres (15 ft 7 in) | Bill Anderson | 1973 Braemar Gathering Games | Braemar, Scotland |
| 4.88 metres (16 ft 0 in) | Bill Anderson | 1977 | Aberfeldy, Scotland |
| 4.90 metres (16 ft 1 in) | Bill Anderson | 1977 | Scotland |
| 4.92 metres (16 ft 2 in) | Guy Dirkin | 1978 Corby Highland Games | Corby, England |
| 5.00 metres (16 ft 5 in) | Grant Anderson | 1978 | Scotland |
| 5.06 metres (16 ft 7 in) | Brian Oldfield | 1979 | Stow, Ohio, USA |
| Jim Whitehead | 1980 Corby Highland Games | Corby, England | |
| 5.18 metres (17 ft 0 in) |  Bishop Dolegiewicz | 1980 World's Strongest Man | Vernon, New Jersey, USA |
| 5.20 metres (17 ft 1 in) | Geoff Capes | 1981 World's Strongest Man | Magic Mountain, California, USA |
| 5.23 metres (17 ft 2 in) | Geoff Capes | 1981 World Highland Games | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Jim McGoldrick | 1985 | Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA | |
| 5.26 metres (17 ft 3 in) | Bill Kazmaier | 1987 Pure Strength | Huntly Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
 Jón Páll Sigmarsson | |||
| 5.34 metres (17 ft 6 in) | Bill Kazmaier | ||
| 5.37 metres (17 ft 7 in) | Paul Ferency | 1990 Celtic Classic Highland Games | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA |
| 5.50 metres (18 ft 1 in) |  László Fekete | 1992 Europe's Strongest Man | Budapest, Hungary |
| 5.54 metres (18 ft 2 in) | Ben Plucknett | 1993 | (To be confirmed) |
| 5.57 metres (18 ft 3 in) |  Manfred Hoeberl | 1993 European Hercules | Oulu, Finland |
| 5.60 metres (18 ft 4 in) | Manfred Hoeberl | 1994 World Strongman Challenge | New Zealand |
 Wout Zijlstra | 1998 World's Strongest Team | Hardenberg, Netherlands | |
| 5.62 metres (18 ft 5 in) | Sæmundur Sæmundsson | 1999 Icelandic Highland Games | Akranes, Iceland |
| 5.65 metres (18 ft 6 in) | Wout Zijlstra | 2000 World Grand Prix world series | (To be confirmed) |
| 5.70 metres (18 ft 8 in) | Wout Zijlstra | 2002 Den Helder Highland Games | Den Helder, Netherlands |
| 5.72 metres (18 ft 9 in) | Mike Zolkiewicz | 2009 World Highland Games | Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| 5.75 metres (18 ft 10 in) | Mike Zolkiewicz | 2012 Rhode Island Highland Games | Richmond, Rhode Island, USA |
| 5.77 metres (18 ft 11 in) | Mike Zolkiewicz | 2012 | Chicago, USA |
| 5.79 metres (19 ft 0 in) | Mike Zolkiewicz | 2012 Fairhill Scottish Games | Maryland, USA |
| 5.82 metres (19 ft 1 in) | Mike Zolkiewicz | 2013 Rhode Island Highland Games | Richmond, Rhode Island, USA |
| 5.85 metres (19 ft 2 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2014 New Hampshire Highland Games | Livermore, New Hampshire, USA |
| 5.87 metres (19 ft 3 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2015 Arnold Strongman Classic | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| 5.90 metres (19 ft 4 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2015 New Hampshire Highland Games | Livermore, New Hampshire, USA |
| 5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| 5.95 metres (19 ft 6 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2016 Caledonian Club Highland Games | Pleasanton, California, USA |
| 5.98 metres (19 ft 7 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| 6.00 metres (19 ft 8 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2017 Icelandic Highland Games | Akranes, Iceland |
| 6.03 metres (19 ft 9 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2017 New Hampshire Highland Games | Livermore, New Hampshire, USA |
| 6.10 metres (20 ft 0 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| 6.13 metres (20 ft 1 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2018 Caledonian Club Highland Games | Pleasanton, California, USA |
| 6.15 metres (20 ft 2 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| 6.17 metres (20 ft 3 in) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2022 Rogue Invitational | Austin, Texas, USA |
56 lb versus 55 lb weight discrepancy during 2012–2013: Due to several strongman organizations using the metric system, some world record throws during these two years are now classified as unofficial world records. In 2012, Mikhail Koklyaev threw a 25 kg (55 lb) weight over 5.82 metres (19 ft 1 in) surpassing Mike Zolkiewicz's 5.79 metres (19 ft 0 in), however since the weight was 1 pound less than the traditional 56 pounds it is not recognized as an official world record. In 2013, Mike Burke threw the same 25 kg (55 lb) weight over 5.82 metres (19 ft 1 in) which would equal Zolkiewicz's world record and on the same competition Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson threw it over 6.00 metres (19 ft 8 in) which would have been 7 inches above Zolkiewicz's world record but just like with Koklyaev in 2012, they are also not recognized as official world records.
Variations
Another traditional variation (which might not be recognized by some Highland games federations) is the 'spin technique' where athletes incorporate a spinning motion and finally releasing the implement from the side. With this extra momentum, athletes can throw the weight higher than the classic method.
With the advent of strongman, weight over bar underwent several variations, for example in 1992 World's Strongest Man, the competitors had to throw a 30 kg (66 lb) Thor's hammer using both hands,[4] and in 1993 World's Strongest Man, the competitors had to throw a 20 kg (44 lb) concrete block using both hands over a contraption which was called the Trojan wall.[4]
At the 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic, the competitors had to throw very heavy sandbags using both hands over a 15 ft bar for maximum weight.[8] In 2024, the organizers of the 2024 Arnold UK Strongman competition paid a tribute to David P. Webster by modifying the event where the competitors had to throw a sandbag instead.[9] Just like in the block of iron with the ring, when it comes to the sandbags they made a handle where competitors could grip it similarly.
In all the variations, the weights were thrown overhead, to the rear of the thrower, and over the top of the bar to prove clearance.[10]
Sandbag over bar
The five heaviest sandbags ever tossed over a standard 15 ft bar
| Weight | Holder | Year and Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45.4 kg (100 lb) WR[5] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| 43.1 kg (95 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic | |
| 40.8 kg (90 lb) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic | |
| Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic | ||
| Brian Shaw | 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic |
Furthermore, below athletes have also tossed a 70 lb or heavier sandbag over a standard 15 ft bar:
38.6 kg (85 lb) by Mikhail Shivlyakov
34.0 kg (75 lb) by JF Caron, Mateusz Kieliszkowski and Nick Guardione
31.8 kg (70 lb) by Matjaz Belsak, Martins Licis, Paddy Haynes, Hilmar Örn Jónsson, Lucas Hatton, Austin Hamm and Zachary Price
The five heaviest sandbags ever tossed over a standard 15 ft bar by female athletes
| Weight | Holder | Year and Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.6 kg (47.5 lb) WR |  Olga Liashchuk | 2025 America's Strongest Woman | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| 20.4 kg (45 lb) | Olga Liashchuk | 2022 Clash 91's Games | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Taylor Doxey | 2025 America's Strongest Woman | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| 19.3 kg (42.5 lb) | Amber DeLuca | 2023 No Fame Scottish Highland Games | Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA |
| Jackie Rhodes | 2025 America's Strongest Woman | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
Furthermore, below athletes have also tossed a 35 lb or heavier sandbag over a standard 15 ft bar:
18.1 kg (40 lb) by Hannah Linzay, Nadia Stowers and Sumer Johnson
15.9 kg (35 lb) by Britta Maggard and Rebecca Houston
See also
References
- ↑ "Weight Over Bar Guide: How-To, Benefits, and Programming Tips". Matthew Barker for www.barbend.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ↑ "Weight Over Bar - There are two ways to get the weight over the bar. You can "stand" and basically do what would be a "super one hand snatch" and pull the weight up and over your head and over the bar. Or you can do the "spin" and basically do a "turn" (much like the rotation on the shot put)". Thom Van Vleck for www.usawa.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ↑ Highlands and Islands association of Celtic gatherings (30 May 1989). "Highland Games". mshighlandsandislands.com. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Contests Featuring a Throwing Event". Bill Henderson and Éloi Fournier for www.strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- 1 2 "STRENGTH RECORD, Section 06 - Throwing". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ↑ Andrew Gutman for Barbend.com (30 October 2022). "Hafthor Björnsson Sets New Weight Over Bar World Record Of 20 Feet, 3 Inches; Teases Competitive Return To Strongman". Barbend.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ↑ Francis Brebner and the team (January 31, 2001). "Highland Games Record Progressions". www.highlandgames.net. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ↑ "Arnold Strongman 2017 Rogue Fitness". YouTube. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ↑ "2024 Arnold UK - Strongman". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ↑ Benjamin Hedermann (2 February 2018). "Keg Toss". www.strongman.org. Retrieved 18 December 2024.