What is the strongest part of the human body? These records might surprise you!

Have you ever wondered which part of the human body might be the strongest? Is it your neck, your chest, or maybe your legs? The answer might be far stranger than you think!

Traditionally, we think about human body strength as a whole. The heaviest weight ever lifted by a human was achieved by Gregg Ernst (Canada), who is a former strongman competitor from Nova Scotia. In 1993, Gregg backlifted 2,422.18 kg (5,340 lb) – a weight equivalent to two cars with drivers. But strength doesn’t always look the same – it is not just about the weight, but also body control, endurance, and determination. Across Guinness World Records archives, record holders have pushed other body parts to unbelievable limits!

Image credited to Helga from Pixabay. 

Take toes, for example. Marcello Ferri (Italy), achieved a record of the heaviest weight lifted with the toes in 2024, lifting 80 kg (176.37 lbs) with his incredible strength and a lot of faith in his toes! A year prior, in 2023, Marcello set a record of 45.1 kg (99.42 lb) toe lift, and then beat himself at his own game, more than doubling his previous weight. 

Then there’s the neck, which is a body part that gets overlooked often. Eric Todd (USA), set a record of the heaviest weight lifted by the neck. He was able to lift an incredible 453.59kg (1,000 lb), demonstrating how the human body can be trained in unexpected ways. 

Some records push into even stranger territory! In 2022, Thomas Blackthorne (UK) achieved the heaviest weight lifted with the tongue, lifting 13 kg (28 lb 10.5 oz). What a surprising use for a muscle rarely associated with strength! 

Read more stories about record-breaking individuals in our Human Body section. 

Not all strength is built in the gym; sometimes it is grown! Dmytro Hrunskyi (Ukraine) achieved the heaviest weight lifted by a beard title, lifting 64.40 kg (141 lb 15.6 oz). Dmytro has an impressive track record, holding seven Guinness World Records titles as of today, one of which he dedicated to his home country, Ukraine. 

And, perhaps the most surprising of all, “The Baron” (Finland) has held the heaviest weight lifted by nipples (male) record since 2013, lifting 32.6 kg (71.87 lb)! Moreover, the sportsman famously broke another record – heaviest vehicle pulled by the nipples (male) – where he successfully pulled a carriage of 991 kg (2,184 lb) on the stage of Die große Show der Weltrekorde, in Munich, Germany. 

So, the strongest part of the human body isn’t one single answer – it’s a reminder of the amazing things that humans can do!