Meet the Ukranian powerlifter who is a seven-time serial record breaker

From his neck to his teeth and even his beard, 35-year-old Dmytro Hrunskyi has pulled heavy vehicles from virtually every part of his body, from the chest up.  

Dmytro, who hails from Ukraine, is an experienced powerlifter and strongman. He has broken seven Guinness World Records titles and has an impressive track record.  

The serial record breaker has been training for the past 20 years. He broke his first record in May 2022, which was the heaviest train pulled by the neck.  

The train weighed 32,500 kg (71,650 lb) and Dmytro pulled it using a mere two mm thick cable. For context, two mm is how long an average piece of rice would be.  

Dmytro said his most difficult attempt was his first one, when he tried pulling the heaviest vehicle possible with his knee. He was preparing for this record in February 2022, which is when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. 

During the war, Dmytro said he shifted his priorities, focusing on helping the people of his country.  

“The war began, my attempt was cancelled,” he told us. “I did not train. I worked as a volunteer at a children’s hospital.” 

35-year-old Dmytro Hrunskyi 

He said that once the situation was somewhat stable, he attempted the record for heaviest train pulled by the neck to demonstrate “strength and indispensable victory.” 

When Dmytro broke the records for most cars pulled with teeth and fastest 30 m car pulled with teeth in 2023, he told us that he wanted his hobby of performing extreme power tricks to have a greater meaning and purpose. 

“I dedicate this record to my country, Ukraine, which has been fighting for more than a year and does not give up,” he said. 

Dmytro’s four other records include heaviest vehicle pulled by beard, fastest 30 m bus pull with the teeth (male), heaviest vehicle pulled by the neck, fastest time to pull a lorry/truck 20 m by a team (male). 

Dmytro first attempted the heaviest vehicle pulled by beard record in 2019. Unfortunately, he failed the attempt because his beard hair tore in the process. In 2023, he attempted to break the record again and successfully did so by pulling a 2,580 kg truck over 5 m in 26 seconds.

The 35-year-old enjoys breaking extreme records and is proud to be a seven-time Guinness World Records title holder.  

“It’s great to know that you’re Officially Amazing,” Dmytro said. “Especially seven times.”