Wrist · every record book

Sledge Hammer Choke

Every record and contest lift for the Sledge Hammer Choke from every body we track, side by side. Each entry carries its owner's badge and a footnote to the owner's own records.

Records from: GSI

Contests: 17
Athletes: 143
Lifts: 204
First contested: Apr 20, 2013
Last contested: Sep 5, 2026

A record that repeats a contest lift counts as one lift.

Top lifts

Each athlete's best lift, any class or division.

Men

1st
187.79 kg414.0 lb
James Retarides
120k · USA
Armhighland Gripstrongwrestling Powergames 4 · 2022
2nd
171.46 kg378.0 lb
Lucas Raymond
93k · USA
North American Grip Sport Championship · Jun 14, 2014
3rd
146.96 kg324.0 lb
Shawn Kapusta
120k+ · USA
Empower House Grip Strength Challenge · Feb 26, 2022

Women

1st
65.32 kg144.0 lb
Sadie Kromholtz
84k+ · USA
Oregon Strongest Hands 2019
2nd
63.5 kg140.0 lb
Danielle Curry
84k+ · USA
North American Grip Sport Championship · Jun 14, 2014
3rd
63.5 kg140.0 lb
Sharon Moss
84k+
North American Grip Sport Championship · Jun 14, 2014

Contest history

Every contest that featured the Sledge Hammer Choke, newest first, with how many athletes lifted it and who won.

ContestDateAthletesMen's winnerWomen's winner

AGP 6: The Bob Sundin Memorial
Sep 5, 2026 · 13 athletes
13
Men 152.41 kg336.0 lb James Retarides
Women —
2026 Canadian Nationals Grip Sport Championships
Apr 18, 2026 · 30 athletes
30
Men 130.64 kg288.0 lb Tom Bryson
Women 59.87 kg132.0 lb Shelby Janes
Spring Clench Western Canada Regionals
Apr 12, 2025 · 15 athletes
15
Men 108.86 kg240.0 lb Sheldon Trefenanko
Women 62.6 kg138.0 lb Shelby Janes
Canadian National Grip Sport Championships
Apr 6, 2024 · 22 athletes
22
Men 108.86 kg240.0 lb Larson Hehr
Women 43.54 kg96.0 lb Kathy Facey
Armhighland Gripstrongwrestling Powergames 4
Oct 1, 2022 · 13 athletes
13
Men 187.79 kg414.0 lb James Retarides
Women —
Rocky Mountain Grip Sport Spring 2022
Apr 2, 2022 · 8 athletes
8
Men 119.75 kg264.0 lb Jeremy Everding
Women 59.87 kg132.0 lb Kathryn Bennett
Empower House Grip Strength Challenge
Feb 26, 2022 · 14 athletes
14
Men 163.29 kg360.0 lb James Retarides
Women 38.1 kg84.0 lb Christine Tharp
Armhighland Gripstrongwrestling Powergames 2
Sep 25, 2020 · 1 athlete
1
Men 146.96 kg324.0 lb James Retarides
Women —
Oregon Strongest Hands 2019
May 25, 2019 · 4 athletes
4
Men 141.52 kg312.0 lb Michael Thomas
Women 65.32 kg144.0 lb Sadie Kromholtz
Empire Classic Grip Challenge 2016
May 7, 2016 · 2 athletes
2
Men 92.53 kg204.0 lb Pat Burke
Women —
North American Grip Sport Championship
Jun 14, 2014 · 22 athletes
22
Men 171.46 kg378.0 lb Lucas Raymond
Women 63.5 kg140.0 lb Danielle Curry
The Gripday Party
Apr 5, 2014 · 8 athletes
8
Men 114.31 kg252.0 lb Josh Dale
Women 21.77 kg48.0 lb Amber Edwards
Arizona Cactus Grip Shootout 7
Mar 29, 2014 · 2 athletes
2
Men 103.42 kg228.0 lb Eric Milfeld
Women —
The Gripmas Carol 2013
Dec 7, 2013 · 17 athletes
17
Men 136.08 kg300.0 lb Robert Miller
Women —
Thanksgripping At The Spot Athletics
Nov 16, 2013 · 8 athletes
8
Men 130.63 kg288.0 lb Jedd Johnson
Women —
Holdfast Gauntlet
Sep 28, 2013 · 14 athletes
14
Men 103.42 kg228.0 lb Jedd Johnson
Women 32.66 kg72.0 lb CJ Anstine
Diablo Rock Grip Comp 2
Apr 20, 2013 · 11 athletes
11
Men 97.98 kg216.0 lb Stephen Ruby
Women 27.22 kg60.0 lb Emily Reinard

Records

Grip Sport International

GSI2 recordsGSI event page →

Men · All-time · 120k
187.79 kg414.0 lb
James Retarides · USA
Armhighland Gripstrongwrestling Powergames 4 · 2022GSI^[1]
Women · All-time · 84k+
65.32 kg144.0 lb
Sadie Kromholtz · USA
Oregon Strongest Hands 2019GSI^[1]

Best by weight class

The heaviest open-division lift in each class across every source. Pick a class to see its full ranking.

Top lifts · 120k+

TypeAll Records Top lifts

GenderAll Men Women

ClassAll 52k 57k 59k 63k 66k 72k 74k 83k 84k 84k+93k 100k 100k+105k 120k 120k+

DivisionOpen + all Masters 50-59 Masters 60-69 Youth 11-13 Youth 14-15

ShowBest per athlete Every lift

Units

ResultAthleteClassContestOwner

Rank 1
146.96 kg324.0 lb
Shawn KapustaUSA
Men · 120k+
Empower House Grip Strength Challenge · Feb 26, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 2
146.96 kg324.0 lb
Steven SamaniegoUSA
Men · 120k+
Armhighland Gripstrongwrestling Powergames 4 · Oct 1, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 3
139.71 kg308.0 lb
Robert MillerUSA
Men · 120k+
North American Grip Sport Championship · Jun 14, 2014
GSI^[1]
Rank 4
130.63 kg288.0 lb
Keagan RichardsUSA
Men · 120k+
Empower House Grip Strength Challenge · Feb 26, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 5
127.01 kg280.0 lb
David LabbeUSA
Men · 120k+
North American Grip Sport Championship · Jun 14, 2014
GSI^[1]
Rank 6
119.75 kg264.0 lb
Jeremy EverdingUSA
Men · 120k+
Rocky Mountain Grip Sport Spring 2022 · Apr 2, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 7
114.31 kg252.0 lb
Gary StuartUSA
Men · 120k+
Empower House Grip Strength Challenge · Feb 26, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 8
108.86 kg240.0 lb
Cody WardUSA
Men · 120k+
AGP 6: The Bob Sundin Memorial · Sep 5, 2026
GSI^[1]
Rank 9
108.86 kg240.0 lb
Larson HehrCanada
Men · 120k+
Canadian National Grip Sport Championships · Apr 6, 2024
GSI^[1]
Rank 10
108.86 kg240.0 lb
Sheldon TrefenankoCanada
Men · 120k+
Spring Clench Western Canada Regionals · Apr 12, 2025
GSI^[1]
Rank 11
103.42 kg228.0 lb
Symon BaillotCanada
Men · 120k+
2026 Canadian Nationals Grip Sport Championships · Apr 18, 2026
GSI^[1]
Rank 12
97.98 kg216.0 lb
Al BlockCanada
Men · 120k+, Masters 50-59
Spring Clench Western Canada Regionals · Apr 12, 2025
GSI^[1]
Rank 13
97.98 kg216.0 lb
Stephen RubyUSA
Men · 120k+
Diablo Rock Grip Comp 2 · Apr 20, 2013
GSI^[1]
Rank 14
95.25 kg210.0 lb
John WojciechowskiUSA
Men · 120k+
North American Grip Sport Championship · Jun 14, 2014
GSI^[1]
Rank 15
94.35 kg208.0 lb
Donny VierstraUSA
Men · 120k+
AGP 6: The Bob Sundin Memorial · Sep 5, 2026
GSI^[1]
Rank 16
92.53 kg204.0 lb
Brander CraigheadCanada
Men · 120k+
Canadian National Grip Sport Championships · Apr 6, 2024
GSI^[1]
Rank 17
92.53 kg204.0 lb
Scott PirsakCanada
Men · 120k+, Masters 60-69
Canadian National Grip Sport Championships · Apr 6, 2024
GSI^[1]
Rank 18
92.53 kg204.0 lb
Tremayne DesmarteauxCanada
Men · 120k+
Canadian National Grip Sport Championships · Apr 6, 2024
GSI^[1]
Rank 19
87.09 kg192.0 lb
Kwai LeongCanada
Men · 120k+
Spring Clench Western Canada Regionals · Apr 12, 2025
GSI^[1]
Rank 20
87.09 kg192.0 lb
Shawn Snider
Men · 120k+
Empire Classic Grip Challenge 2016 · May 7, 2016
GSI^[1]
Rank 21
87.09 kg192.0 lb
Tristain HoathCanada
Men · 120k+
Spring Clench Western Canada Regionals · Apr 12, 2025
GSI^[1]
Rank 22
81.65 kg180.0 lb
Colton StormUSA
Men · 120k+
Rocky Mountain Grip Sport Spring 2022 · Apr 2, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 23
73.48 kg162.0 lb
Clint MoneymakerUSA
Men · 120k+
Empower House Grip Strength Challenge · Feb 26, 2022
GSI^[1]
Rank 24
70.76 kg156.0 lb
Gordon Hearn
Men · 120k+
Canadian National Grip Sport Championships · Apr 6, 2024
GSI^[1]
Rank 25
58.06 kg128.0 lb
Ryan Fennesy
Men · 120k+
AGP 6: The Bob Sundin Memorial · Sep 5, 2026
GSI^[1]

Each athlete ranked by their best lift for the filters chosen, across every source (heaviest, longest hold or most reps first). A lift a body lists as both a record and a contest result is shown once, as the record. An athlete listed by two bodies appears once per body.^[1]

All implements →Search the records board for Sledge Hammer Choke →

Sources

[1]Source: Grip Sport International records database (Grip Sport International), synced October 26, 2026. Records and rankings belong to GSI; corrections belong with them.

How records work

Records are set under a sanctioning body's rules — set, judging, and equipment all matter. A lift in your garage counts for you; a lift on the platform counts for the books. Each entry here is owned by the body that published it, shown by its badge and footnote.

Sanctioning bodies →

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