[1][2] Benedikt also holds the record for the heaviest raw conventional deadlift ever performed within a full powerlifting competition at 442.5 kg (976 lb).

Benedikt started his powerlifting journey at the age of 16, in 1999, deadlifting 200 kg (441 lb) in single ply equipment during Íslandsmeistaramót national championships.

At 2005 WPO European Semi Finals, in Helsinki, Benedikt broke Andy Bolton's all-time deadlift world record by pulling 426 kg (939 lb) raw as his opener.

But it did not last very long as Benedikt shattered it in his second lift with a massive 440 kg (970 lb) raw pull, increasing the record to a never approached territory.

In 2007, he won Iceland's Strongest Viking and returning to the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2008, again emerged fifth, sharing the hummer tyre deadlift world record with Oleksandr Pekanov with a pull of 471 kg (1,038 lb) before pulling 500 kg (1,102 lb) on the record breakers attempt following the competition.

[7] Benedikt's next competition was the 2014 Giants Live FitX Melbourne where he broke Brian Shaw's strongman deadlift record with 445 kg (981 lb).

He held the record for one year until Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson pressed 200 kg (441 lb) at 2016 Arnold South America.