Also Set the Unofficial 501 kg Deadlift Record
Famous for Playing Gregor in "Game of Thrones"
Hafthor Bjornsson (37), who appeared in the popular drama "Game of Thrones," set a new world record by successfully deadlifting 505 kg at the Eisenhardt Black Competition.
Bjornsson, who is from Iceland, achieved the 505 kg deadlift at this competition held in Germany on July 26. The previous record was 500 kg, set by Eddie Hall of the United Kingdom in 2016. The deadlift is an event in which a barbell placed on the floor is lifted up to waist height.
On this day, Bjornsson calmly took his position and then lifted the barbell in an instant. Immediately after the judge declared the deadlift a success, he shouted, "I'm the strongest!"
Icelandic strongman Hafthor Bjornsson sets a new world record with a 505kg deadlift. YouTube capture
Bjornsson also holds the unofficial deadlift record of 501 kg, which he set in 2020. Next month, he will compete in the World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom, where he will attempt 510 kg.
Bjornsson, who stands 205 cm tall and weighs 145 kg, has also set records in the squat (lifting 460 kg by placing a barbell on his shoulders and standing up from a squat) and the bench press (lifting 250 kg while lying down). These three events together are called "powerlifting." Typically, when the combined total of the three events exceeds 500 kg, the athlete is recognized as an advanced fitness enthusiast, known as "3dae 500." However, Bjornsson easily surpassed 500 kg in the deadlift alone and demonstrated incredible strength by achieving "3dae 1215" (a combined total of 1,215 kg in the three events).
Also appeared as Gregor in "Game of Thrones"
Bjornsson became known to the public in 2014 by playing the warrior Gregor Clegane, also known as "The Mountain," in the popular HBO drama "Game of Thrones." In the original novel, Clegane is a knight of enormous strength, standing 240 cm tall, and is feared for his tremendous power and brutal personality. The production team struggled to cast an actor with the physique and charisma suitable for this role. Until season 3, other actors played the part, but there were criticisms that they lacked intimidation. From season 4, Bjornsson joined the cast, leaving a strong impression with his fitting portrayal of the character.
As a teenager, he was a promising center in the Icelandic basketball league. However, due to a severe ankle injury, he was forced to retire at the young age of 19. At that time, Bjornsson met Iceland's legendary strongman Magnus Ver Magnusson (62) and began a new chapter in his life. Under Magnusson's guidance, Bjornsson won the Iceland Strongman competition in 2011 and claimed the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion title in 2018. He briefly switched to being a boxer but later returned to the world of strongman competitions.
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