Hafthor Bjornsson, the Icelandic strongman, has long been recognized as one of the most prominent powerlifting competitors of all time. With over 30 international victories, including the World’s Strongest Man title in 2018 and several world records, he has solidified his status as one of the greatest of all time. However, his latest feat of strength has raised the bar even higher, as he prepares for a 970-pound (440-kilogram) squat, an incredible achievement that he is expected to attempt in just two weeks.
Bjornsson’s Path to Powerlifting Greatness
Hafthor Bjornsson’s career began in the early 2010s when he emerged as a promising strongman prospect from Europe. Over the years, he has become an icon in the sport, having taken part in some of the most exciting and memorable competitions in the history of powerlifting. Furthermore, his portrayal of ‘The Mountain’ in the wildly successful television series Game of Thrones and his rivalry with fellow strongman icon Eddie Hall have further increased his popularity and star power.
Bjornsson’s Boxing Career
After taking a break from professional competition, Bjornsson broke Eddie Hall’s Deadlift World Record with a 501-kilogram (1,104.5-pound) pull. He then took on Hall inside the boxing ring in a match billed as ‘The Heaviest Boxing Match in History.’ Bjornsson emerged victorious, and while he considered continuing with boxing, he ultimately decided to return to strongman competitions.
Bjornsson’s Comeback to Powerlifting
Hafthor Bjornsson made his powerlifting comeback by setting the Weight Over Bar World Record of 20-feet and 3 inches at the 2022 Rogue Invitational. He then continued to prepare for his return to powerlifting by narrowly escaping injury after dropping the bar while squatting 749.6 pounds (340 kilograms) for two reps in November. However, he followed this up by completing an incredible 793.6-pound (360-kilogram) deadlift for two reps shortly before his powerlifting competition.
Bjornsson’s Most Recent Feat of Strength
In a recent Instagram post, Hafthor Bjornsson smashed a massive 837.7-pound (380-kilogram) squat, wearing only knee wraps and a belt. This feat is a part of his preparation for his upcoming attempt at a 970-pound (440-kilogram) squat, which he is set to attempt in just two weeks. Bjornsson also teased his followers with the possibility of attempting a 1102.3-pound (500-kilogram) squat before the end of the year.
View this post on Instagram
Bjornsson’s Future Goals
Hafthor Bjornsson’s induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame last month is an accomplishment that has earned him a place in the history books. However, he is already eyeing his next goal: breaking the all-time raw powerlifting world record before returning to Strongman in 2024. His recent training session with Dan Bell, All-Time World Record holder in the Raw With Wraps division, saw them complete an intense workout that ended with them smoking 870.8-pound (395-kilogram) raw deadlifts. Based on his recent successes and his relentless drive to push himself to new heights, it seems likely that Bjornsson will continue to achieve greatness in the world of powerlifting for years to come.
View this post on Instagram
Overview:
Hafthor Bjornsson, the Icelandic strength athlete and former World’s Strongest Man, recently crushed an 837.7-pound squat as part of his preparation for a 970-pound attempt in two weeks. Bjornsson is widely regarded as one of the greatest Strongman and powerlifting competitors of all time, having racked up 30 international victories over the course of his decade-long career. He briefly stepped away from professional competition after breaking Eddie Hall’s Deadlift World Record with a 501-kilogram pull, but has since returned to the sport and set a new Weight Over Bar World Record at the 2022 Rogue Invitational. Bjornsson is now eyeing the all-time raw powerlifting world record before returning to Strongman in 2024, and recently engaged in an intense training session with Dan Bell, All-Time World Record holder in the Raw With Wraps division. With his impressive lifting capabilities, it’s likely that Bjornsson will continue to progress his lifts even further.
Featured Image @ Hafthor Bjornsson (Instagram)
