For more than a month and a half, almost nowhere in the world have any competitions been held, but their absence does not mean that the history of sports cannot be rewritten. At the height of the pandemic, the Icelandic man and actor Haftor Björnsson managed to do this. He broke the world record in equipment deadlift, managing to raise a barbell weighing 501 kg.
For movie and TV buffs, Björnsson is best known for playing the role of Grigor Cleagan, nicknamed “Horus,” in the series “Game of Thrones,” in which he played Queen Cersei’s incredibly powerful bodyguard for five seasons. But for the 31-year-old native of Reykjavik, acting is not the main one - Björnsson is rightfully considered one of the most powerful people on the planet, which he once again confirmed by breaking one of the most significant records in sports.
Deadlift is one of the three powerlifting disciplines and the basic exercise in athlete strength training. When performing it, it is necessary to raise the barbell or other weight from the floor to the level of outstretched lowered arms. The former world deadlift record belonged to the British athlete Eddie Hall. In 2016, he lifted exactly 500 kg in a special jumpsuit and with straps on his hands. Then he immediately added 35 kg to the world achievement, and it seemed that no one would lift more than a half-tone for a long time.
However, it was precisely this goal that Björnsson set for himself, who during this time became not only a television star, but also a multiple winner of weightlifting competitions. Icelander, whose height is 206 cm and weight is more than 200 kg, won the European Strongest Man tournament five times, took gold three times at Arnold Strongman Classic competitions organized by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and in the fight for the title “The Strongest Man on the Planet” with 2012 invariably won prizes and was recognized as the best in 2018.
Björnsson also has experience setting world records. In 2015, the actor beat the achievement of the Viking Orm Storolfsson, who a thousand years ago took three steps with a 650 kg mast on his shoulders before breaking his back. Björnsson was stronger than the legendary strongman and took five steps, while remaining alive and unharmed.
In the more traditional types of power athletics, Björnsson also entered his name in the book of records. Even before his approach to 501 kilogram weight, the Icelander could be considered the best in deadlift, as he lifted 474 kg on an elongated bar, while Hall used a more convenient classic when setting the record. In February, Björnsson already lifted 480 kg in training, which was an unofficial world record.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all major weightlifting competitions were canceled in 2020, and the opportunity to break records disappeared. But the organizers of the new World's Ultimate Strongman tournament suggested that the best athletes in the world individually lift the highest weights in history under the supervision of judges. Björnsson was supposed to open a series of such home competitions with an attempt to lift 501 kg in his gym. He spent a month in hard training, which he told fans about on his YouTube channel.
On May 2, the Icelander set about setting a record. To begin with, he stretched himself on a weight of 420 kg, then he successfully took a barbell weighing 465 kg and after that he pulled 501 kg from the ground for two seconds. Magnus Ver Magnusson, the four-time winner of the tournament “The Strongest Man on the Planet”, watched what was happening, and as a judge, he announced an attempt at a world record in the deadlift counted.
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Posted by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (@thorbjornsson) May 2, 2020 at 11:30 PDT
“I suppose today I could lift more weight, but why? I am pleased with my result. My family and friends too. I decided that was enough, ”Björnsson told ESPN after setting the record.
The Icelandic athlete became the first person to raise more than half a ton with his own hands, but his record can still be challenged. Still, Björnsson did not compete with other participants who could try to take the same weight, and only his team and compatriot Magnusson watched the setting of the record. The previous record holder, Eddie Hall, announced in April on Instagram that he would not recognize Björnsson’s achievement, as it would not be set in acceptable conditions, although he agreed that the Icelander is able to break world records, but must do so on open to the public competitions.