Game of Thrones star Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson is officially the World’s Strongest Viking after smashing a weight-lifting record that has stood for a thousand years.
Bjornsson, 26, who stars as Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane in the hit TV show, lifted a 1,433-pound, 30-foot log onto his shoulders before walking five paces in the World’s Strongest Viking contest in Norway; he is now looking towards claiming the title of World’s Strongest Man.
The strongman cum actor, whose name literally translates to “Bear’s son” said after achieving the feat that he made history. And indeed he did, given that the legend states the previous holder of the World’s Strongest Viking title was fellow Icelander Orm Storulfsson, who allegedly carried a 650kg log for three steps before his back broke.
Bjornsson, full of praise for himself after his record haul, boasted on Instagram that as well as being crowned World’s Strongest Viking for the second successive time, he was able to carry the “monster log” for five paces. He revealed that his back felt fine and that he was now preparing for become the World’s Strongest Man, adding that nothing could break or stop him.
The powerhouse began his professional career at a Reykjavik-based basketball team before a knee injury forced him into early retirement. However, not giving up on his sporting dreams, he turned to weightlifting after meeting renowned Icelander Magnus Ver Magnusson – formerly the World’s Strongest Man – and won Iceland’s Strongest Man on five successive occasions.
The 6ft 9in giant won Europe’s Strongest Man and was second in the World’s Strongest Man last year, although he remains best known for his role as ‘The Mountain’ in the fourth season of Game of Thrones.