The strongman legend could be sidelined for a bit of while.
On Apr. 15, 2023, Hafthor Björnsson attempted a 252.5-kilogram (556.7-pound) raw bench press during a powerlifting competition held at Thor’s Power Gym in Kópavogur, Iceland. The athlete wouldn’t finish the repetition as he appeared to injure his left pectoral muscle immediately upon touching the barbell to his chest, leading him to grimace in pain while yelling to his spotters. Björnsson would require assistance to rise off the bench but was in a position to walk away under his own power.
In a YouTube video posted to his channel on Apr. 17, 2023, the Icelander stated that he tore his pec muscle.
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Björnsson didn’t beat across the bush together with his injury. He characterised it as a “complete tear off the bone,” which might require eventual surgery if confirmed, though it’s unclear if that was the official medical diagnosis. The athlete said he would undergo an MRI test on Apr. 18, 2023, which is able to give more clarity on the severity of his injury and reveal any potential next steps he needs to soak up his recovery.
In what could be considered vintage Björnsson fashion, he proceeded to make light of his circumstances as a strongman and powerlifter. He even joked about his current relatively limited capabilities within the aftermath of his pec injury.
“I’m doing okay, considering every thing,” Björnsson clarified. “I got here into the gym today [Apr. 17, 2023]. Did a half an hour of cardio, just to maintain my sanity and get out of the home. Things are tough, I actually have to be honest. Hopefully I could make a few of you guys laugh now. Things like wiping my [expletive] are difficult. I’m left-handed … It’s life … That is literally the most important injury of my profession, so I’ve got to tackle this.”
Björnsson had been planning to interrupt Daniel Bell’s raw (with wraps) all-time World Record total of 1,182.5 kilograms (2,606.9 kilos) from the 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III. The athlete had even shared training tidbits like a raw 420-kilogram (925.9-pound) back squat on his road back to top strength form after a foray into boxing. Earlier within the meet, before the injury occurred, Björnsson successfully squatted 445 kilograms (981 kilos) with wraps. Björnsson, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion, had previously announced plans to return to skilled strongman sometime in 2024.
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It’s unclear how Björnsson’s pec injury will impact his timeline toward each his ambitious powerlifting and strongman goals. Presumably, if surgery is indeed needed for his pec muscle’s recovery, the athlete will likely be sidelined for a while before eventually getting back within the saddle toward the powerlifting World Record and his strongman pursuits.
By the point he comes back to full-throttle training, considered one of the world’s strongest athletes might channel this setback as motivation.
Featured image: Hafthor Bjornsson / YouTube