“The Mountain” is coming back.
The world of strength sports has been placed on notice: Hafthor Bjornsson is coming back and officially ending his nearly three-year retirement from competitive lifting. On Feb. 13, 2023, the person often called “The Mountain” published a video on his YouTube channel sharing the news with the world.
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After a temporary recollection of his past profession achievements in strongman and boxing, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man revealed that he’ll first return to powerlifting. His sights are set on breaking the all-time world record total, currently held by Dan Bell with 1,182.5 kilograms (2,606.9 kilos). Bell set that mark, in wraps, on the 2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III meet. Bjornsson has given himself a deadline to interrupt that record by the top of 2023, but didn’t mention competing in any specific meet.
Bjornsson’s last meet was in December 2022, where he competed in wraps at his own “Thor’s Powerlifting Meet.” His numbers from that event are as follows:
- Squat — 380 kilograms (837.7 kilos)
- Bench Press — 210 kilograms (463 kilos)
- Deadlift — 380 kilograms (837.7 kilos)
- Total — 970 kilograms (2,138.5 kilos)
If he were to interrupt Bell’s record, then he would should make up serious ground. Bell’s performance from the 2021 meet where he set the present world record is below:
- Squat — 500 kilograms (1,102.3 kilos)
- Bench Press — 272.5 kilograms (600.7 kilos)
- Deadlift — 410 kilograms (903.9 kilos)
- Total — 1,182.5 kilograms (2,606.9 kilos)
Making up the 212.5-kilogram (468.4-pound) difference shall be a tall order, however the 6’9” strength legend is confident he can do it.
Bjornsson then announced that his “major, major goal” is a return to his original sport of strongman. Specifically, he intends to compete on the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic held in March in Columbus, Ohio. Bjornsson also plans to compete on the 2024 Strongman Rogue Invitational event. The Rogue event hasn’t been scheduled as of this writing, but has been held in Round Rock, Texas, in October for the past two years.
Bjornsson said that if he reaches his powerlifting goal, then he’s confident that he can have sufficient strength to start out training for the strongman events.
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Bjornsson’s next strength-based honor shall be his induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame. That event shall be held through the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival on Saturday, March 4 in Columbus, OH.
The legendary competitor is already a three-time Arnold Strongman Classic winner, having won the title in 2018, 2019, and 2020. He had yet to compete within the Rogue Invitational as a full competitor, but he did step onto their field in 2022 to interrupt his own weight-over-bar world record.
Bjornsson is the one man to have won the World’s Strongest Man, Arnold Strongman Classic, and the World’s Ultimate Strongman contest. Adding the Rogue Invitational to his trophy case would play a giant part in a claim as probably the most completed strongman of all time.
Featured Image: @thorbjornsson on Instagram