Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (Icelandic: [ˈhafθour ˈjuːlijʏs ˈpjœr̥sɔn] (listen); in English transliterated as Hafthor; born 26 November 1988) is an Icelandic former professional strongman and actor. He is the first person to have won the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe's Strongest Man and World's Strongest Man in the same calendar year.[1][2] He played Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in the HBO series Game of Thrones for five seasons. He also is a former professional basketball player.

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
Hafþór in March 2017
Born (1988-11-26) 26 November 1988
OccupationStrongman, actor
Years active2010–2020 (strongman)
Height6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Spouse(s)
Kelsey Henson
(m. 2018)
Basketball career
Career information
Playing career2004–2008
PositionCenter
Career history
2004–2005Breiðablik
2005–2006FSu
2006–2007KR
2007–2008FSu
Websitehafthorbjornsson.com

Born in Reykjavík, Hafþór began his basketball career in 2004 with Division I team Breiðablik, moving to FSu in 2005. He transferred to Premier League side KR in 2006 before returning to FSu in 2007. He helped FSu to promotion from Division I to the Premier League but his career was cut short in 2008 due to a recurrent ankle injury. He subsequently began his strongman career.

Hafþór won the Strongest Man in Iceland event in 2010, and Iceland's Strongest Man in 2011. He won Europe's Strongest Man in 2014, a feat he repeated in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. He won gold at the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2018, 2019 and 2020. He first competed in the World's Strongest Man in 2011, placing sixth. He won three bronze and three silver medals in his next six attempts before being crowned champion in 2018.

On 2 May 2020, Hafþór deadlifted a record-setting 501 kilograms (1,105 lb) under strongman rules at his gym in Iceland.

Basketball career

Hafþór began his athletic career as a basketball player. At 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in),[3] he started his senior team career with Division I club Breiðablik in 2004, playing as a center. In 2005 he joined FSu Selfoss, also in the Icelandic Division I. After 10 games it was discovered that he had been playing with a broken bone in his ankle and would require surgery. After recovering from surgery, Hafþór moved to Úrvalsdeild powerhouse KR in 2006.[4] He missed most of the 2006–2007 season after a screw in his ankle shattered and had to be fixed by another surgery.[5]

For the 2007–2008 season, he moved back to play for FSu Selfoss. He averaged 6.7 points per game,[6] helping the team achieve promotion to the Úrvalsdeild,[7] but the troublesome ankle forced him to retire from basketball after the season, at the age of 20.[8][9]

Between 2004 and 2006, Hafþór played 32 games for the Icelandic junior national basketball teams.[10] In 2006 he played 8 games with Iceland's U-18 national team in Division A of the U18 European Championship.[11]

Strongman career

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
At the 2015 Caledonian Club Highland Games
Personal information
OccupationStrongman
Height206 cm (6 ft 9 in)[12]
Weight180–200 kg (397–441 lb)[13][3]
Sport
SportStrongman

Hafþór met Icelandic strongman Magnús Ver Magnússon at his gym "Jakaból" in 2008, and Magnús said that Hafþór seemed a good prospect as a strongman.[14] Hafþór won several strongman contests in Iceland in 2010, including Strongest Man in Iceland,[15] Iceland's Strongest Viking, Westfjords Viking,[16] and five of six events at the OK Badur Strongman Championships.[17]

Hafþór finished in second place at the inaugural Jón Páll Sigmarsson Classic in November 2010, behind Brian Shaw.[18] He won the 2011 Strongest Man in Iceland contest on 4 June 2011,[19] and the 2011 Iceland's Strongest Man contest on 18 June 2011.[20] He placed fourth in the Giants Live Poland 2011 event on 6 August 2011.

In January 2015, at the World's Strongest Viking competition held in Norway, Hafþór carried a 10-metre-long (33 ft), 650-kilogram (1,430 lb) log for five steps, thus breaking a 1,000-year-old record set by Orm Storolfsson.[21]

On 15 February 2020, Hafþór deadlifted an unofficial world record on the elephant bar with 480 kilograms (1,058 lbs).

On 2 May 2020, Hafþór deadlifted 501 kilograms (1,105 lb) under strongman rules at his gym in Iceland while being refereed by Magnús Ver Magnússon. This achievement was televised live by ESPN. Hafþór surpassed the strongman deadlift record of 500 kilograms (1,102 lb) which was set by Eddie Hall in 2016.[22]

World's Strongest Man

Hafþór took part in World's Strongest Man after earning a wild card invitation to the 2011 contest.[23] He came in sixth overall. Taking part again in ensuing years, he placed third in 2012, 2013 and 2015. He finished runner-up in 2014 event[24] to Žydrūnas Savickas and again in the 2016 event to Brian Shaw.[25] In 2017, Hafþór once again was runner up, this time to Eddie Hall.[26] Hafþór won the 2018 World's Strongest Man,[1][2] thus becoming the first Icelander to win the title since Magnús Ver Magnússon in 1996.[27]

In May 2020, Hafþór stated that he would never return to a Giants Live event or a World's Strongest Man competition, thus statedly ending Hafþór's participation in World's Strongest Man.[28]

Arnold Strongman Classic

On 3 March 2018, Hafþór broke the Elephant Bar deadlift world record with his successful 472 kg (1,041 lb) third attempt, as well as being champion of the Arnold Strongman Classic 2018. The previous Elephant Bar deadlift world record of 468 kg (1,032 lb) was set by Jerry Pritchett at the Arnold Strongman Classic 2017.[29][30]

Hafþór defended his title at the Arnold Strongman Classic 2019; he finished on 45 points, 4.5 points ahead of runner-up Martins Licis. He also improved on his elephant bar world record, increasing it to 474 kg (1,045 lb) with his second attempt. He tried for 501 kg (1,105 lb) in his third attempt but was unsuccessful.[31][32]

After successfully defending his crown, Hafþór became only the second person to win three Arnold Strongman Classics in a row (2018, 2019 and 2020) after Zydrunas Savickas.

Steroids admission

In a 2017 interview, when asked if he had ever used steroids, Hafþór answered: "'Yes, I have'". He added, "'When you want to be the best, you do whatever it takes'". Hafþór declined to say when he had used steroids or whether his use of the substances was ongoing.[33][34][35]

Acting career

Hafþór was cast as Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane for the fourth season of the HBO series Game of Thrones in August 2013.[36] This was his first main acting role, and he is the third person to depict the character after Conan Stevens played the role in season 1 and Ian Whyte in season 2. He became the first actor to portray Clegane in more than one continuous season with his appearances in seasons four through eight.[37] Hafþór was cast for the role of Mongkut in the 2017 film Kickboxer: Retaliation.

Hafþór played the lead role in the Philadelphia Renaissance Faire during their debut season in 2015. He appeared as "King Thor", the leader of a Viking raiding party intent on capturing the city of Amman.[38]

Personal life

Family and relationships

Hafþór was born in Reykjavík.[39] His father, Björn, stands at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in),[17] and his mother, Ragnheiður, is also of very tall stature.[39] Hafþór's grandfather, Reynir, is 207 cm (6 ft 9 12 in)[17] and "just as broad across the chest". Reynir recalled in 2014 that Hafþór worked on the family farm outside Reykjavík as a child and "was always big, even when he wasn't tall".[39] Hafþór has a daughter with his former girlfriend Thelma Björk Steimann.[40][41][42][43][44] Until early 2017, he was in a relationship with Andrea Sif Jónsdóttir whom he met at a gym. They lived together in Reykjavik. In an online video interview by Mulligan Brothers published 21 December 2019, Hafþór lamented not having seen his daughter in three years.[45]

Since late 2017, Hafþór had been dating Kelsey Henson, a Canadian waitress. The two met when Hafþór was in Alberta, Canada for a strongman competition and visited the bar where Henson worked. The couple garnered attention for the difference in their respective heights, as Henson is 157 cm (5 ft 2 in).[44][46][47] On 21 October 2018, Hafþór announced that he and Henson had married.[48][49] On 26 September 2020, Hafþór and Henson welcomed their first child together, a baby boy.[50]

Tattoos

Hafþór has several tattoos including those in relation to Norse deities and the Viking culture. He also has a tattoo of Jón Páll Sigmarsson on his calf.[51][52]

Health

Hafþór and his former girlfriend Andrea have spoken about his occasional sleep troubles after a heavy meal due to his body weight.[51][52]

In March 2017, he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy.[53][47]

Endorsements

Hafþór is a brand ambassador for SodaStream, a company involved in manufacture of a device for making carbonated water at home. He has appeared in advertisements of the brand promoting environmental awareness and collaborated in one with fellow Game of Thrones actor Hannah Waddingham (who played Septa Unella).[54][55][56]

Icelandic Mountain Vodka

In 2016, Hafþór co-founded the spirits brand Icelandic Mountain Vodka. The main focus of the company is a seven-time distilled Icelandic vodka, as well as having a gin production.[57][58]

Personal records

Strongman

In competition:

  • Deadlift501 kg (1,105 lb) Strongman rules[22] World Record.
  • Deadlift 474 kg (1,045 lb) Elephant bar, strongman raw with wrist straps (Arnold Strongman Classic 2019, World Record)[59]
  • Log press 213 kg (470 lb) (Europe's Strongest Man 2018)[60]
  • Tire deadlift 460 kg (1,014 lb) raw with wrist straps (Arnold Strongman Classic 2014)[61]
  • Log carry – [5 steps] 650 kg (1,433 lb) (World's Strongest Viking 2015)[21][62]
  • Keg toss7.15 m (23 ft) (World's Strongest Man 2016)[63]
  • Keg toss – 8 kegs in 16.35 seconds (World's Strongest Man 2014). Strongman record.[64]

Set in the gym (unofficial):'

  • Deadlift – 480 kg (1,058 lb) Replica Elephant bar, raw with wrist straps[65]

Powerlifting

In competition:

  • Squat (with wraps)440 kg (970 lb) (Thor's Powerlifting Challenge 2018)[66]
  • Bench press250 kg (551 lb) (Thor's Powerlifting Challenge 2018)[66]
  • Deadlift410 kg (904 lb) (Thor's Powerlifting Challenge 2018)[66]
  • Total – 1,100 kg (2,425 lb) (Thor's Powerlifting Challenge 2018)[66]

Set in the gym:

Exhibition boxing record

Professional record summary
1 fight 0 wins 0 losses
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 Draw 0–0–1 Steven Ward D 3 Jan 16, 2021 Dubai [69]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Eddie: Strongman Himself
2017 Zon 261 (aka "Operation Ragnarok") Big John – Icelandic Viking Squad
2017 Devilish Deeds Psycho Phil Bell
2017 Beast The Beast
2017 Kickboxer: Retaliation Mongkut
2019 Hamlet Pharon Frank

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2012–2019 The World's Strongest Man Himself – competitor
2014–2019 Game of Thrones Gregor Clegane Recurring role
2015 A League of Their Own Himself Series 9, Episode 7
2016 Heavy Bubbles Himself
2017 Born Strong Himself – competitor
2018 Keith Lemon: Coming to America Himself Series 1, Episode 6
2019 E:60, How the World's Strongest Man became 'The Mountain' on Game of Thrones Himself Original air date; 14 April 2019

References

  1. BarBend Team (6 May 2018). "Breaking News: Hafthor Bjornsson Wins 2018 World's Strongest Man in Manila". BarBend. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  2. Tom Sunderland. "'The Mountain' Hafthor Bjornsson Crowned 2018 World's Strongest Man". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  3. "Hafthor Bjornsson". www.strongman.org. Strongman. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  4. Körfuknattleiksdeild (11 July 2006). "Hafþór Björnsson genginn til liðs við KR" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. Drengjaflokkur, Körfuknattleiksdeild (12 November 2006). "Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson leikur ekki meira á þessari leiktíð" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  6. "FSu 2007-2008 statistics" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  7. "FSu í úrvalsdeildina í körfu karla". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 April 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  8. "About Hafþór". hafthorbjornsson.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  9. Editorial(DV) (11 April 2017). "Hafþór Júlíus: Ofvirki Skagastrákurinn sem breyttist í vöðvafjall" (in Icelandic). DV. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  10. "Landslið unglinga- og drengja". Icelandic Basketball Federation. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  11. "FIBA Europe - Hafthor Bjornsson". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  12. "Hafþór Björnsson". theworldsstrongestman.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  13. Zoe Szathmary (7 May 2018). "'Game of Thrones' star named 2018 World's Strongest Man". Fox News. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  14. Randall J. Strossen (29 May 2010). "Magnus Ver Magnusson: Icelandic Strongman Scout". IronMind. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  15. "Hafþór Júlíus sterkasti maður á Íslandi". Vefsíðan Grindavíkurbæjar (in Icelandic). 8 June 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  16. "Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson". vodvafikn.net. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010.
  17. Randall J. Strossen (10 August 2010). "Haffþór [sic] Júlíusson Björnsson wins Iceland's OK Budar Strongman Contest". IronMind. Archived from the original on 10 December 2011.
  18. Randall J. Strossen (22 November 2010). "Brian Shaw Wins the Inaugural Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic Strongman Contest". IronMind. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  19. Randall J. Strossen (6 June 2011). "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins the Strongest Man in Iceland". IronMind. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  20. Randall J. Strossen (19 June 2011). "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man". IronMind. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  21. Randall J. Strossen (1 January 2015). "Hafthor Wins World's Strongest Viking, Sets Sights on World's Strongest Man". IronMind. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  22. "Weightlifting: 'The Mountain' Bjornsson deadlifts 501 kg to set official world record". Reuters. 2 May 2020.
  23. Randall J. Strossen (8 August 2011). "Giants Live–Poland: Radzikowski, Jenkins and Baron Make WSM Cut . . . Bjornsson Gets Wild Card". IronMind. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  24. Cindy Boren (19 May 2014). "'Game of Thrones' villain is second-strongest man in the world". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  25. Páll Stefánsson (1 April 2014). "Hafþór Júlíus Runner up in World's Strongest Man Comp". Iceland Review. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  26. BarBend Team (27 May 2017). "Breaking: Eddie Hall Wins 2017 World's Strongest Man in Botswana". BarBend. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  27. Mather, Victor (7 May 2018). "The Mountain from Game of Thrones Wins World's Strongest Man Title". The New York Times.
  28. Matthew Magnante (21 May 2020). "Hafthor Bjornsson Say's He'll Never Compete For Giants Live And Probably Not World's Strongest Man Ever Again". Fitness Volt.
  29. "Game of Thrones' 'The Mountain' sets new strongman record". Canoe.com. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  30. "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic – Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift – Full Live Stream Event 4". YouTube. Rogue Fitness. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  31. Hafthor Bjornsson Wins 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic (Plus Final Results) Barbend
  32. Game of Thrones star Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, aka 'The Mountain', breaks his own deadlift world record ABC
  33. "GoT's strongman champ admits to steroid use". ESPN. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  34. "Game Of Thrones star and World's Strongest Man admits steroid use played part in dramatic transformation". Stuff. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  35. McMillen, Gabrielle (15 April 2019). "'Game of Thrones' actor, World's Strongest Man Hafthor Bjornsson admits to steroid use". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  36. Ours is the Fury (30 August 2013). "Mountain Recast". WinterIsComing.net. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  37. "The Mountain in Belfast, and Game of Thrones filming in Split continues despite flooding". Watchers On The Wall. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  38. Dan McQuade (8 April 2015). "Mountain Comes to Philly Ren Faire". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  39. Borden, Sam (1 November 2014). "Icelandic Strongman Does Heavy Lifting on a Second Career as an Actor". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  40. "Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson on Instagram: "My daughter Theresa Líf – beautiful design from her mother :) repost via @instarepost20 from @thelmasteimann All about the maxi dress…"". Instagram. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  41. "Strongman "The Mountain" facing new serious accusations of domestic violence". Icelandmag. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  42. "Strongman "The Mountain" denies accusations of domestic violence, threatens suing for libel". Icelandmag. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  43. Ćirić, Jelena (8 May 2018). "Controversial Figure "The Mountain" Becomes World's Strongest Man". Iceland Review. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  44. "Everything you don't know about The Mountain". Looper.com. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  45. Hafthor Bjornsson – Story of 'The Mountain' | One Of The Most Compelling & Emotional Interviews EVER, retrieved 7 January 2020
  46. "These photos of The Mountain from 'Game of Thrones' and his tiny girlfriend have baffled Instagram users". Business Insider. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  47. "Kelsey Henson, the Mountain's Girlfriend, Tells Her Fans How She Kisses Him". www.journalpost.com. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  48. Björnsson, Hafþór (21 October 2018). "It is with great pleasure..." Instagram. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  49. Rendon, Christine (22 October 2018). "Enormous Game of Thrones star Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson ties the knot with girlfriend". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  50. "'Game of Thrones' star Hafthor Bjornsson, wife Kelsey Henson welcome baby boy". Outlook India. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  51. "Twenty-Four Hours With The Mountain". Men's Health. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  52. Men's Health (20 April 2017), 24 Hours With The Mountain, retrieved 30 September 2018
  53. "'The Mountain' Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson has Bell's palsy". theconversation.com. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  54. SodaStream (31 January 2018), SodaStream's Join the Revolution, retrieved 30 September 2018
  55. Shame or Glory (1 April 2016), HeavyBubbles™ – Uncut, retrieved 30 September 2018
  56. Shame or Glory (14 November 2016), Shame or Glory, retrieved 30 September 2018
  57. Jake Cappuccino (17 July 2016). "The Mountain's Amazing New Alcohol Is Basically A 'Game Of Thrones' Vodka". Elite Daily. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  58. Icelandic Mountain Spirits (10 July 2016), Icelandic Mountain Vodka™ A day with Hafthor, retrieved 30 September 2018
  59. Jake Boly (1 March 2019). "Hafthor Bjornsson Deadlifts a 474kg Elephant Bar World Record (Closely Misses 501kg)". BarBend.com. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  60. "Europe's Strongest Man 2018 – Log Lift 213kg – Thor". YouTube. Europe's Strongest Man. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  61. Jay Hathaway (4 June 2014). "Watch The Mountain from Game of Thrones Deadlift Almost 1,000 Pounds". Gawker.com. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  62. Kyle Newport (3 February 2015). "The Mountain from 'Game of Thrones' Breaks 1,000-Year-Old Weightlifting Record". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  63. BarBend Team (15 August 2016). "Hafthor Bjornsson Breaks His Own Keg Toss World Record in Botswana". BarBend.com. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  64. "World's Strongest Man 2014". Strongman.org. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  65. Hafthor Bjornsson (15 February 2020), "480kg/1058lbs Deadlift Unofficial World Record Raw!!", YouTube, retrieved 15 February 2020
  66. Jake Boly (17 December 2018). "Hafthor Bjornsson Puts Up Big Total At Powerlifting Meet". BarBend. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  67. Armen Hammer (7 November 2017). "Hafthor Bjornsson Destroys A 440kg/970lb Squat". Floelite.com. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  68. Nick English (27 November 2018). "Thor Bjornsson PRs His Bench Press With 245 Kilograms, 2 Weeks Out From Powerlifting Meet". BarBend. Retrieved 30 November 2018. 245kg/539lbs bench PR on my 30th birthday!
  69. "Ward and Bjornsson fight ends in draw". BBC Sport. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.