- “Game of Thrones” star Hafthor Bjornsson will attempt to deadlift 1,104 pounds on Saturday to set a new world record.
- The attempt will be broadcast live on ESPN, leading into a block of “The Ocho” programming that will highlight lesser-known sports.
- Bjornsson, who played The Mountain, has plenty of experience as a strongman, having won the title of World’s Strongest Man in 2018 after taking silver the previous two years.
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“Game of Thrones” star Hafthor Bjornsson will attempt to break the deadlift world record on Saturday. His effort to lift 1,104 pounds from the ground up to his waist will be broadcast live on ESPN at noon ET as part of the World’s Ultimate Strongman Competition.
Bjornsson is no stranger to strongman competitions, having won the title of World’s Strongest Man in 2018 after finishing in second place the previous two years. He took home bronze at last year’s event.
Bjornsson told the New York Post that he was disappointed the attempt won’t take place in front of a live crowd, as feeding off of the energy of the audience helps.
“It’s going to be more of a challenge for me because I can say without a doubt that I perform 5, maybe 10 percent better in a competition — the crowd gives you that adrenaline rush that you need,” Bjornsson said. “I’m a little bit worried to do it in my gym by myself with a doctor, a referee and film crew.”
While there won’t be a crowd in attendance, there should be plenty of drama when Bjornsson makes his attempt. When fellow strongman Eddie Hall set the current world record at 1,102 lbs in 2016, it was a truly Herculean effort, with Hall collapsing as he set the weight down, blood streaming down his nose.
It’s not the first time Bjornsson has made headlines with standalone feats as a strongman. In addition to the trophies he’s won, Bjornsson also broke an old Viking strength record by carrying a 32-foot, 1,433-pound log for five steps at The World’s Strongest Viking competition in Norway in 2015.
In the lead up to his attempt at the deadlift world record, Bjornsson has documented some of his training on his YouTube channel.
You can tune in to ESPN at noon ET on Saturday to watch Bjornsson’s attempt live as it happens.
