September 9, 2025, 9:58 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 400 pounds, Hafþór “Thor” Björnsson is a force of nature. The “Game of Thrones” star has once again achieved the seemingly impossible: At an official competition in Birmingham, the Icelander deadlifted 1,124 pounds. This not only sets a new world record but also adds to the legendary rivalry with Eddie Hall.
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“Game of Thrones” Star Breaks World Record
At the Mutant World Deadlift Championship in Birmingham, the Icelandic strength athlete made sports history over the weekend: 1,124 pounds in the deadlift–live and official. Although the entry in Guinness World Records is still pending, the former “Game of Thrones” star surpasses his previous bests and sets new standards in a discipline that has long become a contest of giants.
The record performance was completed under official competition conditions. A detail that was particularly important to Eddie Hall, who had always critically commented on Björnsson’s previous bests in his own gym. “He has to participate in an official competition to substantiate it,” Hall said on the Men’s Health podcast.1
But Hall himself had also admitted: “I believe there are people in the world who are quite capable of lifting half a ton. Hafþór is one of them.”
And he was right: After Björnsson lifted 1,113 pounds in the summer, the next step followed. Observers reported that the attempt seemed almost effortless–as if there was more to come. Additionally, the Icelander went on to win the Strongman Open. Thus, he dominated not only in one but in several disciplines. In a final training session before the record attempt, Björnsson worked his way up to 904 pounds in a controlled manner. He also revealed his strategy for the competition: He planned to make large weight jumps between attempts–specifically, after 926 and 1,036 pounds, the 1,124 pounds would follow.2
Stronger Than Ever: Björnsson Increases His Own Record
The development of the Icelander is impressive–and it seems far from over. His dominance in deadlifting not only brings him the next best mark but also respect from former critics.
Hall showed little impressed by the new record mark–and referred to his historic achievement in 2016: “For me, the pinnacle is becoming World’s Strongest Man and being the first person ever to lift half a ton. I didn’t need more. I will always be the first person to lift 500 kilos.”
With a jab, he added: “Who was the second person on the moon? Exactly. No one cares–it’s always about who was there first.”
Looking Back: Björnsson’s First World Record in 2020
In May 2020, Björnsson made headlines when he lifted 1,104 pounds in his Icelandic gym, surpassing Eddie Hall’s then-record. The performance was recognized by Guinness World Records but remained controversial as it did not take place in a competition setting.
After the lift, the Icelander was emotional: “I am absolutely speechless, happy, and grateful that I got this opportunity. Everything went according to plan today. I not only lifted over half a ton, but I also feel really good afterward. I am extremely proud.”
The event was followed worldwide on YouTube. For his record, Björnsson received $101,000 in prize money, offered by World’s Ultimate Strongman.
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What Is Deadlifting Anyway?
Romanian deadlifting, also known by its English name ‘deadlift,’ simulates, simply put, lifting an object from the ground with a barbell. The exercise also trains many stabilizing and supporting muscles that we use in everyday life and can–if done correctly–prevent many injuries. However, it is a technically very demanding exercise, so a thorough technique check is definitely recommended.
How to perform deadlifting correctly can be seen here in the video:
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The Boxing Match with Hall–and the Clear Result
After his first world record in 2020, Björnsson openly challenged Eddie Hall to a boxing match: “Eddie, I knocked out your record and now I’m ready to knock you out in the ring!” he announced–and added: “I’m ready. Are you?”
Hall responded via YouTube and accepted the challenge with clear words: “In the ring, I will teach you a lesson! Good luck, you’ll damn well need it. I’ll see you in the ring!” For the fight, he plans to train harder than he ever has before.
On March 19, 2022, the fight took place in Dubai–and Björnsson left no doubt about his superiority. He won unanimously on points, with 57‑54 on all three scorecards. Hall went down twice during the fight–a clear verdict in favor of the Icelander.3
Conclusion
With the official record of 1,124 pounds and the victory in the ring, Hafthor Björnsson has once again proven his exceptional status in strength sports–and likely settled the rivalry with Eddie Hall once and for all.