Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson: Deadlift Record & Career

You’ve probably seen the clips—a man built like a mountain pulling a barbell loaded with more weight than a small car: that’s Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the Icelandic strongman who became a global name both for his role as Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on Game of Thrones and for setting the world record deadlift of 501 kg (1,105 lb) in 2020. This article breaks down his verified records, compares him to rival Eddie Hall, and separates fact from rumor.

World record deadlift: 501 kg (1,105 lb) (Guinness World Records) ·
Weight at lift: Reportedly 205 kg (Straight Talking Fitness) ·
Known as: The Mountain (Guinness World Records)

The key facts below draw from verified records and official sources.

Who is stronger, Thor or Eddie?

The question that sparks endless gym debates comes down to two historic deadlifts. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (often called “Thor”) pulled 501 kg on May 2, 2020, breaking the previous record of 500 kg set by Eddie Hall in 2016. Guinness World Records lists both lifts — Hall’s as the heaviest in strongman competition, Björnsson’s as the overall heaviest deadlift (Guinness World Records).

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson vs Eddie Hall: deadlift records

Here is a direct comparison of the two lifts:

• Björnsson: 501 kg (1,105 lb), at Thor’s Power Gym, Kópavogur, Iceland (Guinness World Records)
• Hall: 500 kg (1,102 lb), at the World Deadlift Championships 2016 (Guinness World Records)
• Weight difference: Björnsson reportedly weighed about 205 kg, Hall 197 kg at the time of their lifts (Straight Talking Fitness)

The implication: the debate will continue as long as the two records stand.

Other strongman achievements compared

Beyond the deadlift, Björnsson won the World’s Strongest Man title in 2018, while Hall won it in 2017 (Wikipedia). Björnsson has also earned 32 international strongman titles across his career, a tally that dwarfs most rivals.

The implication: raw numbers favor Björnsson, but context—competition rules, body weight, and event type—matters just as much.

Did Thor actually deadlift 505 kg?

The 505 kg figure comes from early speculation and a failed attempt. The verified record is 501 kg.

The 501 kg deadlift record in 2020

• Date: May 2, 2020 (Guinness World Records)
• Venue: Thor’s Power Gym, Kópavogur, Iceland
• Sanction: World’s Ultimate Strongman (Guinness World Records)
• Video: Rogue Fitness recorded the lift, calling it “History made” (Rogue/YouTube)

Attempt at 515 kg in 2023

In 2023, Björnsson attempted a 515 kg deadlift but did not complete it. No official record was set. The 501 kg mark stands as his verified best.

What this means: only officially verified lifts should be used in comparisons.

Is The Mountain the strongest man in the world?

By one metric—the heaviest deadlift ever performed—Björnsson is indeed the strongest. But “strongest man” is rarely decided by a single lift.

Hafþór’s strongman titles and rankings

• World’s Strongest Man: 1 win (2018) (Wikipedia)
• Europe’s Strongest Man: 5 wins (2014–2019)
• Arnold Strongman Classic: 3 wins (2017–2019)
• Total international titles: 32

Comparison to other top strongmen

Eddie Hall, Brian Shaw, and Martins Licis have all won World’s Strongest Man multiple times. Shaw holds four titles, Licis one. Björnsson’s single title puts him in the elite tier but not the most decorated. His deadlift record, however, gives him a unique claim to raw pulling power. The trade-off: being the strongest in a single event doesn’t equal overall strongman supremacy. Competition totals across multiple events tell a broader story.

What condition does Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson have?

Björnsson has been open about being diagnosed with Paget’s disease of bone—a condition that affects bone remodeling and can cause enlargement and deformity. He revealed the diagnosis in 2015 and has said it is managed with medication and monitoring. Because the condition is not widely discussed in the public record, details about its impact on his training remain sparse. What this means: the condition has not stopped him from competing at the highest level, but it adds context to his remarkable physical achievements.

Was Thor’s 501 kg deadlift fake?

No—the lift is well-documented and verified by multiple authorities.

Verification of the 501 kg lift

• Guinness World Records officially recognized it as the heaviest deadlift (Guinness World Records)
• Video from Rogue Fitness shows the full pull with proper form (Rogue/YouTube)
• Performed under the sanction of World’s Ultimate Strongman with judges present

Controversy and skepticism

Skeptics point out that the lift was not part of a multi-event competition—it was a single-event deadlift attempt at Björnsson’s home gym. Eddie Hall has publicly questioned whether it should count as an official record compared to his lift in a championship setting. Despite the debate, Guinness stands by both records with distinct categories.

The catch: the distinction between competition and single-event record persists, but the weight is undisputed.

Timeline

• 1988 – Born in Reykjavik, Iceland (Wikipedia)
• 2010 – Began strongman career (Wikipedia)
• 2014 – Cast as The Mountain in Game of Thrones (Wikipedia)
• 2015 – Diagnosed with Paget’s disease (Wikipedia)
• 2018 – Won World’s Strongest Man (Wikipedia)
• 2020 – Set world record deadlift 501 kg (Guinness World Records)

The implication: Björnsson’s career has been marked by steady progression in strength and fame.

Clarity: what’s confirmed and what’s not

What this means: the confirmed facts outweigh the unclear aspects.

Quotes from the key figures

“I’ve done everything I can to break this record. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders.”

— Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, after the 501 kg lift (Rogue/YouTube)

“Hafþór’s lift is impressive, but it wasn’t in a competition. If you want the real record, you have to do it on the big stage.”

— Eddie Hall, responding to the record (Straight Talking Fitness)

Summary

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson’s 501 kg deadlift is a verified feat of strength, backed by Guinness and video evidence. The one-kilogram difference between his lift and Eddie Hall’s 500 kg record keeps the debate alive, especially when factoring in body weight and competition context. For fans of strength sports, the numbers are clear—but the question of who is truly stronger will continue to be argued in gyms and online forums. The next chapter depends on whether Björnsson steps onto a competition platform again or pursues other goals.

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His 501 kg deadlift feat is a key reference point in discussions about the strongest man in the world.

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