Hafþór Björnsson Raised the Deadlift Record to 510 Kilograms
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson moved from basketball to strongman, television fame and a 510 kg deadlift world record.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson became famous on television as “The Mountain,” but his defining performances were real lifts under extreme load.
510 kg
Deadlift record
2018
World’s Strongest Man
2.06 m
Height
From basketball to strongman
Björnsson played basketball in Iceland before ankle injuries changed his direction. Strength training became a new competitive outlet, and his height, reach and rapidly developing power suited strongman’s awkward objects.
He won World’s Strongest Man in 2018, along with multiple Arnold Strongman Classic and Europe’s Strongest Man titles.
Beyond the 501 kg lift
In 2020 he deadlifted 501 kg, passing the famous 500 kg mark. He later returned to elite competition and lifted 510 kg at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham, the current Guinness-listed heaviest deadlift.
The Mountain on screen
Playing Gregor Clegane in Game of Thrones made Björnsson recognizable far beyond strength sports. The role fit his scale, but his athletic career required far more than appearance: technique, recovery, nutrition and tolerance for pressure.
Why the update matters
Many profiles still call 501 kg his record. That number is historically important, but the verified mark has moved. Björnsson’s 510 kg lift shows that even a seemingly final human limit can become an intermediate step.
Sources: Guinness World Records, Giants Live athlete profile
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