Hafthor “Thor” Björnsson has once again rewritten history, smashing his own deadlift record while setting his sights on an unprecedented milestone in powerlifting.
The record marks another milestone in a remarkable career that has spanned multiple disciplines. Björnsson, a 2018 World’s Strongest Man champion, is also a three-time Arnold Strongman Classic winner and five-time Europe’s Strongest Man.
After briefly retiring from strongman competition in 2020, he pursued boxing, undergoing a dramatic physique transformation before returning to powerlifting. A torn pectoral muscle setback couldn’t keep him away for long — and since his comeback, he has been steadily climbing back to the top.
Earlier this year, he narrowly missed a 501kg attempt at the Arnold Strongman Classic with a Rogue Elephant Bar, but he soon set things straight during a July 505kg record-breaking performance, which has emphatically re-established him as the sport’s benchmark.
Eyeing 510kg at World Deadlift Championships
But the 505kg pull may not stand for long. Björnsson is already preparing for another world-record attempt — this time at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham, England, on September 6. And now Björnsson is teasing a 510kg pull!
And during a recent training session, Björnsson shared footage of himself pulling 460kg for two reps, calling it a “Lifetime PB” and once again setting his sights on the next milestone.
“Lifetime PB 460kg for reps. 15 days out from 510kg WORLD RECORD! Who’s ready for it??” he told fans.
If successful, Björnsson will become the first athlete to lift 510 kilograms (1,124 pounds), extending his dominance at the very top of the sport he had retired from.
505kg Deadlift: History Made in Bavaria
As previously mentioned, Björnsson pulled a staggering 505 kilograms (1,113 pounds) at the Eisenhart Black Competition – an invitational showcase for the world’s strongest powerlifters and strongmen – in Bavaria, Germany on July 26, 2025.
“505kg WORLD RECORD! History made again,” Björnsson wrote in a celebratory post, sharing video footage of the historic lift.
The Icelandic powerhouse, who rose to global fame as “The Mountain” in Game of Thrones, powered through the pull after a brief struggle near the knees before standing tall for the down command. The lift surpasses his own 2020 best of 501kg, as well as Eddie Hall’s long-standing 500kg record from 2016.
The achievement was met with praise across the strength world. Strength coach Sebastian Oreb commented: “So proud of you my brother! You deserve every moment of this. You are the strongest deadlifter in history!!!!” Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger simply added: “Congratulations, my friend.”
Beyond Deadlifts: The 500+ Duo
Björnsson isn’t stopping there. During a recent Instagram Q&A, one fan asked about his next goal beyond 510kg.
“I would love to squat 500. That is something that really interests me — to be the first man to have deadlifted over 500 and potentially squat over 500,” he revealed. “That would be super cool for me.”
He even hinted at doing both on the same day: “500+ squat and a 500+ deadlift both on the same day. Who wants to see that?”
Given his history of breaking barriers — with over 100 world records to his name — few doubt the Icelandic giant’s ability to deliver.
Björnsson’s achievements already cement him as one of the greatest strength athletes in history, with a résumé spanning World’s Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man, and now the highest deadlift ever recorded.
In his most recent post – shared days before his world record attempt – Björnsson wrote: “Last deadlift session before 510kg on Sept 6th […] 410kg moved easy, confidence is through the roof.”
But as he prepares for Birmingham in just a few days, the strongman-turned-powerlifter is proving that his legacy isn’t just about what he’s achieved — it’s about how much further he’s willing to push the limits of human strength.
