The world of Strongman has a new benchmark. Hafthor Bjornsson stunned fans at the 2025 World Deadlift Championship in Birmingham, hauling an earth-shaking 510kg (1,124lbs) to once again rewrite history.
It’s the third time the Icelandic powerhouse has broken the record, following his 501kg lift in 2020 and 505kg effort earlier this summer.
But while the spotlight was firmly on Bjornsson, the achievement inevitably drew comparisons to the man who set the original impossible standard — Eddie Hall. The Brit’s 500kg deadlift in 2016 remains one of the most iconic moments in strength sports. Now, Hall has broken his silence on Thor’s latest record, offering a mix of respect, perspective, and a nod to their fierce rivalry.
Speaking on fellow strongman Mitchell Hooper’s YouTube channel, Hall said: “I just respect strength where respect is due. I’m happy and content with what I did in the strongman world, and I’m happy and content that I did set the boundary at 500 kilos. I know I hit my limits — there was more there, it’s obvious there’s more there. But for a 6’2” and a bit guy to go and lift 500 kilos… I should not really be able to lift that kind of f***ing weight.
“Whereas, Thor is 6’9”. People say taller athletes have a harder time deadlifting, and that’s bull***t. I think it’s actually easier. The levers are longer, you’ve got more potential for more muscle mass… I think you’ve got more potential for being bigger.
“So for Thor, I honestly think that 510kg he did is probably touching the iceberg. I think there’s more there. And I’ve got to respect that. And I do respect that — you know, I’ll always respect that. We may not see eye to eye as [people], but I’ll always respect what he can do and that he is f***ing strong.
“I’ll never deny that. He’s f***ing strong, and he’s an amazing athlete.”
Despite their past, Hall was quick to stress that he feels no bitterness about losing his place at the top of the deadlift mountain.
“There’s no point me being sour,” Hall said. “Records are made to be broken. They’re not there to stand for f***ing ever. I take some pride in some respects.
“If I hadn’t have done 500 kilos back in 2016 — the world record at the time was 463. Right? It had only been going up about a kilo a year for years — in my opinion, if I hadn’t come along with the belief of doing 500, we’d probably still be at 470, maybe 480, if we were lucky.
“So it’s me that set that target, and then everyone pounced on it — like, wow, 500 is possible. It’s the torchbearer in a way.”
Hall and Bjornsson’s rivalry has long been one of the most talked-about storylines in Strongman.
It began to boil in 2017, when Hall controversially edged Thor by a single point to claim his only World’s Strongest Man title. Bjornsson accused officials of unfair judging in the Viking Press, igniting a feud that simmered for years.
Tensions escalated in 2020 when Bjornsson broke Hall’s 500kg record with a 501kg pull. Hall dismissed the achievement because it was performed in a gym rather than at a live competition, and the war of words only intensified.
By 2022, the animosity reached a new level when the two squared off in a boxing match billed as “The Heaviest Boxing Match in History.” After months of trash talk, Bjornsson beat Hall by unanimous decision, seemingly settling the score — at least in the ring.
But in the deadlift, the battleground that first connected them, the respect remains.
Bjornsson himself hinted that his 510kg lift may just be the beginning. Sharing the attempt on Instagram, he wrote: “Crazy how easy it felt. I honestly believe I could have deadlifted 530kg yesterday. What do you guys think?”
Hall agrees the Icelander has more in the tank, saying the latest record is “probably touching the iceberg.”
And while the pair’s personal history has been turbulent, Hall’s reflections underline a mutual truth: they’ve pushed each other to achieve the unthinkable.
Featured image credit: YouTube/Mitchell Hooper/@giantslivestrongman (Screenshots)
