Walking away from a sport that has defined your life for years is never going to be straightforward, especially when you’ve spent much of your career competing to be the strongest man on the planet.
Brian Shaw and Hafthor Bjornsson know that feeling better than most.
The two strongman legends recently sat down for an episode of the Shaw Strength Podcast, where they discussed the physical and mental challenges of moving beyond elite competition, alongside the changing priorities that come with getting older.
For Shaw, who has retired from Strongman, one of the biggest changes has been his dramatic weight loss.
The four-time World’s Strongest Man revealed that he has dropped from approximately 450lbs to 350lbs after deciding he no longer needed to maintain the enormous physique that helped him compete at the highest level.
“I was a couple of years out of Strongman, and it wasn’t hard for me to be 400lbs,” Shaw explained.
“I was eating normally and training, but I finally reached a point where I thought, ‘Why do I need to be walking around that heavy if I don’t need to?'”
Despite shedding around 100lbs, Shaw insisted he doesn’t look back negatively on his Strongman physique.
Instead, he sees his transformation as the beginning of a different chapter.
“I loved being bigger. I loved being strong. I loved competing in Strongman and the heavy training,” he said. “That’s what I was training for. I trained to be strong, and I was so happy doing it.”
The American explained that his lighter frame has allowed him to enjoy activities that previously felt more difficult.
“I feel good. I feel lighter, for sure. I’ve got more energy, and it’s easier to move around,” he added.
Bjornsson, meanwhile, finds himself facing a different dilemma.
Unlike Shaw, the Icelandic strongman returned to competition after previously stepping away from the sport, but he admitted that his future is now uncertain.
The former World’s Strongest Man revealed that he had withdrawn from the Rogue Invitational after struggling with physical issues, including problems affecting his knee and foot.
“My body was telling me I needed a break,” Bjornsson explained.
“I’ve been training harder than ever for a long period, and I’m dealing with some knee issues.”
The 37-year-old admitted that years of pushing his body to its limits have begun taking their toll.
And although he hasn’t officially retired, he refused to guarantee another competitive appearance.
“I’m not officially retiring, but I’m not saying I’ll definitely compete next year,” he said.
“Family comes first, so we’ll see.”
Bjornsson also acknowledged that his hunger for breaking records and collecting titles isn’t quite what it once was.
“I don’t necessarily have a massive hunger for breaking more world records or winning more titles,” he admitted.
“When I was younger, that’s what motivated me. Now, I just don’t feel as motivated to achieve those things.”
Shaw suggested that the feeling could be linked to the relentless demands of competing at the highest level.
He explained that athletes sometimes need time away from competition before they can properly understand what they want to do next.
“Sometimes the clarity doesn’t come until you have that breather,” Shaw said.
“You have to have some time. People don’t necessarily understand the dedicated drive and focus it takes to do something at the highest level.”
Away from competition, both men agreed that family responsibilities have become increasingly important.
Shaw explained that his commitments now include spending time with his children and coaching their basketball teams.
For someone who previously dedicated so much of his life to strongman, that represents a significant shift.
“I would rather dedicate the time to spending time with them, coaching them and helping them,” he said.
“It makes me happy, and I want to see them fulfil their dreams.”
Bjornsson echoed those sentiments, admitting that his priorities have changed considerably since his twenties.
“When I was in my twenties, everything was about me and how I could become the best,” he explained.
“Today, I look at life differently. Family is extremely important to me, and I structure my training and lifestyle around my family.”
For both men, the conversation highlighted a reality that fans don’t always get to see.
The ambition that made them successful hasn’t necessarily disappeared, but the sacrifices required to remain at the top are becoming harder to justify.
And while Shaw has found a new balance after strongman, Bjornsson is still deciding what the next chapter of his career will look like.
One thing is clear: for two athletes who spent years chasing extraordinary strength, life beyond competition is now about much more than lifting the heaviest weight.
Featured image credit: Shaw Strength Podcast / YouTube
