Watch Game of Thrones' "Mountain" Break a 1,000-Year-Old Lifting Record
Hafthór Björnsson, who appeared as Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in the most recent season of Game of Thrones, is officially only the second-strongest man in the world ("only"), but he just performed a lifting feat that no one else has accomplished in the past 1,000 years.
Here's how Björnsson, who calls himself "the future of strength," explained the footage you're watching here, from the SCL Strongman Championship in Fefor, Norway:
The legend of the Icelander Orm Storulfsson says that he walked three steps with this MONSTER WOODEN LOG which weighs over 600kg's/1320lbs! It took 50 mere mortals to help him placing it on his back! After he took his third step his back broke under the enormous pressure and he was never the same after that! Well today my friends I made history!! As well as winning the title of The World's Strongest Viking for the second time in a row I carried this MONSTER LOG 5 steps! My back held up fine!! As I'm on my way to my ultimate goal to win The World's Strongest Man! NOTHING CAN STOP ME!! NOTHING CAN BREAK ME!!
The log represents the mast of the legendary viking longship Ormen Lange, built by Norway's King Olaf in the 990s. The ship was said to be nearly 150 feet long and unusually tall, hence the "MONSTER WOODEN LOG" for a mast. The real deal could have been anywhere from 50 to 75 feet tall.
Becoming the World's Strongest Viking qualifies Thor for another run at his most coveted title, World's Strongest Man. Last year, he narrowly lost to four-time champion Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania, falling short by just half a point.
I wouldn't bet against him this year. And even if he somehow fails, he's got plenty of time. Savickas is about to turn 40 and, although you wouldn't know this by looking at him, Thor is only 26.