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GAME OF THRONES actor Hafthor Bjornsson showed he well and truly is a beast after breaking the world deadlift record at a staggering 1,041lbs.

The 29-year-old, who plays 'The Mountain' on the hit TV show, claimed top spot whilst competing in the 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic.

 Hafthor Bjornsson set a new deadlift world record at the 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic
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Hafthor Bjornsson set a new deadlift world record at the 2018 Arnold Strongman ClassicCredit: YouTube/International Strong Man
 The Game of Thrones actor won the competition after finishing as runner-up last year
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The Game of Thrones actor won the competition after finishing as runner-up last yearCredit: YouTube/International Strong Man
 The Icelandic giant currently plays 'The Mountain' on the hit TV show
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The Icelandic giant currently plays 'The Mountain' on the hit TV showCredit: HBO

Bjornsson accumulated 45.5 points out of his five events, as he went one better than last year after finishing as the runner-up.

Whilst he also managed to pip rival and four-time World's Strongest Man champion Brian Shaw who had to settle for second place.

The former Icelandic youth basketball international raced into an early lead after the bag over the bar test, as he managed to launch a 43kg bag over the 15ft bar.

This was swiftly followed up by an impressive display in the stone shoulder event, where a competitor must lift a huge, awkwardly-shaped stone up to their shoulder and hold it in place as many times as you can within the time frame.

What is 1,041lbs the equivalent of lifting?

  • One Grand Piano
  • Three adult male Panda Bears
  • 350,000 paper clips
  • 1,500 human hearts
  • 70 bowling balls
 Bjornsson simply nodded his head after lifting 1,041lbs
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Bjornsson simply nodded his head after lifting 1,041lbsCredit: YouTube/International Strong Man
 Three-time World's Strongest Man bronze medallist Bjornsson has played Gregor Clegane since 2014
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Three-time World's Strongest Man bronze medallist Bjornsson has played Gregor Clegane since 2014Credit: Alamy

Mateusz Kieliszkowski of Poland won that stage with four reps, but Bjornsson extended his overall lead after the third event in the timber carry, where the individual must carry a wooden apparatus to the top of the incline.

Bjornsson finished third in that stage with a time of 11.8 seconds, before he wrote himself into the record books with a sheer breathtaking feat of brute strength.


BLEEDIN' HECK Shocking moment weightlifter bleeds from the nose with strain during near-half ton dead lift at 2018 Arnold Sports Festival tournament in the US


The 6ft 9in competitor had the audacity to nod his head whilst holding 472kg (74.3 stone) on the bar, before letting out a roar to the fans after making history.

He then came fifth in the Apollon Wheel event, to rip away the title from defending champion Shaw.

It wasn't just Bjornsson who hit the headlines at the Arnold Strongman Classic this week, with Mikhail Shivlyakov left bleeding from his nose when attempting a 426kg deadlift.

Blood streamed down the 37-year-old's mouth as it poured out from his nostrils, with the strain clearly having an effect on the Russian.

But he somehow managed to complete the lift, before mopping the blood away from his face with a towel.

Shivlyakov finished in third place overall - 15.5 points behind Bjornsson at the top of the standings.

Shocking moment weightlifter Mikhail Shivlyakov bleeds from face with strain after 939lbs deadlift at Arnold Class tournament
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