Hafthor Bjornsson announced his return to Strongman not too long ago; however, he is already back to his best. Not only does he have goals of winning elite competitions, but he is also looking to smash some records in the process. One record is in particular danger — Keg Toss — as Hafthor’s training footage is looking very impressive. Notably, Hafthor recently managed to throw a 15.5kilogram (34-pound) Keg for a height of exactly 8 meters (26-ft 3-in), which made for an Unofficial World Record.
Hafthor Bjornsson started off by throwing the keg over a 5.8-meter (19-feet) high beam, but quickly reached World Record territory after a few attempts. His first major attempt came at a height of 7.8 meters (25-ft 7-in), which was 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) higher than the current record. He failed his first attempt but managed to get it over the beam on his second one.
Hafthor Bjornsson then lifted the beam up to exactly 8 meters (26-ft 3-in). Similar to his experience at a previous height, the Icelandic Strongman failed his first attempt and decided to try one more time. So, he concentrated for his second attempt, knowing that both the power and trajectory of the toss had to be perfect. After giving it his all, the keg clipped the top of the beam and managed to roll over to the other side, thus making it an Unofficial World Record.
Note: Hafthor Bjornsson used a 15.5-kilogram (34-pound) Keg Toss, while the ones used in competitions weigh 15 kilograms (33 pounds). So he basically exceeded the World Record while using an even heavier Keg, which adds to the significance of his achievement.
The Keg Toss (15-kg / 33-lb) World Record belonged to Brian Shaw in the past few years, but that changed at the 2024 World’s Strongest Man competition. Namely, at that event, three athletes managed to achieve a height of 7.76 meters (25-ft 5-in) to beat Shaw’s record. So, the record currently belongs to Wesley Derwinsky, Mitchell Hooper, and Tom Stoltman.
Watch Hafthor Bjornsson’s keg toss here:
View this post on InstagramGet Fitter, FasterLevel Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
After finishing up the Keg Toss session, Hafthor Bjornsson moved inside and performed some heavy deadlifts in the gym. He looked equally impressive there, managing to build up to a 435-kilogram (959-pound) raw deadlift single, where he used just a lifting belt and lifting straps. So, seeing that both Keg Toss and Deadlift will be events at the 2024 Strongest Man On Earth (SMOE), Hafthor is looking to pick up a lot of points.
Hafthor Bjornsson is giving his all in preparation for the 2024 SMOE, both inside and outside of the gym. That also encompasses a mind-blowing daily diet of 11,000+ calories, which he shared on his YouTube channel recently as well. So, it is no surprise that he is currently in incredible shape and even capable of setting new World Records.
Hafthor Bjornsson’s stats prior to his retirement are truly incredible, as he has won the 2018 World’s Strongest Man competition, multiple Arnold Strongman Classics, Europe’s Strongest Man, and a plethora of other competitions. Moreover, Hafthor is also known for his 501-kilogram (1,104.5-pound) All-Time Deadlift World Record.
However, just before his return from retirement, Hafthor suffered a severe pec tear, which made his comeback much more complicated. Still, he worked well through the recovery and put up impressive performances in both the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classics in Ohio and UK. The pec tear proved to affect his overhead pressing strength. On the other hand, every other aspect of his strength was incredible.
Watch Hafthor’s full training session here:
Related: Hafthor Bjornsson Smashes 1,000.9-lb (454-kg) Elephant Bar Deadlift in Training
Hafthor Bjornsson currently plans on taking part in the 2024 SMOE and Rogue Invitational. The Strongest Man On Earth will be the first to take place, as it is scheduled for August 17-18. Luckily, Hafthor is looking exceptional in training, which will hopefully carry over to his performance in competition as well.