Hafthor Björnsson, known as “The Mountain” from the popular series Game of Thrones, has become a household name over the years due to his outstanding achievements in the field of Strongman. It has paid off since he has been inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame (ISHOF) in the class of 2023, recognizing his lifetime accomplishments as a professional athlete.
Hafthor Björnsson, hailing from Iceland, first entered the world of strongman in 2010 and quickly made a name for himself as a fierce competitor. Throughout his career, he has won numerous International competitions, and was notably the 3x Arnold Strongman Classic (2018, 2019, & 2020) champion. The official inauguration into the ISHOF will take place at the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, on March 3-4, 2023.
Dr. Robert Goldman founded the International Sports Hall of Fame, which has earned respect and recognition over the past decade. Additionally, five figures have been inducted in the 2023 class, making all of them extremely credible.
2023 Class Of ISHOF
- Hafthor Björnsson — 30X Professional Strongman Champion and Actor
- Kayla Harrison — 2X Olympic Judo Gold Medalist and 2X Women’s MMA Champion
- Jackie Joyner Kersee — 6X Olympic Medalist and current Heptathlon World Record Holder
- Ronnie Lott — 4X NFL Superbowl Champion and NFL Hall of Famer
- Richard Sorin — Founder of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, Legend of Grip Strength
“This phenomenal class of inductees joins a select group of champions of sport that have motivated and inspired millions of people around the world. They’re induction is not only for their athletic prowess but, also for what they have done to give back through their numerous charitable endeavors after their athletic careers.” said Dr. Robert Goldman.
Hafthor Björnsson is just the third Strongman athlete to be inducted into the International Sports Hall Of Fame, as only Bill Kazmaier and Mark Henry got in before him. However, Hafthor seems to be one of the most influential ISHOF members overall.
Looking back at his resume, Hafthor Björnsson has taken part in 73 International and National competitions, winning 38 of them. Following a successful career, he stopped competing in 2020 after winning Iceland’s Strongest Man for the tenth consecutive year. However, Hafthor recently came back to Strongman to break the Weight Over Bar World Record, where he hinted towards his full return to the sport.
Related: Hafthor Björnsson Crushes 195-kg (429.9-lb) Paused Bench Press Ahead of Powerlifting Competition
Hafthor Björnsson spent the past few years training for boxing and achieved some success there as well. He beat fellow Strongman athlete, Eddie Hall, in a long-awaited match, but decided to stop there. Instead, his love for strength sports reignited, so Hafthor Björnsson made a comeback in powerlifting. Despite being inducted into the International Sports Hall Of Fame, Hafthor will keep pushing forward and building his legacy.
Published: 2 February, 2023 | 2:35 PM EDT
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