Hafthor Bjornsson has been a professional strength athlete for most of his life, which means he has spent a great deal of time training in the gym. This is why he made his own “Thor’s Power Gym” and it is where he set the 501-kilogram (1,104.5-pound) Deadlift World Record, which stands to this day. Well, Hafthor has now decided to upgrade his gym and has invested $116,000 for that purpose. He revealed everything about this project on YouTube, where he showed off the equipment, building process, and some more technicalities behind everything.
Hafthor Bjornsson has thought about adding new stuff to his gym for some time now, but he never acted upon his desire until now. However, following a $116,000 investment, Hafthor’s gym has transformed completely. He has also acquired some equipment which will help him in the near future, as he is still recovering from a pec tear, but wants to train regardless of it.
Related: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Intense Pre-Surgery Recovery Techniques for Gruesome Pec Tear
Hafthor Bjornsson’s Gym Upgrade
Hafthor Bjornsson’s gym is already packed with equipment. So, in order to add new stuff, he had to make some room for it. He did not want to remove anything from his gym, so the only way was to buy another unit. Luckily, the people who owned a unit right next to the one that his gym is stationed in were ready to sell. So, he bought it and connected it to his own unit.
“That was probably the reason I delayed so long, like I wanted to buy more stuff but never did it because I had no space.”
Hafthor Bjornsson first introduced his favorite purchase, the Belt Squat. This machine allows him to perform squats without a barbell and with no pressure on his upper body. The belt is locked in around the hips, so he won’t risk complicating his chest tear any further.
“This is the belt squat, which is probably the best investment that I have made, especially now, because I’ll be able to train my legs right away… I’ve been wanting this for years, and finally I own one.”
After making a 1.5-meter wide door to connect his gym to the new nextdoor property, adding some flooring, and tidying up the space, Hafthor Bjornsson showcased his new equipment.
All of the new stuff that Hafthor acquired is to suit the needs of bigger athletes. However, Hafthor’s wife was most impressed by the size of a Lying Hamstring Curl, which is almost double the size of a standard one.
“It is massive. This machine is built for big boys. This is what you would think you’d find in a Strongman gym,” said Hafthor’s wife.
Flat Chest Press and Incline Chest Press machines were placed at the entrance of the new unit. Right next to them was one Cable Machine, which Hafthor revealed to be one of his favorites.
Next up was the leg equipment, starting off with the Standing Calf Raise, which has the capacity to go much heavier than the standard ones. Next to it was a Leg Extension machine, which is not new, but was transferred to the new part of the gym.
Right next to the wall, Hafthor Bjornsson decided to place a Chest Fly Machine, which has the option to transform into a Rear Delt setup.
“This is a beauty. It is a chest-fly and back combo. The guys in the gym have been complimenting this piece a lot. All the guys in the gym love this piece, and I cannot wait until I can put my hands on this piece.”
Hafthor then presented yet another Hamstring machine, as well as a second Cable Machine. However, the next machine coming up was the Inverse Curl, which is unusual, but very helpful to big guys.
Inverse Curl is basically a machine that helps athletes perform Nordic Curls, which have proven to be one of the greatest hamstring and lower back muscle builders.
“It is very cool for heavy guys… It is a killer for the hamstrings. The more weight you put on, the easier it gets. I think it was made for big guys, because big guys have a hard time doing this specific movement.”
Another addition to the gym was the Seal Row, which is a piece of equipment adored by another elite Strongman, Brian Shaw. Now Hafthor Bjornsson has also decided to add it to the gym.
While presenting this machine, Hafthor revealed that his chest is already feeling very good. So, he will try to train on the Seal Row as early as next week.
“I am super excited to try it out. My chest is already feeling good. So, I can probably try this out next week.”
Hafthor then presented the Hip-Quad Machine, which is yet another rare piece of equipment, but also an incredible addition to the gym. The final new addition to the gym was the Hack Squat, but Hafthor did not get the chance to use it yet.
Watch the full video here:
After retiring from boxing, Hafthor Bjornsson announced that he would be coming back to Powerlifting. He set massive goals, most notably, to set an All-Time World Record Total by the end of 2023. However, despite his training going extremely well, Hafthor tore his pec, which ruined his plans. Hopefully, Haftor will be able to return even sooner than anticipated thanks to the new equipment in his gym and continue to make history in strength sports.
Published: 21 July, 2023 | 9:26 AM EDT
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