Hafthor Bjornsson is one of the all time greats in Strongman, and one of the athletes that helped the sport progress the most in the past few decades. Well, while he did wander out of the sport for a few years, Hafthor’s love for Strongman has rekindled, which made him think about a comeback. So, Hafthor recently announced that he will officially be coming back to the sport. However, it was still not clear what his exact plans were for the year ahead of him. With many fans wondering, Hafthor posted another YouTube video, revealing the three Strongman competitions in 2024 that he plans to take part in.
Hafthor Bjornsson’s Plan for 2024
Hafthor Bjornsson first revealed that he could make even more than three Strongman appearances next year, but it will all depend on how he feels. Thus, he has set three competitions to strive for, and it is safe to say that his goals are huge. Speaking of which, Hafthor has already started preparing for his Strongman comeback.
“I’m training well, and my pec injury is feeling very good… I’m back to 200% training. Doing some Strongman movements, for example, Yoke, Farmer’s Walks, Frame, even going to throw in some Log soon.
I have decided on three shows next year that I am going to dedicate myself in competing at… The first show might shock you… The first show is going to be the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. A lot of you guys might think that it is too soon or too heavy, and that is ok.”
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Hafthor Bjornsson’s first Strongman competition will be the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic, which is scheduled for March 1-3, in Columbus, Ohio. This means that he only has five months to finish up his pec tear recovery and then build up on his Strongman abilities. Being a very difficult task, Hafthor has decided not to put too much pressure on himself.
“I am going to this show with the mindset that I am going to do my best. I want to go and try my best against the best in the world… In my opinion, the Arnold Strongman Classic is one of the toughest with the best athletes in the world…
I’m not going to push myself to the limits where I am going to risk an injury. If I feel that something is not 100%, I’m only going to push as far as my body allows.”
Surprisingly, Hafthor Bjornsson’s second appearance will be just two weeks after his comeback to Strongman. It will be of a smaller caliber though, meaning Hafthor will have a slightly better shot at the title, or at least the podium.
“The second show that I will compete in is the Arnold UK… That is a ‘Smaller Show’ or whatever you want to call it. I think maybe all the best guys are still going to compete there.”
After taking part in the two competitions mentioned above, Hafthor Bjronsson will then have some time to prepare further for his third show. That will be none other than the 2024 Rogue Invitational, which will take place more towards the backend of the year. The Rogue Invitational’s first edition took place in 2021, meaning Hafthor never got the chance to compete. Thus, he hopes to do so next year, where he could deliver a surprise once again.
“The third show that I have dedicated myself to competing in is the Rogue Invitational… I think by the time that I will be competing at the Rogue Invitational, I should be back to a very good strength point. I should be able to push very hard, I should be very competitive.”
Hafthor Bjornsson also knows how strong the current Strongmen are and will not be underestimating anyone. However, he also believes that there is still potential for a very good placement for him.
“I think with my experience and my background that I’m a threat at any shows, but I’m also giving the guys that are competing nowadays a huge respect… I know that I will have to come in at my best to give them a good competition.”
Watch the lift here:
Related: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Graphic Footage Of His Successful Pec Tear Surgery
Hafthor Bjornsson competed in Strongman from 2010 until 2020, during which he took part in 73 International and National shows combined. Out of those, he came out victorious in 38 competitions, thus establishing a win rate of over 50%, which is mind-blowing. Moreover, the majority of Hafthor’s victories were on the biggest stage. Some of his standout achievements are being the 3x Arnold Strongman Classic champion, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man, and the 5x Europe’s Strongest Man.
Hafthor Bjornsson’s life has been quite eventful ever since he retired from Strongman in 2020. First, he won a boxing match against Eddie Hall, following which he decided to dedicate himself to powerlifting. Hafthor set some massive goals in powerlifting, but it all came crashing down when he tore his pec while attempting a humongous bench press. Now that everything is returning to normal, Hafthor looks to come out of his Strongman retirement and add some more achievements to his resume.