Hafthor Björnsson Returns to Strongman Competition after Four-Year Hiatus
Hafthor Björnsson, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion, has returned to the pro strongman circuit after a four-year hiatus. The Icelandic strongman made his comeback at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) Ohio, where he placed fourth. Two weeks later, he finished second behind Mitchell Hooper at the 2024 ASC UK.
On April 12, 2024, Björnsson unveiled his competitive strongman schedule for the rest of the 2024 season. The three competitions he plans to participate in are the 2024 Iceland’s Strongest Man, the 2024 Strongest Man On Earth (Shaw Classic), and the 2024 Rogue Strongman Invitational.
Björnsson, who has dominated the Iceland Strongest Man (ISM) competition for a decade with 10 consecutive victories, aims to extend his lead at the 40th edition of the ISM, scheduled for the second week of August 2024.
Following the ISM, he will compete at the 2024 Strongest Man On Earth in Loveland, CO, from Aug. 16-18. Björnsson will then cap off his 2024 pro strongman season at the 2024 Rogue Strongman Invitational, set for Nov. 8-10 in Aberdeen, Scotland.
After his performances at the 2024 ASC US and ASC UK, Björnsson is prioritizing recovery with a lighter training phase. Once fully rested, he will transition to a high-volume, high-repetition phase to maximize strength gains, particularly in the pressing events, which he struggled with at the previous competitions.
Björnsson plans to deadlift 505 kilograms (1,113.3 pounds) in a contest in 2024, aiming to prove he is the best deadlifter in the world. He previously locked out a 501-kilogram deadlift in May 2020.
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