Hafthor Bjornsson is closing in fast on his stated goal to squat 455 kilograms (1,003 pounds).
With the requisite powerlifting trinity of screaming, speed metal, and cheering spotters, the Icelandic strongman got under the bar and squatted 400 kilograms (881 pounds) for a double with a belt and knee wraps. Check out the insane speed of the lift in the video below — some are speculating that this could have been a four- or five-rep set.
He wrote in his caption,
Personal best Squat 400kg/881lbs 2reps. Very happy with today’s session. This session takes me one step closer to my goal of squatting 455kg/1003lbs raw (wraps) in the coming weeks.
A personal best for the second place finisher in World’s Strongest Man is something that deserves serious respect.
This is a man on a mission. We haven’t seen him PR in a single lift for a while, but last week he was hitting a very fast triple of 350 kilograms (770 pounds). It’s the speed at which he’s making these lifts that makes us pretty sure he has a 455kg squat in his near future.
And while we’re talking about his ability to rep, check out this footage of his twelve-rep set of 700-pound squats from this year’s World’s Strongest Man in Botswana.
He came in second to Eddie Hall, who managed fifteen reps. Bjornsson, of course, came in second to Eddie Hall overall in the competition, and he made it known that he was none too pleased with the result. But it certainly seems to have lit a fire under him, and we think there’s a chance that if not for his loss, he wouldn’t be so determined to close in on the fabled thousand-pound squat. Of course, this is just speculation.
Bjornsson attributes his success in part to his programming, which is designed by the Australian strength coach Sebastian Oreb, who also coaches the kickboxing powerlifter Alex Simon. Here’s to his next PR.
Featured image via @thorbjornsson on Instagram.