Hafthor Björnsson

Hafthor Björnsson Announces Three-Part Return to Strongman Beginning with 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic

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Hafthor Björnsson Announces Three-Part Return to Strongman Beginning with 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic Less than a month after letting the world know about his decision to step away from powerlifting, Hafthor Björnsson has officially put a timetable on his return to the sport that made him a living legend. Working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle that’s taken several months and plenty of patience to rehabilitate, Björnsson unveiled his comeback plan by announcing that his first strongman competition will be in March at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). The three-time ASC winner (2018-2020) and 2018 World’s Strongest Man champion delivered more details about his health status and competition schedule in a video posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 14, 2023. More from Breaking Muscle: Learn How to Build Strength with Three Key Principles Australian Strongman Smashes World Record by Pulling 44,753-Pound Crane Björnsson, who will turn 35 in November of 2023, stated that he will make his return at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic, which will take place during the weekend of March 1-3 in Columbus, Ohio. “A lot of you guys might think it’s too soon, too heavy, and that’s okay,” Björnsson explained. “I’m going to the show with the mindset that I’m going to do my best, and I want to go and try my best against the best in the world … In my opinion, the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio is one of the toughest shows with the best athletes in the world.” Although he’s still not fully healed from his pec injury, the 2023 International Sports Hall of Fame inductee said he’s “back to 100 percent training” and has been performing staple loaded carry movements like the yoke walk, farmer’s walks, and the frame carry. “I’m even going to throw in some [log press] soon,” Björnsson said. “So things are definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m feeling awesome.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (@thorbjornsson) More from Breaking Muscle: How to Eat More for Muscle and Strength Gains Powerbuilding: The Training Method for Size and Strength In addition to the Arnold Strongman Classic, “The Mountain” has two more events penciled into his schedule for next year: the 2024 Arnold Strongman UK and the 2024 Rogue Invitational. Björnsson won’t get a much of a break once he makes competes at the ASC in early March, as the Birmingham, England-based Arnold Strongman UK competition will take place just two weeks later. Although the March 15-17 competition won’t be quite as big as the US version, there shouldn’t be any shortage of star power across the pond. Björnsson hinted that 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic champion Mitchell Hooper, who Björnsson currently considers the best in the world, will compete in the contest. That could set the stage for an epic showdown between the iconic athlete and the reigning World’s Strongest Man. Björnsson unsurprisingly also has his sights set on showcasing his strength and power at Rogue’s preeminent event. As a sponsored athlete who accomplished his goal of setting a record at the 2022 Rogue Invitational by throwing a 25.5-kilogram (56-pound) Scottish Highland Games weight over 6.17 meters (20 feet, 3 inches), he has ample motivation to perform at an elite level again. “I think by the time I’ll be competing at Rogue Invitationals I should be back to a very good strength point,” Björnsson said. “So I should be able to push very hard at that show and I should be very competitive and a good threat. I think I’d be a good threat at the Arnolds anyways — with my experience, with my background, I’m a threat at any show, but I’m also giving the guys competing nowadays huge respect.” With the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational scheduled for Oct. 27-29, Björnsson should have roughly a year to get ready for another record-setting outing. But with 2023 winding down, he faces a pivotal five-month stretch to prepare for a successful showing at his first strongman competition since his last official competitive appearance when he took home the title at Iceland’s Strongest Man in August of 2020. Featured Image: Hafthor Bjornsson / YouTube The post Hafthor Björnsson Announces Three-Part Return to Strongman Beginning with 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic appeared first on Breaking Muscle. Less than a month after letting the world know about his decision to step away from powerlifting, Hafthor Björnsson has officially put a timetable on his return to the sport that made him a living legend. Working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle that’s taken several months and plenty of patience to rehabilitate, Björnsson unveiled his… The post Hafthor Björnsson Announces Three-Part Return to Strongman Beginning with 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic appeared first on Breaking Muscle. 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Hafthor Björnsson Puts Powerlifting on Pause for Return to Strongman Competition

Hafthor Björnsson Puts Powerlifting on Pause for Return to Strongman Competition Hafthor Björnsson sent a clear message to the strength sports world by announcing he will shift his focus from powerlifting to competing in strongman again. The 2018 World’s Strongest Man and three-time winner of the Arnold Strongman Classic made headlines in February of 2023 when he officially came out of retirement. However, just two months later, Björnsson encountered a serious setback in his quest to prove his dominance again when he tore his pectoral muscle during a powerlifting competition held at Thor’s Power Gym in Kópavogur, Iceland. Nearly six months since suffering the injury that forced him to alter his training plans, Björnsson shared a video on his YouTube channel on Sept. 21, 2023 detailing his decision to take his career in a different (but familiar) direction. More from Breaking Muscle: Mitchell Hooper Discusses Risks and Benefits of CrossFit, Draws Parallel to Strongman Best Barbells of 2023 for Powerlifting, CrossFit, Olympic Weightlifting, and More “As of now, because of the injury, I feel like it’s the smartest decision for me to step away for a little bit, keep training, keep building up the static strength,” Björnsson explained. “Then at some point later on in my journey, maybe a year from now, two years from now, three years from now, I might pick it back up.” This isn’t the first (or likely the last) time the 2023 International Sports Hall of Fame inductee has switched his athletic priorities. After earning a reputation as an all-time great strongman, Björnsson retired from the sport in August 2020 and subsequently competed in both boxing and powerlifting. Although he didn’t fare quite as well in the ring, the experience of changing sports provided some important perspective. “When I decided to do powerlifting in the first place, after being in boxing for two years, I set my goals so high and I was getting strong so fast that my body wasn’t ready for it, and that’s why I got injured, in my opinion,” Björnsson said. “I need to be smart with my training. I need to give myself more time to build up that static strength.” After providing his rationale for putting his powerlifting aspirations on pause, the legendary competitor gave a simple explanation behind his decision to return to strongman. “The main reason is just because I have so much love for the sport,” Björnsson said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (@thorbjornsson) More from Breaking Muscle: Martins Licis Deadlifts 365 Kilograms (804 Pounds) for 3 Reps, Ready for a Return to Strongman Powerbuilding: The Training Method for Size and Strength Motivated to make a successful comeback, the man known for portraying “The Mountain” in the television series “Game of Thrones” plans to take a patient approach to the process. Björnsson said he will take things at his own pace as he prepares to compete again. “I’m obviously going to set big goals for myself, but when I’m going to go into a competition I’m going to do my best,” he explained. “What that means is I’m not going to be chasing a man, chasing a record, chasing something right away. I need my body to get used to the heavy lifting. I need my tendons to get stronger, and that just takes time overall.” Despite being three years removed from his last strongman contest — a championship title at Iceland’s Strongest Man in August of 2020 — it might not be long before Björnsson captures his 39th victory in the sport. Once he returns to active status and competes again, he would be automatically qualified to enter the 2024 World’s Strongest Man thanks to his status as a former champion. Of course, if that occurs, the Iceland native would face a tall task to take down reigning winner Mitchell Hooper, who became the first Canadian-born victor in April 2023. But if Björnsson wins his second World’s Strongest Man title six years after earning his first, that might just be the most impressive accomplishment of his decorated career. Featured Image: Hafthor Björnsson / YouTube The post Hafthor Björnsson Puts Powerlifting on Pause for Return to Strongman Competition appeared first on Breaking Muscle. Hafthor Björnsson sent a clear message to the strength sports world by announcing he will shift his focus from powerlifting to competing in strongman again. The 2018 World’s Strongest Man and three-time winner of the Arnold Strongman Classic made headlines in February of 2023 when he officially came out of retirement. However, just two months later, Björnsson encountered… The post Hafthor Björnsson Puts Powerlifting on Pause for Return to Strongman Competition appeared first on Breaking Muscle. Stephen Sheehan, CPT{authorlink}https://breakingmuscle.com/hafthor-bjornsson-return-strongman/Breaking Muscle Breaking Muscle https://breakingmuscle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cropped-bmlogowhite-red-120×68.png