A thousand years ago, when Iceland probably had a lot in common with Westeros, a Viking named Orm Storolfson picked up a log weighing 1,433 pounds and dragged it three steps. On the third step, his back broke. Ouch. Nevertheless, Storolfson made it into Icelandic lore as a legendary strongman.
Obviously, it takes another legendary strongman to best a feat like this. Luckily, as Game of Thrones fans around the world already know, a strong contender has been waiting in the wings for years.
Weightlifter-turned-actor Hafthór Júlíus “Thor” Björnsson plays Ser Gregor Clegane, a.k.a. The Mountain, on HBO’s Game of Thrones. Björnsson, who took over the role from two previous actors, recently picked up another title: World’s Strongest Viking.
Björnsson successfully completed the challenge in Norway over the weekend by lifting his own 1,400-pound log and carrying it a whopping five steps. According to weightlifting site Iron Mind, Björnsson had no problem pulling off the feat. Afterward, he wrote on his Instagram:
Well today my friends I made history!! As well as winning the title of The World’s Strongest Viking for the second time in a row I carried this MONSTER LOG 5 steps! My back held up fine!! As I’m on my way to my ultimate goal to win The World’s Strongest Man! NOTHING CAN STOP ME!! NOTHING CAN BREAK ME!!
Here’s the whole jaw-dropping feat.
Not only did Björnsson walk two steps further than his Viking predecessor, but according to the Icelandic legend, the original warrior needed a team of 50 men to get the log on his back.
This is yet more proof that (season 4 spoiler alert!) Oberyn never stood a chance.
Screengrab via photographingtime ./YouTube
