Eddie Hall calls out Hafthor Bjornsson and the Icelandic strongman responds.
Former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall has added another chapter to his rivalry with 2018 WSM champion Hafthor Bjornsson. It’s no secret that the two strongman competitors have ill will towards each other. Now it seems that Hall has taken their beef to a whole new level.
As previously reported Hafthor Bjornsson has been prepping for a 501 kg (1104.5 lbs) deadlift challenge. The Icelandic strongman has been consistently training for the feat even in quarantine. While many have shown Hafthor Bjornsson encouragement and support, Eddie Hall has dismissed his rival’s attempt.
In a recent Q&A live chat on his YouTube page, Eddie Hall called out Hafthor Bjornsson. The 2017 World’s Strongest Man even went so far as to dismiss the whole deadlift challenge as illegitimate.
“If I said four years ago, if I pulled 500 kilos in my gym with my weights, and my sponsors pushing it, my sponsors supplying the weights, my sponsors giving the money, my sponsors giving me the live stream; if I did that four years ago in my gym people would call bullshit. People would say it wouldn’t count, referee there or not.
“I’ll say this right; I do not trust the Icelandics. I do not trust them.”
Eddie Hall went on to explain the rationale behind that statement.
“At World’s Strongest Man 2017 they were the ones that cried and stomped their feet and said that the referee cheated them, that’s the only reason why I won.
“The following year the same Icelandics pulled up discrepancies on Brian Shaw’s deadlift, trying to say that Brian didn’t complete the lift within the time limit. I just don’t trust the Icelandics. They will pull anything out of their pockets to try and beat me or do anything to top anybody.”
Obviously these are pretty biting comments, ones that hasn’t slipped the notice of the 2018 World’s Strongest Man as well as his management. Runar “Hrodi” Geirmundsson took to Instagram to clap back at Eddie Hall for his comments.
Hafthor Bjornsson also broke his silence on the issue in a statement he posted on his Instagram story.
Things continue to heat up in this heated rivalry. Generation Iron will be sure to keep a close eye on this story as it develops.
Which side are you on, Eddie Hall or Hafthor Bjornsson?
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
