Records are meant to be broken.

Viking, Norse Gods, and Valkyries are the stuff of legend. The stories of the viking’s heroism and prowess in combat still captivate minds today, and why not? The tales are filled with men and women made of tough stuff, of iron. It’s that kind of inspiration that gives many people their fire for competition, their drive to live up to the legends of the past in hopes of starting their own legend.

Enter Hafthor Bjornsson. A former pro basketball player, actor and strong man competitor, Hathor has quickly gained popularity as he appeared in “Game of Thrones.”  He portrayed the character Gregor Clegane AKA “The Mountain”, a nick name which pretty much fits the description of the hulking Icelandic strong man. Hafthor stands 6’9” and weighs in at 430 lbs. Safe to say he’s a beast of a man and one looking to add his name to legends of old.

Recently the 2014 Europe’s Strongest Man set out to break an ancient record, a Norse legend that still is held in high regard today. The legend of Orm Storulfsson, a man renowned for lifting a massive wooden log that weighed 1320 lbs and carrying it for 3 steps before the pressure broke his back. Hafthor looked to break that record after winning The World’s Strongest Viking title for the second time in a row. Was he successful?
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Not only did he break the record, but he also set his own, taking five steps with the monster wooden log. Not a bad start to 2015 for the World’s Strongest Man second place winner. It looks as if he’s ready to break more records this year and take first place at this year’s competition. If this feat is any indication, it looks like he’s well on his way to accomplishing that goal.

What are your thoughts on this record setting lift? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.