Hafthor Júlíus Björnsson, a guy who used to weigh more than 200 kg but now has a noticeably better physique of roughly 150 kg, has lived with the dichotomy of mass and agility. His weight has always been more than just a number on a scale; it has served as a brand, a tool, and a tremendously powerful tool in entertainment and athletics. The Icelandic tyrant turned his bulk into international fame by setting records that pushed the limits of human strength and earning titles that few could have predicted.
The goal of his diet during his heyday as a strongman was very obvious: feed the machine. He divided his daily diet of up to 10,000 calories into six or more meals that were balanced in terms of the ratio of carbohydrates to protein to fat (2:2:1). Eggs, bacon, and French toast could be served for morning, then steak, rice, spinach, and potatoes for dinner. He was able to dominate tournaments because of these enormous meals, which were particularly helpful in preserving muscle mass and recovery, even if they were overpowering for most people. Hafthor’s diet served physical strength rather than agility, but it was remarkably similar to Olympic swimmers like Michael Phelps, whose fabled calorie intake captivated admirers.
Hafthor Júlíus Björnsson Profile
| Full Name | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 November 1988, Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Height | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) |
| Peak Weight | 200–202 kg (441–445 lb) |
| Current Weight | ~150 kg after boxing transition |
| Occupations | Strongman, actor, powerlifter, boxer |
| Titles | World’s Strongest Man (2018), Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man |
| Records | 510 kg (1,124 lb) deadlift world record |
| Notable Role | Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane (Game of Thrones) |
| Spouse | Kelsey Henson (m. 2018) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | hafthorbjornsson.com |
He accomplished the extremely uncommon accomplishment of winning the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man, and World’s Strongest Man all in the same year thanks to his peak body weight. He established himself as one of the strongest athletes ever recorded by performing the biggest deadlift in history, a 510 kg lift, at that size. He is frequently referred to by strength analysts as “the strongest man to have ever lived,” a designation that illustrates how his sheer bulk served as both an identity and a symbol.
But there were difficulties with weight as well. His enormous frame pressed uncomfortably while he slept, greatly reducing the quality of his sleep. His diagnosis of Bell’s palsy in 2017 raised health worries because it momentarily paralyzed half of his face. Despite the controversy surrounding his steroid use, his candor was incredibly effective in disarming his detractors. When questioned directly, he said, “Yes, I have,” which was a very candid admission that is uncommon in strength sports. However, he never failed a drug test, which significantly increased his fan base’s perception of him.
When Hafthor switched to boxing, things changed. He transformed himself into a slimmer, more agile combatant by cutting his daily calorie intake to 5,000, which resulted in a weight loss of almost 50 kg. His metamorphosis demonstrated that the same body that dominated strongman stages could be modified for combat focused on endurance. He became noticeably more agile, much faster, and had a body more akin to heavyweight boxers than the bulky giants of strongman arenas. In addition to sport, this reinvention focused on lifespan, family, and health.
Hafthor’s weight story has had just as much of an impact on culture as his lifts. Similar to how Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson transformed his physicality into a commercial empire or Arnold Schwarzenegger transitioned from bodybuilding to movies, Hafthor transformed his physicality into a variety of endeavors. He used celebrity in a very creative way by co-founding Thor’s Skyr, Icelandic Mountain Vodka, and his own clothing line. With collaborators like Terry Crews and Dylan Sprouse, he broadened his audience and made sure his impact was still very effective off the competition stage.
His changes have been mostly influenced by his family. Health became a top goal after he married Kelsey Henson and had children; the loss of his daughter in 2023 added additional weight to his endeavor. Because of these events, he became more grounded and his weight loss became more about responsibility than just sports. He was driven to stay balanced and steer clear of the health hazards connected to his former heft since he wanted to be a very dependable husband and father.
Fans are also reminded of his humanity by his wounds. Many people’s careers would have finished when he tore his left pectoral muscle on a lift in 2023. Despite the discomfort, his rehabilitation was remarkably resilient, displaying fortitude that admirers found especially admirable. His comeback to training became a group lesson in tenacity as he candidly discussed his disappointments.
Hafthor’s weight interest reflects society’s larger fixation with physical alteration. Hafthor’s transformation from 200 kg strongman to 150 kg boxer demonstrates flexibility, just how Adele’s remarkable weight loss became a worldwide talking point or Christian Bale’s drastic role-based changes emphasized discipline. Resilience may be honored just as much as records, as demonstrated by the startling similarities between his journey and that of celebrities who reinvented themselves.
