Hafthor “Thor” Björnsson shocked the strength world again this weekend, pulling an incredible 510kg deadlift to break his own world record. The lift looked smooth, controlled, and almost effortless — prompting fans to immediately predict that 525kg is next.
The reaction across social media was explosive, but one voice stood out above the rest: Eddie Hall, the man who first set the 500kg barrier back in 2016.
Eddie Hall Gives Thor Credit
Despite their long-running rivalry, Hall was quick to show respect. Speaking in a reaction video, on Mitchell Hooper’s YouTube Channel the former World’s Strongest Man said Thor’s achievement deserved recognition.
“I respect strength where respect is due. That 510 was just the tip of the iceberg — there’s more there.”
Hall admitted his own 500kg lift in 2016 had pushed him to his absolute limit. At 6’2, he described the lift as “ridiculous” for his frame. But at 6’9, Thor’s sheer size and leverage give him an advantage that makes heavier pulls possible.
“For me, 500 was the ceiling. For Thor, 510 is just the beginning. He’s built for it.”
The Man Who Broke the Barrier
Hall also took a moment to reflect on how his own deadlift changed the sport. Before his famous 500kg pull, the record had crept up slowly – 463kg was the standard, moving only by a kilo or two each year.
“If I hadn’t done it, the record might still be at 470 or 480. I was the one who proved it could be done. That’s the legacy.”
He compared it to Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile — once considered impossible, but quickly repeated once the barrier was broken.
A Rivalry That Defined Strongman
Hall and Björnsson’s rivalry is one of the fiercest in modern strength sports. It boiled over at the 2017 World’s Strongest Man, when Thor accused the judges of unfairly disallowing one of his reps in the Viking Press. Hall went on to win the title, and Thor later suggested he had been robbed.
From there, the tension only escalated. Social media spats turned into public call-outs, and eventually the two agreed to settle things in the boxing ring. Their 2022 fight in Dubai was dubbed the “Heaviest Boxing Match in History.” Thor outboxed Hall over six rounds, winning by unanimous decision, but both men claimed moral victories afterwards.
Even now, years later, every new deadlift record is framed by that rivalry. Hall’s fans see him as the trailblazer who risked everything to hit 500 first, while Thor’s supporters argue his superior size makes him the rightful king of the deadlift.
Hall acknowledged that while they may never be friends, the respect for Thor’s ability remains.
“We may not see eye to eye as people, but I’ll always respect what Thor can do.”
Fans Predict 525kg
What made Thor’s 510kg lift so remarkable was how easy it looked. Unlike Hall’s 500kg, which left him hospitalized and nearly unconscious, Thor lowered the bar with control and walked away without obvious strain.
Fans immediately flooded comment sections with predictions of 525kg. Some argued Thor should go straight for 520kg in training, while others believe he could already pull more if the moment demanded it.
Hall agreed that Thor has more in the tank.
“That 510 wasn’t his max. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see 520, maybe even 525, in the near future.”
What the Record Means for Strength Sports
The deadlift has always been the benchmark of raw power. Crossing 500kg was once thought impossible. Now, less than a decade later, the number is already climbing higher.
For Hall, the milestone will always be his. For Thor, the challenge is to keep pushing it into uncharted territory.
And for fans, the big question is simple: how far can the human body go?
Key Points
- Hafthor Björnsson set a new world record with a 510kg deadlift.
- Eddie Hall praised the lift, calling it “the tip of the iceberg.”
- Their rivalry dates back to the 2017 World’s Strongest Man and even a boxing match in 2022.
- Hall reflected on his 500kg pull as the barrier-breaking moment.
- Fans now expect Thor to chase 525kg in the near future.
References - BBC Sport. Eddie Hall: The Beast v The Mountain (June 2017). Link
- British Boxing News Hafthor Bjornsson floors Eddie Hall twice to win ‘Heaviest Boxing Match in History’ (March 2022). Link
How to Boost Your Deadlift by 20% – Incredible Lifting Tips from Eddie Hall
image sources
- Thor the Mountain and Eddie The Beast Hall: Instagram
- Thor: Thor Bjornsson
