The strongman legend may possibly be sidelined for a small while.
On Apr. 15, 2023, Hafthor Björnsson tried a 252.5-kilogram (556.7-pound) uncooked bench press for the duration of a powerlifting competitiveness held at Thor’s Ability Gymnasium in Kópavogur, Iceland. The athlete would not finish the repetition as he appeared to injure his still left pectoral muscle promptly on touching the barbell to his chest, primary him to grimace in pain though yelling to his spotters. Björnsson would demand aid to increase off the bench but was ready to wander absent under his have electricity.
In a YouTube movie posted to his channel on Apr. 17, 2023, the Icelander stated that he tore his pec muscle mass.
Björnsson did not beat all over the bush with his harm. He characterized it as a “complete tear off the bone,” which would involve eventual surgical procedure if confirmed, though it’s unclear if that was the formal clinical analysis. The athlete reported he would undertake an MRI check on Apr. 18, 2023, which will give a lot more clarity on the severity of his harm and reveal any likely following measures he wants to choose in his restoration.
In what could be thought of classic Björnsson vogue, he proceeded to make gentle of his situations as a strongman and powerlifter. He even joked about his present-day comparatively restricted capabilities in the aftermath of his pec injury.
“I am doing ok, contemplating every thing,” Björnsson clarified. “I arrived into the gymnasium today [Apr. 17, 2023]. Did a fifty percent an hour of cardio, just to preserve my sanity and get out of the residence. Factors are hard, I have to be truthful. Hopefully I can make some of you men snicker now. Factors like wiping my [expletive] are complicated. I am still left-handed … It’s lifestyle … This is practically the most important damage of my occupation, so I have bought to tackle this.”
Björnsson experienced been arranging to break Daniel Bell’s raw (with wraps) all-time World File whole of 1,182.5 kilograms (2,606.9 lbs) from the 2021 Planet Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III. The athlete had even shared training tidbits like a uncooked 420-kilogram (925.9-pound) back again squat on his road back to leading strength form right after a foray into boxing. Before in the satisfy, in advance of the personal injury transpired, Björnsson correctly squatted 445 kilograms (981 kilos) with wraps. Björnsson, the 2018 World’s Strongest Gentleman (WSM) champion, experienced previously announced ideas to return to specialist strongman sometime in 2024.
It is unclear how Björnsson’s pec harm will affect his timeline toward both his ambitious powerlifting and strongman goals. Presumably, if medical procedures is in fact essential for his pec muscle’s restoration, the athlete will be sidelined for some time prior to ultimately finding back in the saddle toward the powerlifting Globe Document and his strongman pursuits.
By the time he arrives back to complete-throttle coaching, one particular of the world’s most potent athletes may possibly channel this setback as inspiration.
Featured impression: Hafthor Bjornsson / YouTube