The Transformation of Mount Bjornsson: From skinny basketball player to the World's Strongest Man

Haftor Julius Björnsson — HafóÓr Júlíus Björnsson) - a giant from Iceland, who received the title of the strongest man on the planet and starred in the cult TV series "Game of Thrones". His size is amazing, but even more surprising is that in his youth, the strong man was an ordinary guy, like the rest of the guys. The road to the form he is now in has been long and difficult, but the stunning result is worth it.

This muscular Icelandic giant played the "Mountain" in "Game of Thrones", won the title of "the strongest man in the world", absorbs 10,000 calories a day and can lift up to 474 kg. How did he achieve such results?

However, the giant height of 2.05 meters, was not always so unique. Recently, he admitted that he once used steroids, although they are prohibited by the rules of the competition for the title of the world's strongest man. In a conversation with reporters from the ESPN edition, Bjornsson honestly admitted:

Before turning into a 190-kilogram lump, Bjornsson was just a normal lanky teenager from Iceland. A talented athlete, he represented his country at international basketball championships. Unfortunately, the dream of a basketball career was shattered when Haftor underwent knee surgery at the age of 20.

The former athlete was very upset, but decided not to give up and began to train hard in the gym. He liked to lift weights and achieved incredible results in this. Two years after the operation, Bjornsson was named the strongest man in Iceland, and then the strongest man on the planet.The role in the cult TV series "Game of Thrones" was offered to the Icelandic hero two years ago. The guy had no acting experience, so when he received an email about the offer to audition, he thought that this was not true. Haftor only believed it when they called him and said that they would like to see him on the set of the famous series.At the audition, he was asked to do a strange thing: lift a man over his head to see if Bjornsson was strong enough. And he, of course, easily coped with it. Then the Icelander fought with one of the main sword teachers from the team that trains the actors of the series. After 10 minutes, the coach exclaimed that Haftor was the one they were looking for.