Brit beats Game of Thrones’ The Mountain to win World’s Strongest Man competition
Ser Gregor has a few rivals in the strength department
If you thought Game of Thrones’ Ser Gregor Clegane was the strongest man in all existence, then we have some bad news for you – because The Mountain That Rides has once again failed to claim the title of World’s Strongest Man.
Well, the actor who plays him anyway. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (who has starred as the Mountain since Game of Thrones series four, replacing previous actors in the role) placed second this year to British contestant Eddie Hall, the first Brit to win the title since Gary Taylor back in 1993.
This is the third time Björnsson has come second in the competition now (he was runner-up last year and in 2014, and came third in 2015, 2013 and 2012), and this time it was a controversial loss, with the Icelandic strongman tying with Hall until a judge removed one of his reps during an event called the “Viking Press,” after deciding he had “double-dipped”.
"Really proud of my effort in the Viking Press at The Worlds Strongest Man,” Björnsson later said in an Instagram post.
“I completed 15 reps but the referee took the last rep away from me. They say I double dipped. This would have been equal first place with Eddie Hall, which would have scored me one point higher.
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“I know it's only one point, but sometimes one point can change the game completely. Strongman fans out there what do you think?"
Oh well – at least he's still got his day job in the Kingsguard to fall back on until next year.
Game of Thrones returns to Sky Atlantic and HBO this July
