InstagramThe man who played skull-crushing Game of Thrones warrior Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane has smashed his way through a 1,000-year-old record previously held by a Viking, a report says.
The nearly 7-foot-tall, 419-pound Icelandic actor and strongman, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, whose nickname is Thor, lifted a 650-kg (1,433-lb) log and walked five steps with it, Strongman Champions League co-founder Ilkka Kinnunen told Ironmind.com recently.
"Hafthor Julius Bjornsson made history today in the World's Strongest Viking competition...breaking a record that has been part of history for 1,000 years," he said.
A video of the strength challenge, which took part in a snowy area in Norway, was posted on YouTube.
"The legend of the Icelander Orm Storulfsson says that he walked three steps with this MONSTER WOODEN LOG which weighs over 600kg's/1320lbs!" he said. "It took 50 mere mortals to help him placing it on his back! After he took his third step his back broke under the enormous pressure and he was never the same after that!"
"Well today my friends I made history!!" the 26-year-old said. "As well as winning the title of the World's Strongest Viking for the second time in a row I carried this MONSTER LOG 5 steps! My back held up fine!!"
Björnsson shared on his Instagram page a photo of himself standing on top of a platform that held the log, yelling and displaying his shirtless, muscled chest proudly through his opened sports jacket.
Now, he has another strength challenge to strive for.
"As I'm on my way to my ultimate goal to win The World's Strongest Man! NOTHING CAN STOP ME!! NOTHING CAN BREAK ME!!"
Björnsson came in second place in the 2014 World's Strongest Man competition. He has also achieved numerous other other strength-based feats. In 2014, he broke the Guinness World Record for the highest beer keg toss, at 26 feet and 4.93 inches, done on the set of a TV show in Italy last July.
Björnsson appeared on a season 4 episode of Game of Thrones that aired last year. His character delivered one of the most shocking deaths the show has ever showed...and that's saying a lot for the hit R-rated HBO fantasy series, which is, well, known for its shocking moments and frequent deaths.
The actor remains a fan favorite.
And for the record, Pedro Pascal, who played his adversary Oberyn "The Viper" Martell, does not appear to have any hard feelings.