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Strongest Man in the World? I am Hafþór Júlíus "Thor" Björnsson of Iceland, Ask Me Anything.
Hi, I’m Hafþór Júlíus "Thor" Björnsson, the strongest man in Iceland and 3rd strongest man in the world.
You can watch a new film about Icelandic strongmen here: http://www.vice.com/en_uk/Fringes/nest-of-giants
I am 6’9” and will be playing Gregor Clegane in the new series of ‘Game of Thrones’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZY43QSx3Fk
Ask me anything!
https://twitter.com/VICEUK/status/445956544182902784
Thank's so much for the questions! But I have to go now since I am getting ready to compete in the Worlds Strongest Man competition next weekend. Be sure to watch Nest of Giants on Vice.com and also HBO's Game of Thrones Season 4...
All the best, Thor
Alexanderrfreyr912204 karma
I had gym class with you in high school! Seems like you've had gym class everyday ever since. Good job man!
ThorBjornsson1998 karma
As most people can imagine getting strong enough to compete in the Worlds Strongest Man and to be able to pull off being The Mountain in GoT takes a LOT of gym-time and non stop hard work almost 24/7...
TempleMade_MeBroke2140 karma
How many keyboards have you accidentally destroyed since starting this AmA?
ThorBjornsson3631 karma
Even though I am super-strong; women have never complained of me not being able to handle them "softly" ;)
youdoublearewhy1365 karma
Looking forward to seeing you on Game of Thrones. Pretty important season for you to join the show so I guess that must be exciting.
My question: how do people react to you when you're out and about? Do you get a lot of people asking you to show off your strength?
ThorBjornsson2414 karma
It is a great show and a great season!
For some reason people are very polite to me, but some ask me for autographs and photos. I sell really cool autographed photos and T-shirts.
Girls ask me to pick them up all of the time and I have to admit sometimes it's hard to put them down again ;)
LordHappyofRainwood1396 karma
Girls ask me to pick them up all of the time and I have to admit sometimes it's hard to put them down again ;)
Is that how you met your current girlfriend?
TheManHammer1242 karma
What is your daily diet and how many calories/protein/fat/carbs is it? Also what does a weight lifting routine for a Strongman look like? What types of cardio do you do?
Sorry for the barrage, I'm just very interested in how strongmen eat/train. You dudes are awesome!
ThorBjornsson2330 karma
I consume around 10.000 calories pr. day. It varies a lot, though, depending on whether I am working as an actor or to compete in the Worlds Strongest man or the likes.
Cardio = Sex and from moving HEAVY weights at the gym
ThorBjornsson1412 karma
It has to do with the settlers, what time of year they came and where, after all it is they who named them. Right now Iceland is white :)
ThorBjornsson1858 karma
To be completely honest I sometimes am afraid of being injured, so I take good care of my body so as not to get hurt, when I am competing I have specially made knee and elbow "sleeves" to protect me from injury by keeping my body warm and giving support... But getting support form my fans has also helped a lot!!
Brostrodamus904 karma
Would you do a fitness AMA over at /r/fitness? Lots of people would love to ask you about what you do to stay in that shape!
eastvankitty862 karma
will you marry me, for two reasons: a) so you can lift me (i'm not actually that heavy and i'm sure the novelty would wear off fairly quick, buuuut) b) so i can immigrate to iceland
ThorBjornsson1138 karma
Some of them I order online, also buy clothes in the US plus having suits etc. tailor made.
thetenderness802 karma
Besides The Mountain, who is your favorite Game of Thrones character, or actor, or both?
ThorBjornsson1530 karma
I am no Usain Bolt but I'm pretty damn fast, have you ever tried pulling one of those monster trucks or airplanes?!?
ThorBjornsson1463 karma
Yes, out of gold... Enforced by Titanium!
That is a joke, I don't :)
thewaybaseballgo653 karma
Did anything ever materialize in 2013 when Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, suggested that they may sign you to play in the NFL?
ThorBjornsson1186 karma
I had to choose between being a strong man competitor as well as an actor - and the NFL. Right now my head and my goal is becoming the Worlds Strongest Man!
Son_of_the_suns631 karma
Hey Hafþór! I notice that you have a sixpack most of the time. How do you manage to stay both really strong for competing, and very lean for movies or TV like Game of Thrones?
PS Gangi þér vel á mótinu :)
ThorBjornsson676 karma
It all depends on how I train but I try to stay in all around good shape year round and so far it has worked out quite nicely...
Sinajis512 karma
Would you ever considering going into some martial arts/boxing/etc like Mariusz Pudzianowski did towards the end of his career? What do you think of that as a direction strongmen find themselves moving in?
ThorBjornsson696 karma
We have Gunnar Nelsson, he is one of the best MMA fighters in the world pound for pound as it is, I'll leave that up to him for now. I think it differs between individuals as it is I enjoy wathcing MMA.
DryImpact464 karma
How did you get into Strongman training? Did you start off with powerlifting or anything else first or just straight into Strongman?
ThorBjornsson665 karma
I played basketball and got injured, during the rehab I got more and more interested in strength training. To begin with I did powerlifting along with competing in strongman but then I switched all together into competing as a strong man.
ThorBjornsson784 karma
I have never heard of guys doing it but have "heard" of girls doing it.
Jellozubmarine396 karma
Hvernig náðiru hlutverki í Game of Thrones? Var þetta bara svona, "hæ þú ert stór og sterkur, perfect!"
How did you get a role in Game of Thrones?
ThorBjornsson892 karma
They (HBO) contacted me and called me in for an audition; during the audition I lifted the guy up (well he asked me to) and they were really impressedj. They said they were also impressed by the way I move because I am very quick and powerful (especially considering my height and muscle mass) - like you will see in season 4 ;)
SoGiveThemCake342 karma
My friend Nat is a big fan of yours, and wants to know what the hardest individual strongman event/task is that you've ever been faced with? Also kudos for the Game of Thrones role, I hope your character doesn't meet an unpleasant end!
ThorBjornsson482 karma
Pulling trucks/airplanes can be hell! But still it's one of my best events. Thanks, stay tuned for season 4 - and give my best to Nat...
ThorBjornsson596 karma
I have been using a formula I made myself for the last year or so, it's fucking AWESOME! It will be available to buy soon :)
ThorBjornsson428 karma
Stefán Sölvi Pétursson has been an excellent training partner and I have learned from him and naturally it is not bad being able to ask a guy who became The Worlds Strongest man four times, Magnús Ver Magnússon for advice. My father has supported me more than anyone else in my life...
ThorBjornsson418 karma
They are shocked but it depends - others seem to be pleasantly surprised. But everyone has been positive so far :)
Capio157 karma
Last Superbowl, you said that you were interested in showing up for a football practice with the only current Icelandic football team. When are you going to show up and try it out?
ThorBjornsson193 karma
Right now as you probably know I am competing a lot, plus travelling takes a lot of my time, so I don't have all that much time but hopefully there will be "quieter" times so I might be able to pop in and try it out.
tamammothchuk69 karma
Do you find that people try to overcompensate somehow for their relative weakness compared to you when you talk or interact with them? Do people assume you aren't intelligent because you are strong? What other passions do you have other than weight training?
ThorBjornsson124 karma
Most people are really nice when I talk to them. When I am not traveling and competing I spend most of the time with my daughter and the people I care about. I also really enjoy eating good food.
Princess90sXOXO3109 karma
Holy shit, we've finally found someone who could actually take on a horse-sized duck.
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