Strongman Eddie Hall Is Beefing With Hafthor Bjornsson Over His Supposed 501 Kg Deadlift

After making a sweeping statement in a YouTube Q&A about how he doesn't "trust Icelandics," Hall swiftly retracted his remarks in a separate post on Instagram, and clarified that he was referring specifically to Bjornsson, in particular with regards to The Mountain's "unsportsmanlike and unprofessional" conduct at strongman events and his recent claim to have beaten Hall's world record for heaviest deadlift .

Hall set the current world record for the heaviest deadlift in 2016 at Europe's Strongest Man, where he pulled 1,100 pounds . He now objects to Bjornsson asserting that he has set a new record, when he did so out of competition, under unofficial circumstances, in his home gym.

"Because of the malicious rumours Thor & his team started Ive endured years of people questioning what is the crowning achievement of my career," Hall wrote. "Well guess what pal, you break my record in your home gym with a bunch of your pals, youre going to get the same treatment... Absolutely no legitimate sport would acknowledge World Records broken out of competition & you are undermining the very sport you are claiming to champion."

"I genuinely look forward to having my record broken & seeing what is possible," he continued. "I think you are probably the man to do it, theres no denying that & Ill still shake your hand afterwards and say well done... if you do it under the appropriate conditions. For the record I feel the same way about the other records that are being attempted, it just doesnt feel right & there are 1000s of strength fans & athletes that feel the same way... Break a record in a comp where other people can contest it & no one will have a negative word to say, including myself."

While both strongmen are stuck in isolation for now, it looks like the world of strength sports will be in for a clash of the titans once quarantine ends.