Hafthor Bjornsson is confident of 550 kg in deadlift!

Hafthor Bjornsson is a phenomenon in the world of strength sports. After breaking the magical 500 kg mark in 2020 (with 501 kg), he returned from strongman retirement in 2025 and improved his record twice - first to 505 kg and then to 510 kg. Now, however, he is hinting that his potential is much higher.

Target: 550 kg, but not right away

In a recent interview, Bjornsson shocked fans by declaring that the 550 kg (1,212.5 lbs) number is a realistic goal for him.

"I really believe I am capable of it. If I want to, if I really desire it, I can push the record up to 550 kilograms. I believe I'm up to it," Bjornssonsaid .

At the same time, he is tempering his expectations for the next race. Thor is preparing for the Enhanced Games, which will take place on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas. There he plans to attack the 515 kg weight.

"I'm not saying I'm going to lift 550 kilos on May 24. I'm saying that if I want to go to the absolute limit, I'm capable of it. But in May, I'll be smart, I'll think about long-term goals and probably go 'only' for 515 kilos," he explained his strategy.

Waiting for an opponent

An interesting motivation for Bjornsson is competition - or rather the lack of it. The Icelander admitted that he needs someone to put pressure on him to attempt 550kg.

"I'm waiting for someone to push me further. I'm waiting for the other person. Others have been trying for years. I broke the 500kg record in 2020. They couldn't break it. So I came out of retirement and broke it again twice in one year," he added confidently.

So, it seems that until a challenger comes along who comes close to his feats, Thor will push the records incrementally and strategically. However, if there is someone who starts breathing down his neck, we may see a historic moment with the 550kg barbell.