Hafthor Björnsson claimed victory at the Strongman Open but admitted his body was ‘fatigued’
Hafthor Björnsson secured victory at the Strongman Open in Birmingham(Image: Giants Live)
One man feared an injured knee would keep him from competing, another hauled a staggering 511kg, while a British favourite brought his international career to an emotional end. Giants Live delivered a spectacular display at the Utilita Arena as Hafthor ‘Thor’ Björnsson secured victory in the Strongman Open.
For Björnsson, simply making it onto the stage was a victory in itself. Three weeks before the Strongman Open, the Icelander called Darren Sadler, fearing his knee injury had ended his chances of competing.
Then came what Björnsson described as a ‘miracle.’ He found the help he needed to get his knee back on track before heading to Birmingham with victory firmly in his sights.
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After nearly two decades of pushing his body to its limits, Thor admitted he was ‘tired’ and ‘fatigued.’ Yet the 37-year-old still deadlifted 480kg before turning down another world-record bid.
That left the door open for Flores, the 26-year-old Mexican who had already impressed with a series of huge lifts. What happened next was beyond anything anyone could have imagined.
Flores hauled 511kg from the floor and battled the weight past his knees before finally locking it out at the top. Referee Magnús Ver Magnússon gave the down signal and the crowd erupted as the Mexican smashed the 510kg world record held by Thor.
Mexican Raul Flores lifted 511kg at the World Deadlift Championships(Image: Giants Live)
Björnsson said he was ‘so excited’ about what lies ahead for Flores and told fans they should be just as excited. Flores’ journey to becoming a world-record holder was almost as remarkable as the lift itself.
He carries a tattoo of his late dog Tayzon, whose loss ultimately led Flores to the gym and helped him discover a strength he never knew he had. While the Mexican took centre stage, Evans Nana showed just what he was capable of.
Nana claimed second place to land his first Giants Live podium and show he can challenge at the very top. But Adam Bishop provided one of the most emotional moments of the night when he announced he was retiring from the international stage.
His 470kg lift marked the final chapter of a career that began on the Giants Live stage in 2014. Years of competing at the highest level have made Bishop a much-loved figure among fans, making his goodbye particularly poignant.
Brit Ben Glasscock in the Load and Push(Image: Giants Live)
Brit Ben Glasscock delighted the Birmingham crowd with victory in the Load and Push. He said he is focused on ‘playing his own game’ as he takes major strides forward.
Another name that could soon become very familiar to fans is Matyáš Funiok. He only found out days before that he would be competing, yet went on to finish third and win the Castle Stones in an impressive 22.87 seconds.
Thor one-motioned all five Castle Stones in 23.13 seconds and secured the Strongman Open title by five points. Bryce Johnson and James Jeffers added to the big moments by both deadlifting 1,000lb.
Strongman still has Thor at the top, but Flores produced a lift that could mark the start of something special, while Bishop brought his international journey to an emotional end. Three very different stories made for one unforgettable night.
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