If you’ve ever watched Game of Thrones or scrolled through the strength side of YouTube, you know the man. He’s the guy who looks like he could pick up a sedan and toss it into a lake. But when people search for how old is Hafthor Bjornsson, they’re usually surprised by the answer.
Honestly, it’s the beard. And the sheer mass. Being 6'9" and weighing north of 400 pounds tends to make a person look like they’ve been around since the Viking Age.
The Actual Number
Hafthor Júlíus Björnsson was born on November 26, 1988.
As of right now, in early 2026, Hafthor Bjornsson is 37 years old.
He’ll hit the big 3-8 later this November. It's wild to think that he achieved "Strongman Triple Crown" status—winning the Arnold, Europe’s Strongest Man, and World’s Strongest Man in a single year—before he even turned 30. Most men in this sport don't even hit their peak strength until their mid-30s. Thor, as he’s known to fans, has already lived about four different lives in that time.
How Old Is Hafthor Bjornsson Compared to Other Legends?
In the world of professional strength, age is a weird metric. You have guys like Mark Felix who competed into his 50s. Then you have guys who burn out by 32 because their joints just can't take the literal tons of pressure anymore.
To give you some perspective on where Thor stands at 37:
- Eddie Hall: His bitter rival is actually older, born in January 1988.
- Brian Shaw: The American legend is 43, having retired from the biggest stages recently.
- Zydrunas Savickas: The "Big Z" is 50 and still out there moving heavy stuff.
Thor is currently in that "sweet spot." He has the "old man strength" that comes from two decades of lifting, but he hasn't hit the cliff where the body completely stops recovering.
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A Career That Defies the Calendar
The timeline of his life is basically a checklist of "How much can one human do?"
By 20, he was a professional basketball player in Iceland. His career was cut short by ankle injuries, which, looking back, was a blessing for the strongman world.
By 25, he was already on the podium at World's Strongest Man.
By 31, he had played "The Mountain" for years and set the all-time world record deadlift of 501kg.
Then he did the unthinkable. He retired from strongman, lost over 100 pounds, and became a professional boxer just to settle a grudge with Eddie Hall. He won that fight, by the way. Most people thought that was the end. They figured he’d go to Hollywood, take some checks, and protect his health.
But Thor isn't "most people."
What Is Thor Doing at Age 37?
If you think he’s slowing down because he's approaching 40, you haven't been paying attention to the news this week.
Just a few days ago, on January 11, 2026, Thor dropped a bombshell on his YouTube channel. He’s pulling out of the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic. People panicked. Was he retiring again? Was he too old?
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Nah. He’s just being smart.
He’s dealing with a rotator cuff injury that’s been nagging him since the 2025 Rogue Invitational. He basically said, "I don't want to show up and take 5th or 6th place. I only go if I can win." That’s the mindset of a veteran. Younger Thor might have pushed through and torn the muscle off the bone. 37-year-old Thor knows when to hold 'em.
Instead, he’s putting all his eggs in one basket: The Enhanced Games. On May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas, Thor is aiming to do something that sounds like a typo. He wants to deadlift 515 kg (that’s 1,135 pounds). He even told TMZ that on a perfect day, he thinks 550 kg is possible.
Think about that. At nearly 38 years old, he is trying to lift more than he did in his "prime" 20s.
Is This Healthy?
We have to be real here. Most guys his size don't have a great track record with longevity. Thor has been very open about this lately. He recently flew to Los Angeles for a full battery of heart and organ tests.
The results? Pretty good, actually. His heart is healthy, though his liver enzymes were a bit elevated—which he admitted was expected given the "supplements" and massive caloric intake required to maintain that much muscle. He’s currently eating around 8,000 calories a day.
He’s also been using stem cell therapy and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) for his shoulder. This is the new frontier for older athletes. It’s how he stays competitive with guys ten years younger who don't have the same "mileage" on their joints.
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The Physical Transformation
It's not just about the birth certificate. The way he carries his weight has changed.
Back in 2018, he was a "bulky" 450+ pounds.
During his boxing phase, he dropped to about 320 pounds and had a six-pack.
Now, in 2026, he’s back up to roughly 440 pounds (200kg).
But it's a different kind of mass. It's denser. He looks more like a classic powerlifter now than the "bloated" strongman look you see in some of the open-weight categories.
What You Should Take Away
If you were wondering how old is Hafthor Bjornsson because you wanted to know if his best days are behind him, the answer is a resounding "maybe not."
He is currently the world record holder in the deadlift, having pulled 510kg in late 2025. He is literally stronger right now than he was when he won World's Strongest Man years ago.
The lesson here? Age in strength sports is more about injury management than a loss of potential. If he can keep his shoulder together, May 24th in Vegas is going to be historical.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep an eye on his YouTube channel over the next 20 weeks. He’s shifting into a "deadlift only" prep, which is something he’s never done before. Usually, he has to train for logs, stones, and truck pulls. Now, he’s just training to pick one heavy bar up off the floor. If you're interested in the limits of human strength, that's the event to watch.