Hafthor Björnsson Smashed the World Deadlift Record

Hafthor Bjrnsson deadlifted 501 kilograms (1,105 pounds) at his home gym in Reykjavk, Iceland under the watchful eye of strongman referee Magnus Ver Magnusson to break Eddie Hall's 2016 record.

The lift aired live on broadcast TV via ESPN ( simultaneous streams were also available on Rogue's YouTube channel, Core Sports, and Bjrnsson's Twitch channel ) giving the strength sport a major platform during the coronavirus pandemic that has all but wiped out live competitive events.

Bjrnsson, at 6'9'', 450 pounds, started his warmups at 420 kilograms (926 pounds), then ramped up 465 kilos (1,025 pounds) for his second attempt before the record attempt. The Mountain took 15 minutes between each lift to keep with competition standards. The final lift looked like it barely taxed the strongman, with a slight pause as he locked out at the top.

But the record doesn't come without controversy. Now former deadlift champion and 2017 World's Strongest Man winner Eddie Hall was on record disputing the veracity of the event. Hall took issue with Bjrnsson's team at other strongman events, and insisted that any deadlift over 500 kilogramsor any type of record, for that matterwould need to be completed in competition to truly count.

Still, Hall shared a photo with Bjrnsson ahead of the attempt to wish the Icelandic strongman good luck.

The friendly post doesn't mean that Hall has totally changed his tune, however. After a fan commented on the post that they wouldn't consider Bjnsson's lift a true world record, Hall responded "neither do I."

Whatever Hall says, however, the record will stand.