Weightlifting

Mahailya Reeves, 15, made waves for her record-breaking 360-pound bench press. The Florida native makes sure she doesn't forget leg day, either.

Watch the video above for more about the high school sophomore shattering state and national weightlifting records.

    

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In an interview with ESPN's E:60, Game of Thrones star and World's Strongest Man Hafthor Julius Bjornsson says he's used steroids, noting he'll do whatever is necessary to find success.

In the interview, which took place in 2017 and aired Sunday, he said, "When you want to be the best, you do whatever it takes."

Bjornsson, who plays Gregor Clegane―better known as "The Mountain"―on the HBO hit show Game of Thrones, has been a top competitor in strongman events for a decade.

He won his first World's Strongest Man title in 2018 after three second-place and three third-place finishes and is a five-time winner of the Europe's Strongest Man contest.

E:60 shared part of the interview where Bjornsson explained his motivation for turning to strongman:

Before he was “The Mountain” on #GameofThrones, @ThorBjornsson_ was an athlete with a mission: become the strongest man ever to walk the earth. pic.twitter.com/igeoSeWlzy

— E60 (@E60) April 10, 2019

Per ESPN, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has long plagued the strongman sport. While the 30-year-old admitted to using steroids, he didn't elaborate on when or how long, and when asked if he still takes steroids today, he said, "Can we just skip those questions?"

Bjornsson turned to weightlifting after ankle injuries prematurely ended his career in basketball. The Game of Thrones producers approached him to take part in the show, which has been partly filmed in his home country of Iceland, and he has played Gregor Clegane since Season 4.

He had a hard time believing the offer to play "The Mountain" was real at first:

"Getting an email like that out of nowhere from Game of Thrones? ... This has gotta be bulls---." @ThorBjornsson_ tells @e60 the unlikely story of how he became "The Mountain." pic.twitter.com/iNqovXJ28I

— ESPN (@espn) April 11, 2019

The role has made him a mainstream celebrity, leading to plenty of appearances in commercials and other events. While the increased work somewhat worries Bjornsson, he has no plans of stopping: "When you are putting yourself through all this. I've always thought about, 'What if I pass away?' It would be very hard to know that I left my family too soon. I want to be there for my family. I want to be there for my daughter. But this is my life. This is what I enjoy to do."

Per ESPN, Bjornsson said he plans on competing in this year's World's Strongest Man competition to defend his title. The competition will run in Bradenton, Florida, between June 13 and June 16.

Those who brag about their workouts at the gym should prepare to be humbled by Mahailya Reeves.

The 15-year-old freshman from Union County High School broke the Florida state record by benching 355 pounds while much of her school cheered:

https://twitter.com/Mahailya3/status/1088984816899510272

This feat wasn't a fluke. Reeves posts her weightlifting videos on her Instagram account, including a 430-pound front squat.

Reeves didn't even seem to struggle with her bench press, which could indicate much more is coming from the young star. If she keeps up her pace, she could be a world-class weightlifter before long.

Strongwoman competitor Leigh Holland-Keen hopes to pave the way for women weightlifters. She regularly lifts more than 500lbs in the gym and was the second woman in history to lift the 733-pound Dinnie Stones.

Watch more about Holland-Keen in the video above.

     

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Samuel Kulbila, a bodybuilder from Ghana, works out in a homemade gym he built using scrap metal and concrete. He even wrote an e-book to help others passionate about lifting like him. Watch above to see his progress.

   

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Tristyn Lee went viral after posting his workout videos on Instagram. The 16-year-old trains for hours and posts fitness tips to motivate others. Check out some of his workouts in the video above.

   

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Preteen powerlifter Damiyah Smith is shattering weight-lifting world records and winning competitions around the country.

Watch the video above to see The Powerhouse Princess put on impressive feats of strength.

               

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Hafthor Julius Bjornsson dominated the first day of the 2018 World's Strongest Man finals at Rizal Park in Manila, the Philippines, on Saturday. 

"The Mountain" from hit HBO series Game of Thrones managed 12 reps in the vehicle deadlift event, before winning the max overhead with 205 kilograms. Bjornsson's efforts mean the TV star leads the points standings ahead of Sunday's final events.

Four-time winner Brian Shaw will be Bjornsson's toughest competition on the last day, after the American strongman matched his efforts in the vehicle deadlift. Shaw was also only narrowly beaten by Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski in the 825 pounds frame carry event that began the day.

Results are available, per Kalle Beck of StartingStrongman.com.

The day ultimately belonged to Bjornsson, with the 2018 Arnold Classic winner cementing his credentials to win the title he missed out on a year ago. Without 2017 winner Eddie Hall involved, The Mountain is many people's favourite in Manila.

He justified the star billing with an awesome display in the vehicle deadlift. StartingStrongman posted on Instagram to show how "Thor" saw off competitors, including Georgia's Konstantinos Janashia.

Things got even better for Bjornsson when the Max Overhead began. The Icelandic strongman showed off the raw power that's helped him dominate the European stage by hauling 205 kgs into the air.

Bjornsson came into this tournament with the Arnold Classic and European titles to his credit. His performance on the first day of the finals has offered ample proof The Mountain is ready to add the global championship to his growing list of achievements.

Hafthor Julius Bjornsson leads the way after the first day of the 2018 World's Strongest Man finals at Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines, on Saturday. 

"The Mountain" finished fourth in the frame carry event but rebounded to manage the joint-most reps in the car deadlift. Bjornsson and four-time champion Brian Shaw each managed 12 reps.

Shaw, competing in a record 10th final, was edged out by Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski in the frame carry. He also couldn't match Bjornsson in the Max Overhead, as the Game of Thrones star lifted more than 200 kilograms over his head.

The day ended with Shaw trailing The Mountain by just 2.5 points.

Here are the results from each event, per Kalle Beck of StartingStrongman.com:

Frame Carry (825 Ilbs)

1. Mateusz Kieliszkowski (POL): 10 points

2. Brian Shaw (USA): 9 points

3. Konstantine Janashia (GEO): 8 points

4. Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (ISL): 7 points

5. Martins Licis (USA): 6 points

6. Jean-Francois Caron (CAN): 5 points

7. Robert Oberst (USA): 4 points

8. Johan Els (RSA): 3 points

9. Matjaz Belsak (SLO): 2 points

10. Zydrunas Savickas (LTU): 1 point

           

Vehicle Deadlift

1. Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (ISL): 12, 9.5 points 16.5 points in total

2. Brian Shaw (USA): 12, 9.5 points 18.5 points in total

3. Jean-Francois Caron (CAN): 11, 8 points 13 points in total

4. Martins Licis (USA): 10, 7 points 13 points in total

5. Konstantine Janashia (GEO): 7, 6 points 14 points in total

6. Matjaz Belsak (SLO:) 6, 5 points, 7 points in total

7. Johan Els (RSA): 5, 4 points, 7 points in toal

8. Zydrunas Savickas (LTU): 3, 2.5 points, 3.5 points in total

9. Mateusz Kieliszkowski (POL): 3, 2.5 points, 12.5 points in total

10. Robert Oberst (USA): 0, 4 points in total

                

Max Overhead

1. Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, (ISL): 205 kilograms, 10 points 26.5 points in total

2. Martins Licis (USA): 200 kgs, 8.5 points 21.5 points in total

3. Mateusz Kieliszkowski (POL): 200 kgs, 8.5 points 21 in total

4. Brian Shaw (USA): 190 kgs, 5.5 points 24 points in total

4. Matjaz Belsak (SLO): 190 kgs, 5.5 points 12.5 points in total

5. Robert Oberst (USA): 190 kgs, 5.5 points 9.5 points in total

6. Zydrunas Savickas (LTU): 190 kgs, 5.5 points 9 points in total

8. Jean-Francois Caron (CAN): 175 kgs, 3 points 16 points in total

9. Konstantinos Janashia (GEO): 0, 14 points in total

10. Johan Els (RSA): 0, 7 points in total

             

Visit Philippines showed how the day got under way with the frame carry:

ATM: The finals of The World’s Strongest Man kicks off with the Frame Carry. Competitors have to carry a pair of 825 lbs the fastest to the finish line! #WSM #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines pic.twitter.com/BT3HCH9ZlX

— Love The Philippines (@TourismPHL) May 5, 2018

As has often been the case throughout his career, this kind of moving event favoured Shaw, who kept pace with Kieliszkowski most of the way. Even though the Pole managed to cross the line a fraction quicker, Shaw was still left pleased with his efforts.

The American's solid start continued in the vehicle deadlift. Raw power was the order of the day here, so the event favoured Bjornsson, but Shaw managed to match The Mountain for number of lifts.

Visit Philippines showed both Shaw and Bjornsson in action:

ATM: The Vehicle Deadlift on Day 1 of the @WorldsStrongest Man Finals at the Rizal Park in Manila. #WSM pic.twitter.com/yXl0JRp2NI

— Love The Philippines (@TourismPHL) May 5, 2018

It was an inspired effort, one good enough to leave Shaw in command of the points table ahead of the max overhead. Yet this event would belong to Bjornsson.

The Icelandic strongman lifted 205 kilograms over his head to add 10 points to his tally. By contrast, Shaw could only manage to lift 15 kgs less than his nearest rival.

Shaw's fellow American Martins Licis, along with Kieliszkowski, also impressed in this event. Both men lifted 200 kg over their heads.

Bjornsson has put himself in a commanding position ahead of Sunday. The last day of the finals will be defined by the intense battle for the title between The Mountain and Shaw, as athletes grapple with the anvil, the loading race and the traditional Atlas Stone.

Sunday marked the fourth and final day for the 2018 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, and the Rogue Record Breakers took center stage even though the vast majority of the headline competitions were already in the rearview mirror.

According to the Arnold official website, "Those who break world records will win $5,000 and his or her performance will be submitted to the Guinness Book of Records."

While the website noted Hafthor Bjornsson attempted to throw a 56-pound ring weight over a 20-foot bar, three competitors attempted to lift a 315-pound dumbbell overhead and more challengers attempted to lift a 309-pound stone and then a 324-pound stone over a 44-inch bar, it was Martins Licis who stole the show in the rockover squat.

He thrilled the fans gathered in Columbus to watch some of the world's best weightlifters and bodybuilders by setting a record with a 560-pound rockover squat:

Martins Licis had a record breaking 560LB rockover squat at the 2018 Rogue Record Breakers! If you missed it, watch our livestream from earlier today over on our Facebook page #ryourogue #ASF2018 pic.twitter.com/HfUJamdq3R

— Rogue Fitness (@RogueFitness) March 4, 2018

Licis made the headlines, but there was a full slate of events to close the four-day festival. The full slate can be found on the sports festival website, and Sunday included the 5K Pump and Run, rowing competitions, the Arnold Fitness Expo, chess competitions, the Spartan obstacle course, amateur boxing, fencing and ax throwing.

The famed host was also in attendance and reflected on the memories created during the weekend:

This sums up my weekend at the 30th Anniversary of the @ArnoldSports Festival. I loved bringing all of you with me to all of the events. pic.twitter.com/quaRnOGwMv

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 4, 2018

Sunday ended another Arnold Sports Festival that included a number of notable moments.

On Friday, Kamal Elgargni captured the Arnold Classic 212 championship, while Breon Ansley and Shanique Grant won the Classic Physique Arnold competitions in the men's and women's events, respectively.

On Saturday, Bjornsson—known by many as The Mountain on HBO's hit show Game of Thrones—won the Arnold Strongman Classic competition after finishing in second place last year. He turned heads in the Elephant Bar Deadlift Event by setting a world-record deadlift of an astounding 1,041 pounds:

Rogue athlete @ThorBjornsson_ wins the Elephant Bar Deadlift Event and set new a new world record of deadlifting 472KG (1,041LBS) using the Rogue Elephant Bar! He tops the leaderboard going into the final event tonight. pic.twitter.com/3yMrzROOlj

— Rogue Fitness (@RogueFitness) March 3, 2018

Bjornsson already impressed Friday when he beat last year's Strongman Classic champion, Brian Shaw, to win the bag-over-bar throw by tossing a 95-pound bag over a 15-foot high bar. He then finished third in the stone shoulder event.

With Arnold Schwarzenegger serving as the star power and organizing force, the 2018 festival was yet another success in Columbus, and Licis served as the exclamation mark Sunday. The biggest names in weightlifting and bodybuilding are sure to descend on Columbus again next year as they attempt to smash more records.