Iceland’s reputation in the World’s Strongest Man competition is almost as powerful as the athletes who represent it.
Back in 2014, VICE traveled to the island nation to speak with some of its most renowned strongmen, including Magnús Ver Magnússon, the four-time World’s Strongest Man, and Hafþór “Thor” Júlíus Björnsson, the third most decorated strongman in history and “the Mountain” on Game of Thrones. They shared their extreme training methods and thoughts on why this tiny island produces such strong people.
The documentary’s host, journalist Clive Martin, visited dark and frigid Iceland during mid-winter, when average temps dip well below zero and daylight barely lasts beyond four hours. His first stop was at Jakaból Gym, known as the Nest of Giants.
“Jakaból occupies a significant but sad place in the history of Icelandic strongmen,” Martin explained.
The gym was originally opened by Jón Páll Sigmarsson, the poster boy for the Iceland strongmen scene in the 1980s and 90s and another four-time World’s Strongest Man winner. However, after his tragic death in the gym at the young age of 32, it closed down.
Jakaból was later re-opened by Sigmarsson’s archrival, Magnus Ver Magnússon. According to Martin, the gym appeared more like a construction site than a workout studio—filled with “steel, concrete, and sweat.”
“There are a lot of things I’ve developed,” said Magnússon. “I know how to build things. I know how to work with metal. So making aluminum blocks, for example, that whole thing was my idea.”
Magnússon built the log lifts, cylinders, and other impressive materials used in the gym. He also hosted some of the most intense training sessions for the “giants” who were members.
“You gotta figure out a way to make them go to their limits without killing them,” Magnússon said with a smirk.
“You gotta figure out a way to make them go to their limits without killing them.” –Magnús Ver Magnússon
When asked about the future of strongmen as a sport, Magnússon had some ideas on how to expand it.
“The sport has grown, but I’m still waiting for it to take that really big leap,” he said at the time. “What I would love to see is a bunch of big, strong guys on an island and make them do Survivor. Show these guys they can do something else than just lift big things.”
Jakaból wasn’t the only Icelandic fitness center hosting extreme training sessions—just as strongmen weren’t the only people working out.
Skólahreysti, meaning “fit for school,” is an annual competition featuring a military-style obstacle course created for children. Co-founded by Andrés Guðmundsson, a former Icelandic strongman, and his wife, the course was meant to instill the Icelandic Spirit from a young age.
“Everybody wants to go out and do something and be strong,” Guðmundsson said.