EXPOSED! Cheating scandal at Worlds Strongest Man | Hafthor Bjornsson

hey guys I hope everyone is safe and well I just want to take this opportunity firstly to say how grateful I am for all the support I've had over the years from everyone so it's once a big but master thank you for that when I achieve my dream of winning the will Strongest Man title three years ago I couldn't wait to get back to Britain to thank everyone and share with them my will title but before I even got home to my friends and family to tell them the news one man - bad sportsmanship to a whole new level and it was plastered all over the world's media and this is a quote from half Alba Johnson I was robbed for the last three years a set of answering questions about how I defeated some of the greatest strongman that have ever lived half Albert Johnson included in that list instead I had people questioning whether I'd really want it or not half Albert Johnson and entourage have been smearing my title and the referee : brought his reputation for the last three years and because he was the mountain from Game of Thrones and he was a huge TV star people listened and people believed him now I've had enough of the doubt to say enough Albert Johnson was robbed saying he was robbed by the referees and how hard done by he was said today I came across a video that ends all the smut talk and silences those doubters and I have to say this video stopped me in my tracks of how desperate a man can be when things don't go his way now this video exposes the raw truth and it shows you what really happened behind the scenes in 2017 will Strongest Man it's time for the truth to be told it's time to let the pictures do the talking half Ober Johnson you and your yes-man should be ashamed of yourselves words are cheap and I'm sick and tired of hearing the lies and excuses coming out your mouth you used to be a good man and believe it or not I used to class you as a good friend but you've been poisoned by your yes-man I've got one little bit of advice cue for the yes men can't get in the ring with you next year when we fight and if they do I'll beat the living [ __ ] out of them until come your no men now this next clip in the video has some Giants live and I believe it's been made by an independent filmmaker an ex WSM producer Andy Quinn who's seen all this drama going on I decided to do a documentary and by the way it's done an amazing job of bringing the sport of strong that back to where it belongs now I'm not gonna try and sway you I'm gonna try and put anything in your mind you can watch it yourselves and make your own mind up so enjoy the video guys stay safe stay awesome big what the Beast take care in second place Hrothgar [Applause] [Music] [Applause] once an alive what better listing of every illness like that the stigma [Music] Eddie let me be the first world Strongest Man well community [ __ ] up rubber fight damn you're a warrior Congrats no one else's sorry bald on yet [Applause] get that one he's called for double dipping by Colin Bryce the head referee hi there I'm Andrew Quinn a former world Strongest Man producer and still very much a keen fan of the sport recently I've been working on a behind-the-scenes documentary looking at one of the greatest and most controversial finals of all time the 2017 world Strongest Man finals during working on this project I've been given access to a lot of cameras that have not been seen before by the public and I want to take this opportunity to take a look at some of the controversy surrounding half Thor beyond sin the Viking press and Colin Bryce the head referee first of all we're going to take a look at something called familiarization now this is when the athletes gathered the date before the wall Strongest Man final and they talked through the disciplines that are coming up over the next couple of days let's take a look [Music] guys we'll talk playful quickly great okay any questions settlement I think they lift away Indian flag it's green yellow its air force it's not good when it comes to rep events I'm more I always kind of are on the side of the athlete with a warning so just just to kind of give you a chance if you lose your mind in the heat so that on that note with the viking press and you know us we always communicate by my foot since since you can put it down right don't you don't all of us know all i mean we're all the best right here and you know if you double dip you know it right so if you're getting the point you're gonna double dip you can always put it down and rest so there's no double dip this is where ladies cause example but for often finishes some reps with his knees a little bit bent it's just what it's just his body position so we'll just communicate with him we won't give him a down signal for looking around words like this was that vile be communicating with a force so once a week so he knows it he knows big acclaim it's just got to finish off there because if it's only a little bit you know it's kind of up you're like well did he double dip did he doubled it the right place we come up explode up on two feet come down that's okay these don't that is a that is the function did you do this and then land there that would be absolutely dog did did you do this and then land there that would be absolutely straight so the person that you call it's as simple as that this is not a perfect size that's what you just said just be honest that's why I'm saying it you can't allow it tonight catch tonight after this year can me and you go and can I show you my technique so we not to thank you okay well can I say is a final comment before anyone who wants to stay please gentlemen I hope we can all attack this with the greatest sporting integrity but this deserves because it's gonna be right down to a fine line and I know why you're all asking so many questions because you all know that Greg you and I Darren Aaron we will do our very best at all times to be as fair as possible in all scenarios so hopefully we get the best man winning everybody else happy if you wish to stay into a little place they have for please let us know because what we do most people like sad falling over things getting injured everybody else if you please pick up your stuff and leave the yard that be highly appreciated alright so there you can see the athletes being briefed by Colin Bryce the head referee where he explains that you can't catch the lift with bent legs now on to the event itself first off was half will be on soon he was up with Nick best and then Eddie Hall finished off with Martines Elise's but what I'm gonna do is add in the behind the scenes cameras which haven't been seen before of what happened during the time of the event let's have a look at the Viking press [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] afterward a farewell here team this machine very well right out of the gate [ __ ] past already struggling to fit a nice early rhythm though for the Icelandic Giants very little hits involved in him lifting this overhead that's just all shoulder deltoid arms triceps locking it out all advice giving some instruction there about telling half Thor to wait at the top received a warning there but he's been given credit for 13 reps Nick best doing his best full a heart but not enough pressing powers half door goes for his fourteenth and looks like he gets it now for 15 wait instead he's not gonna get that one he's called for a double dipping by Colin Bryce the head referee poor gets into trouble there with his lockout the referee gave a warning earlier for bending the knees in the lift and in that last lift to try to get that lockout he moves his hips forward that's his knees and unfortunately that's not allowed [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yes yes [Applause] unbelievable unbelievable [Music] [Music] beautiful yeah anything to say now if you're so good you want to talk [Music] it was a year ago right here in Botswana with our teens leads he's on the right here really made an impression a name for himself making it to the final as a rookie but he's got his work cut out for him now cook against a tremendous pressing power up to Bret Eddie Hall here this is unbelievable I mean these guys if they wanted to you're allowed to stop and now finally Eddie Hall does you can stop and restart but he it was at 11:00 before he needed a breather how about lead seas eight reps and been nursing a sternum injury all competition long putting on the display as well but he may be tapped out let's see how Eddie Hall finishes here Eddie getting his second win 14 the number to beat put up by bjornsen moments ago and now Eddie going after it again he's tied him with his 14 wins the Viking press here in the final with an amazing 15 reps and he probably could have done more but he knows he only needed 15 well affectionately known as the beast the attack that Viking press with animalistic tenacity so Eddie hole won the Viking press by one read and as you can see half Thor was pretty happy with the 14 repetitions he got straight after his lifts now what you're gonna see next hasn't been seen these are the cameras that picked up what happened after the Viking press finished take a look [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] there's worse defenseless down fire sit down let's have three others grepolis and then all say this is doubled that's fine dude I had to either hide myself and therefore I gave you I gave you three reps that were bad because I warned you and I gave you one off sorry one of war got taken away story with Google sent man this is much too much I know I know it's time for us I thought perhaps when I saw you head on brother I'll say as you see and I could have been mean about those I did because I knew you were confused so up until now there hasn't been a word by the world Strongest Man referees team in response to allegations of cheating which have been brandished online and on social media during my research I've come across the official report that was made by Colin Bryce for the world Strongest Man organisers quick explained regarding Viking press rules there are three normal offenses that people make first of all locking the elbows is key to prove they're under control they must wait for a down signal from their referee the third one is double dipping you are only allowed to bend your legs once and if you catch it with soft legs again you're basically doing what's known as a push jerk perhaps the best example of double dipping is the Droon us goes for the push passes it with bent knees as he's getting tired lands it has to rebound the knees before he could actually press out with his arms he doesn't have enough power left in the upper body made a point of Thor because he often does bent leg presses therefore putting him in danger of losing reps he understood I wanted to show me his technique was I was happy with in the odd [Music] [Applause] normally only one warning allowed hatful was not holding it is far too early on the down these are all offender bull reps I tell him to wait at the top again we've got to hold it there a bit longer and that one but then goes soft again we didn't go down this is the first point double dipping happens there catches with his knees bent and again just before he puts it down for a rest I give him a last warning quite clearly too many infringement far too many so far if you look when his arms but at the very top of the lift first time it's a little soft for the second time extremely soft elbows never locked he gets squirted out the other ready to hat for he never lost his elbows either but I didn't have time to say the proof was he got squirted out couldn't hold it and now let's do it a jewel comparison Eddy Hall who won the event by the repetition and hatful bjornsen what's the legs in particular [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] so this now begs the question can half-thought continue to say he was cheated at the World's Strongest Man in 2017 or perhaps is Eddie who was cheated of the wall Strongest Man glory he always dreamt of hopefully this many study will help shed some light in it I'm going to leave you now with some of the thoughts of the athletes that competed in wall Strongest Man in 2017 thanks for watching I'm good friends with half Thor but I don't think he had a leg to stand on with that argument Eddie went after half Thor on the Viking press did enough to win and that was that maybe half thought should have been given an extra rep or not thus for the referee to decide but Eddie went after and probably would have done another rep anyway my personal feeling is as good friends as I am with half floor I think he had just had too many yes men around him were convincing him or something that wasn't an issue [Applause] Eddie look comfortable he won that event and I want to see that believe it would have made a difference it was really odd cuz I was up on the platform next to Thor it competing against him I was wondering what's this I was in the news clips that went all over to Fox Network all throughout the United States Thorin Wendt was complaining about it on the internet it was kind of a shocker to me everything is to the discretion of the judge you plated simply there's not a whole lot you can do about that I mean he could have won the airplane Pole he didn't and he's one of the best vehicle pullers in the world there was still so much of the contest left when that happened there was still time for him to pull that out there's controversy everywhere at the end of the day in the events that were there any won fair and square we need to understand that it is sport and you can say I will win this because of this if you win you have and that's it if if we look this way then I must be a times four strongest man this is life and it is reality you can't win everything really [Applause] well fight Oh wharfs winning battles in the war got the trophy congratulations Eddie Hall World's Strongest Man you [Music]

Channel: Eddie 'The Beast' Hall

Views: 7,298,446

Rating: 4.8832464 out of 5

Keywords: Eddie hall, Larry wheels, Brian shaw, worlds strongest man, deadlift, world record, strongman, giants live, history, hathor bjornsson, mattdoesfitness, strength, strong, official strongman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, nile wilson, martins licis, sidemen, ksi, Logan Paul

Id: _U1_xMt6I0Q

Length: 22min 24sec (1344 seconds)

Published: Sun May 17 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/m_ttl_ng]

It’s a shame that this scandal has been talked about so long. I think the comments at the end of the video should have settled things and made it clear that 2017 was Eddie’s year.

It’s a bit sad though because I love watching the strong man events, and the athletes are generally all really positive/supportive guys from everything I’ve seen.

All of that said, though, I’m really looking forward to The Beast vs Thor in a ring.

[u/dantzbam]

They're actually going to fight? They'll gas themselves out within five minutes...

[u/aan8993uun]

Jesus, he wasn't joking about the yes-men. Surprised those guys weren't fondling his balls...

[u/Brewe]

To anyone confused about what's going on with Bjornson's face: He had Bell's Palsy. A condition that paralyzes or partially paralyzes one side of the affected's face. It usually lasts between a few weeks to a few months.

On another note. I think the title is a bit misleading. No one cheated anyone. Hafthor used bad technique, and wasn't too happy with the call, so he complained. He might have complained a bit too much, but this seems like taking it way too far in the other direction.

[u/OskarTheOptimist]

I am a fan of Thor but I am sorry he is definitely early on a few drops. I understand that his technique involves a bend but those are the rules. Also Eddie really did get after it and probably could have done 1 or 2 more, although I would call his 12th rep a double dip. Irregardless these men are unquestionably the pure embodiment of testosterone and what they do is amazing considering sometimes I have to run the pickle jar under hot water to loosen it up.

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Edit: a word

[u/[deleted]]

Not only is the ref correct but Hafthor had horrible technique the whole time per the rules while Eddie was rock solid. Also the only reason Eddie only did 15 reps is because he was last and just needed to stop there to win. It looks like he still has some gas in the tank and probably could have done 16.

I guess I am lucky to have more info compared to people before, but this seems like a non controversy and poor sportsmanship to claim being robbed.

On a side note I didn't know Hafthor has Bell's palsey.

[u/Gamer_ely]

Eddie is what I imagine when I try to picture fantasy dwarves. Somebody that looks like a human tank.

[u/Marmite-Badgers-Mum]

I really like Eddie. He’s like a child in a (fucking huge) adults body.

It must really hurt to have achieved such a huge accomplishment and have so many try and diminish it by saying he cheated. Hopefully this puts an end to that.

[u/The_Babushka_Lady]

I just want to point out that the sport these guys participate in is relatively unlucrative and this is some ufc bullshit to create a grudge for that fight they’re gonna have