Watch: Game of Thrones star sets world deadlifting record

Hafthor Bjornsson salutes the crowd after winning the Arnold Strongman Classic. Photo / Getty

The man who plays 'The Mountain' on HBO's 'Game of Thrones' has set a new world record after successfully deadlifting 1,041 pounds (472kg) at the Arnold Strongman Classic.

But Hafthor Julius Bjornsson did not lift the huge weight with as much ease as his sword dispatches opponents in the hit series.

He strained every sinew and muscle in his body to lift the huge barbell off the ground - later sharing a video of his achievement on Instagram.

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472kg/1041lb World Record Deadlift ! • @australianstrengthcoach @stanefferding @stefansolvi @andrimarinn @andrireyr @kelc33 @vikingtrips @roguefitness @sbdapparel • #yesmen

A post shared by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (@thorbjornsson) on Mar 4, 2018 at 4:05pm PST

Bjornsson - a former youth basketball international - broke the record set last year by 10 pounds - he also established a world record for throwing a 56 pound weight over a 20 foot bar.

The Icelander, standing at 6 feet, 9 inches tall, was an obvious choice for the role of Ser Gregor Clegane, also known as 'The Mountain', on 'Game of Thrones'. His role in recent seasons has been as the formidably silent head of Cersei Lannister's Queensguard.

The giant also performed well in the stone shoulder event, where a competitor must lift a huge, awkwardly-shaped stone up to their shoulder and hold it in place as many times as possible within the time frame.

With the final season of 'Game of Thrones' approaching in 2019, the fate of 'The Mountain' is unknown.

The Arnold Strongman Classic is an annual competition featuring strength athletes from all over the world.

It is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival which takes place annually in Ohio - but instead of concentrating on endurance, speed and athleticism like the World's Strongest Man - it is focused more on lifting the heaviest weights in the world.