Hjalti Arnason
Encyclopedia
Hjalti Árnason (nicknamed Hjalti Úrsus) (born February 18, 1963) is a former Icelandic
strongman
competitor and world champion powerlifter. Hjalti was known by the nickname "The Great Ursus". He first began in strength sports by competing as a junior powerlifter representing Iceland in 1983. Hjalti coached the great Jón Páll Sigmarsson
and even competed alongside Magnús Ver Magnússon
in a team strength competition called Pure Strength
in 1989, 1990 & 1991.
in 1963 He grew up in the same neighbourhood as Jón Páll Sigmarsson
and they were at the same school, although Jón Páll was three years older. His sports career began with training in karate
and he participated in many others such as soccer, handball
, and track and field
. He had a talent for Powerlifting and shot to fame when he began competing internationally from 1983. In that year he came first in the Junior European Championships and made the senior national team. Quickly though he began to compete in strongman
events to make a living as a semi-professional. He found at an early stage that powerlifting had little money or publicity associated with it and also his fellow Icelander and school friend, Jón Páll Sigmarsson, was beginning to make waves in the higher profile world of the World's Strongest Man
and its associated circuit. His forays into strength athletics consisted of a mixture of Highland Games
and strongman events. It was noted that he relied on his "tremendous strength" but sacrificed technique and suffered from a lack of proper, regular coaching.
In 1985, Hjalti competed in the very first Iceland's Strongest Man contest. Hjalti Árnason was second to Jón Páll that year whilst Magnús Ver Magnússon
came third. Hjalti would repeat podium finishes in this contest on more than one occasion whilst in the company of two men who between them won the World's Strongest Man
title eight times. In one such contest his "animalistic approach" was demonstrated when he broke his opponents arm in an arm wrestling bout. Upon being asked to do "something spectacular for the TV cameras" by a sponsor he was reported to have picked the sponsor up by an arm and a leg and hurled him some distance to the astonishment of bystanders.
On the world stage he was a top performer in Highland Games. His wrestling match with Bill Kazmaier
at Earlshall has been described as one of the best ever. He was highly rated at the World Muscle Power Championships and in breaking the world record in the platform lift became the first European to win the prestigious Le Defi Mark Ten International
in Canada. However, his only appearance as a contestant at the World's Strongest Man
was in 1996 at the end of his career. Prior to that he had been to many events as a tester, alongside his great friend Mark Higgins
. Prior to 1994 the WSM had a limited field with no heats. As such countries were rarely granted multiple competitor places. For Hjalti, when in the prime of his strength sporting career this left him in the shadow of Jón Páll, and later the rise of Magnús Ver Magnússon
. This has been described by David Webster
as a pity because "he was undoubtedly one of the world's strongest men."
He continued to compete as a powerlifter and became the world champion in the super heavy category at the IPF World Powerlifting Championships in 1991 in Örebro
, Sweden; however, he was later disqualified and the title passed to Hans Zerhoch. He was also the first Icelander to break the 1000 kg barrier in Powerlifting.
which held its inaugural event in November 2010.
Icelanders
Icelanders are a Scandinavian ethnic group and a nation, native to Iceland.On 17 June 1944, when an Icelandic republic was founded the Icelanders became independent from the Danish monarchy. The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and Lutheranism is the predominant religion...
strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
competitor and world champion powerlifter. Hjalti was known by the nickname "The Great Ursus". He first began in strength sports by competing as a junior powerlifter representing Iceland in 1983. Hjalti coached the great Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson was a strongman, a powerlifter , and a bodybuilder from Iceland who won the World's Strongest Man Competition four times . In 1984 Jón won the Icelandic bodybuilding title in the +90 kg. class...
and even competed alongside Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon is a former powerlifter and strongman competitor from Egilsstaðir, Iceland. Magnus won the title of World's Strongest Man four times ....
in a team strength competition called Pure Strength
Pure Strength
Pure Strength was a strongman competition held from 1987 to 1990 which was created by Tjalling van den Bosch.-Event History:The first year of the event was known as "Pure Strength Challenge" and was a single man competition featuring only Bill Kazmaier, Geoff Capes and Jon Pall Sigmarsson. The...
in 1989, 1990 & 1991.
Biography
Hjalti Árnason was born in ReykjavikReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
in 1963 He grew up in the same neighbourhood as Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson was a strongman, a powerlifter , and a bodybuilder from Iceland who won the World's Strongest Man Competition four times . In 1984 Jón won the Icelandic bodybuilding title in the +90 kg. class...
and they were at the same school, although Jón Páll was three years older. His sports career began with training in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and he participated in many others such as soccer, handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. He had a talent for Powerlifting and shot to fame when he began competing internationally from 1983. In that year he came first in the Junior European Championships and made the senior national team. Quickly though he began to compete in strongman
Strength athletics
Strength athletics, more generally known as strongman competitions, is a sport which tests competitors' strength in a variety of different ways. Some of the disciplines are similar to those in powerlifting and some powerlifters have also successfully competed in strongman competitions...
events to make a living as a semi-professional. He found at an early stage that powerlifting had little money or publicity associated with it and also his fellow Icelander and school friend, Jón Páll Sigmarsson, was beginning to make waves in the higher profile world of the World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
and its associated circuit. His forays into strength athletics consisted of a mixture of Highland Games
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
and strongman events. It was noted that he relied on his "tremendous strength" but sacrificed technique and suffered from a lack of proper, regular coaching.
In 1985, Hjalti competed in the very first Iceland's Strongest Man contest. Hjalti Árnason was second to Jón Páll that year whilst Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon is a former powerlifter and strongman competitor from Egilsstaðir, Iceland. Magnus won the title of World's Strongest Man four times ....
came third. Hjalti would repeat podium finishes in this contest on more than one occasion whilst in the company of two men who between them won the World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
title eight times. In one such contest his "animalistic approach" was demonstrated when he broke his opponents arm in an arm wrestling bout. Upon being asked to do "something spectacular for the TV cameras" by a sponsor he was reported to have picked the sponsor up by an arm and a leg and hurled him some distance to the astonishment of bystanders.
On the world stage he was a top performer in Highland Games. His wrestling match with Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier is a former powerlifter, strongman and professional wrestler from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions...
at Earlshall has been described as one of the best ever. He was highly rated at the World Muscle Power Championships and in breaking the world record in the platform lift became the first European to win the prestigious Le Defi Mark Ten International
Le Defi Mark Ten International
Le Defi Mark Ten International was one of the most prestigious strongman contest in the world in th 1980s and early 1990s. Staged in Quebec, Canada, it was begun as a tribute to Louis Cyr and was notable for the quality of the strength athletes it attracted, which included a number of winners of...
in Canada. However, his only appearance as a contestant at the World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
was in 1996 at the end of his career. Prior to that he had been to many events as a tester, alongside his great friend Mark Higgins
Mark Higgins (athlete)
Mark Higgins was one of the world's leading strongman competitors, having won the World Strongman Challenge on two occasions, and was the British Muscle Power Champion on four occasions...
. Prior to 1994 the WSM had a limited field with no heats. As such countries were rarely granted multiple competitor places. For Hjalti, when in the prime of his strength sporting career this left him in the shadow of Jón Páll, and later the rise of Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon is a former powerlifter and strongman competitor from Egilsstaðir, Iceland. Magnus won the title of World's Strongest Man four times ....
. This has been described by David Webster
David Webster
David Webster may refer to:* David Webster * David Webster , Chairman of InterContinental Hotels Group* David Webster , Australian TV producer for Ambence Entertainment, creator and writer for Erky Perky* David L...
as a pity because "he was undoubtedly one of the world's strongest men."
He continued to compete as a powerlifter and became the world champion in the super heavy category at the IPF World Powerlifting Championships in 1991 in Örebro
Örebro
-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
, Sweden; however, he was later disqualified and the title passed to Hans Zerhoch. He was also the first Icelander to break the 1000 kg barrier in Powerlifting.
Personal life and career after sport
From his marriage to Margét, Hjalti has two sons, Greipur (born 1989) and Árni (born 1992). After divorcing he moved in with his girlfrend, Halla Heimisdóttir. His careers were multiple and varied. He was a bouncer, caring supervisor in a psychiatric hospital, security agent and debt collector. He also became a system administrator for Post and Telecom in Iceland. He also remained close to sport and became a promoter of strength athletics in Iceland. His latest venture was the promotion of Iceland's Strongest Man. His brother is a noted musician in Iceland. Hjalti created the Jón Páll Sigmarsson ClassicJon Pall Sigmarsson Classic
Jón Páll Sigmarsson Classic is an annual strongman competition consisting of international athletes from various countries. The event was established in 2010 by contest organizer Hjalti Árnason, who was a childhood friend of the late Jón Páll Sigmarsson. The event takes place annually during the...
which held its inaugural event in November 2010.