Strongman Bobby Thompson Performs The Most Adrenaline-Inducing Atlas Stone Lift You’ll Ever See
Having the capacity to push past one’s limits to score feats of strength an ordinary civilian could not gives a mystique of mythology to elite strongmen. One of the most notorious strongmen currently capable of turning heads for his propensity to only go out on his shield is current American log lift record holder Bobby Thompson. At the 2021 World’s Strongest Man contest, Thompson passed out during the max log lift event while attempting a 474-pound log.
On Feb. 20, 2022, Thompson took to his Instagram page to share “reason 10,000,302 [he] needs an adult at all times.” In the video, a sleeveless Thompson lifted a 149.7-kilogram (330-pound) Atlas Stone to a 65-inch platform. Although the lift was ultimately successful, it was not without the drama and adrenaline of potential disasters along the way. Check out the full lift below, but be make sure the edge of your seat is cleared first:
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Thompson’s desire to lift a stone that heavy to a height that high was a challenge to test how far he improved in the event over the past off-season. He told BarBend that despite being “nervous” due to the apparent struggle and teasing of disaster visual in the video, he was confident he would successfully load the stone once he managed to clean it:
Once I cleaned it to my chest I already knew I was home free because I knew I was more than capable of pressing it.
Thompson seemed aware of the inherent risk associated with lifting a stone that heavy to a platform that tall. For context, according to Strongman Archives, Thompson is 6’1 or 73.2 inches tall.
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Thompson’s next competitive appearance will be as a special guest at the World Log Lift Challenge featured during the 2022 Europe’s Strongest Man contest in Leeds, England, on April 2, 2022. Thompson’s current American log lift record is 217.5 kilograms (478.5 pounds). He will likely attempt to exceed that weight and potentially challenge the all-time log lift world record of 229 kilograms (504.9 pounds) held by the 2019 World Log Lift champion Chieck “Iron Biby” Sanou.
