Hafthor Bjornsson: when « The Mountain » from Game of Thrones played basketball
Hafthor Bjornsson completes a lift during the final event of the Arnold Strongman competition to seal his victory in the Battelle Grand Ballroom inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center on March 3, 2018.
Mt Arnold Ac 19
Nicolas Batum’s striking memory from EuroBasket U18 2006
Before becoming the World’s Strongest Man and portraying the terrifying Gregor « The Mountain » Clegane in Game of Thrones, Hafthor Bjornsson was a promising basketball player. A surprising revelation shared by Nicolas Batum while commenting on France’s games at the EuroBasket U18 2025 for TF1, as shared by FIBA on their website.
"The Mountain", or the strongest man in the world once played for Iceland at @EuroBasket U18 🛡️https://t.co/NGNP8JT8yL pic.twitter.com/THi4YfSVD6
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) September 22, 2025
From basketball player to global phenomenon
The former French national team captain shared this extraordinary anecdote during the Iceland vs France game on September 4th. « We played Iceland in the group phase of EuroBasket U18 2006, » Batum confided.
« I remember the game well because we won the title that year – one of my favorite moments with the national team. And we only lost one game… against Iceland. Our only defeat, their only victory of the tournament – they finished last. A disaster for us. »
This French U18 team was exceptional, featuring Alexis Ajinça, Adrien Moerman, Antoine Diot, Edwin Jackson, Ludovic Vaty, and Kim Tillie. « We had a great team, » recalls Batum.
« Fun fact: 10 or 12 years later – I don’t remember who told me – but we were Game of Thrones fans, and apparently, that day, I played against The Mountain, Hafthor Björnsson. Nobody knew who he was at the time – he was just a regular under-18 player. I played, and I lost. So I can’t trash talk – not that I would, given the size of the man. But I only realized it long after. He wasn’t that big back then. There was no way to guess he would become so big and strong, » Batum added humorously.
Bjornsson, who stood at 6’9″ (2.06m), continued his basketball career after this tournament. He first played for K.R. Basket Reykjavík as a starting center in the Icelandic championship, before being selected for Iceland’s D2 national team. In 2007-2008, he turned professional with Selfoss Basketball Club in Iceland’s Division 1.
Unfortunately, a severe knee injury ended his basketball career at just 20 years old. Fortunately for him, his transition to strongman sports brought him even greater fame and success, becoming one of the most decorated strongmen in history.
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