Iceland's Strongest Man: Like Father, Like Son
2021-08-08 by Éloi Fournier
Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted came in as the favourite to win the Iceland's Strongest Man title, but he was beaten to the punch yet again.
Ingólfsson Melsted had to settle for 2nd place for the third time in his career because of a heroic performance by Stefán Karel Torfason, the son of 1997 champion Torfi Ólafsson.
After winning the contest, Stefán Karel had some very nice words for his father.
"I think he still has the longest carry ever with the heaviest Húsafell Stone... He is the one who pushes me, because I want to beat him."
Stefán Karel Torfason will have to keep working in order to surpass his father's accomplishments. Torfi was a three-time World's Strongest Man finalist in the 1990s, finishing 4th in 1997.
A Nail-Biting Finish
Going into the final event, the traditional Húsafell Stone carry for distance, Torfason and Ingólfsson Melsted were separated by just half a point, meaning that whoever bested the other would win the title. This was the closest Iceland's Strongest Man contest in many years, with Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson having dominated for an entire decade.
Both athletes had had their moments, with Ingólfsson Melsted delivering dominant performances in the Overhead Medley, the Squat Lift and the Atlas Stones, while Torfason placed in the top 3 in every event except the Overhead Medley. Ingólfsson Melsted found himself in a precarious position because of an 8th place finish in the Medley and a 7th place finish in the Deadlift Hold.
Ingólfsson Melsted had to go before his rival in the Húsafell Stone, and he managed a strong 54.1 metres, beating everyone else who had attempted the event.
However, the 6-foot-8 Torfason got a great pickup and easily ran 60 metres with the legendary stone to seal his victory.
The new champion demonstrated great potential in multiple events. Weighing in at 150 kg, the 27-year-old should have many years to fill out his massive frame and improve his static power.
Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted will no doubt be disappointed about the result. The 2021 World's Strongest Man finalist entered the competition injured, but because of Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson's retirement, he felt like this would be his greatest chance of winning the prestigious Icelandic crown.
Another athlete suffering from an injury, Kristján Níelsson, managed to get himself on the podium for the first time. The man who calls himself "Iceland's Strongest Gay" did not win a single event, but he was consistent throughout the weekend and earned enough points to edge out Kristján Jón Haraldsson and Theodór Már Gudmundsson for the podium.
Future Opportunities
By virtue of winning the Iceland's Strongest Man title, Stefán Karel Torfason will be able to earn invites to future World's Ultimate Strongman competitions. There is also no doubt that many promoters will keep an eye out for him in years to come.
(Photo: Rogue Fitness)
