Life
Eythór Melsted is a professional strongman competitor who has competed in two World’s Strongest Man finals and won two national titles in his home country of Iceland. He is part of the strong Icelandic tradition in strongman, a nation that has produced more World’s Strongest Man winners, per capita, than any other country.
At 1.85m (6’ 1”) in height and 142kg (313lbs) in bodyweight, Eythór is one of the smaller athletes to be competing internationally. His solid base of static strength, particularly overhead, and moving ability, combined with his tenacious, never-say-die attitude, have seen him out-perform many peoples’ predictions.
Eythór lives in Reykjavík and is coached by Stefán Sölvi Pétursson, who placed 4th at the 2010 World’s Strongest Man. His fiancee, Ásrún Vilmundsardóttir, is an Icelandic IFBB professional women’s figure competitor.
Career
Like many other top-level strongmen, Eythór began training in the gym as a bodybuilder and began to realise that he possessed considerable strength. Coming from Iceland and being part of an intense strength community, his progression into strength athletics was quite natural.
In 2018, Melsted made his debut at Iceland’s Strongest Man, placing a very impressive 2nd to Hafthór Björnsson. The following year he made his international debut at the Norwegian Strongman Champions League event, finishing 11th.
Throughout 2019 and 2020, Melsted placed 4th and then 2nd at Iceland’s Strongest Man and made his debut at World’s Strongest Man, finishing 4th in his heat. His best competitive finishes of 2020 was his 3rd place result at the Pasanlio Tauré event in Lithuania and his first national Icelandic title.
In 2021, Eythór surprised many by qualifying for the World’s Strongest Man final, in Sacramento, California, after defeating America’s Robert Obest in the Stone-off. He placed 10th in the final. Later that year be finished 2nd at the the Magnús Ver Magnússon Classic, losing out to Canada’s Maxime Boudreault.
By now Eythór had established himself as Iceland’s number one strongman, following Björnsson’s retirement. After making his debut at Europe’s Strongest Man, in April of 2022, where he placed a creditable 7th, Eythór once again confounded his doubters by not only qualifying for the World’s Strongest Man final for a second time, but also by improving his overall position to 9th place. Pundits and fans will be less quick to write-off his chances in future, even if events don’t appear to suit him.
Best Title
In addition to his brace of domestic titles, Eythór’s best competitive performances are arguably his two showings in the World’s Strongest Man heats in 2021 and 2022. On both occasions he progressed to the grand final by coming through the hugely challenging Stone-off. Having beaten Oberst in 2021, from third place in his heat, Melsted was forced to hold off France’s Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf, in 2022, to defend his qualifying spot in second.
In 2020, Eythór broke Magnús Ver Magnússon’s natural stone press world record with a successful lift of 137kg/402lb. The lock out on this lift was rock solid and Eythór held the stone aloft for several seconds.
Competition Results
Best Lifts
Present Day
A single World’s Strongest Man final appearance can be attributed to a favourable set of events, or mere good fortune, but two in succession have cemented Melsted’s position as one of the very best strongmen in the world and a fierce competitor.
The Icelander will be focusing on building on his World’s Strongest Man success and improving his placings in all other competitions, as well as continuing to develop his base of raw strength.
Media
Fans of Eythór can follow him on facebook at: Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteđ. On Instagram he goes by the handle @eythormelsted. There are numerous videos on YouTube featuring Melsted, including interviews, profiles and training sessions, as well as competition highlights.
Melsted’s exploits at World’s Strongest Man and Europe’s Strongest Man will be aired an UK television’s Channel 5, over the Christmas period of 2022.
