You probably recognize this larger-than-life athlete – Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, born in Reykjavik, Iceland. In the past few years he has been busy starring in HBO’s hit show “Game of Thrones” as Gregor Clegane, or “The Mountain”. Before he became a big-time actor, Bjornsson was a main contender in the World Strongest Man competition.
With a height of 6ft 9 in and weighing in at 400lbs, it’s no wonder that he was in the top three for six years running. He is also the first man in the world to win the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man, and World’s Strongest Man in the same year.
Konishiki Yasokichi – 633 lb
With no less than 633 pounds to his name, Konishiki Yasokichi is not a person you want to bump into in a dark alley. But don't let his size or his sumo wrestler training fool you because he seems like a pretty chill dude.
Yasokichi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and he was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to win three division championships and reach the second-highest rank in sumo, Ozeki. Sadly, Konishiki “Meat Bomb” Yasokichi got close but never earned the highest rank in Sumo, the Yokozuna, meaning grand champion. These days, he has a music career and raps in English and Japanese.
Peter Crouch – 6’7″
Soccer players are not usually known for their height but for their ability to run fast, react quickly, and exert perfect control over their feet. It is almost unheard of for a professional soccer player to be over 6 feet. That makes our next athlete even more extraordinary.
With a five-year stint in the England national Team, Peter Crouch has certainly put his leg span to good use. Other achievements under his belt include two appearances at the World Cup and breaking a Premier League record for the most headed goals!
Andre The Giant – 6’9″, 520 lb
Andre the Giant was a wrestling legend with legions of fans all over the world. Many thought he was a staggering 7ft 4in tall, but he was more likely 6'9. He used his size and skills to fight three or four opponents at once and to defeat some WWE heavy hitters, including big-name stars like Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy. He was also well known for his role as Fezzik, the good-hearted giant, in the iconic film “The Princess Bride,” which earned him plenty of new fans.
Andre the Giant suffered from a condition in which his body had an excess of human growth hormone, and this is the reason for his enhanced proportions and deep voice. Sadly, he passed away from heart failure in 1993 when he was only 46 years old.
Maria Sharapova – 6’2″
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova is one of the tallest women to ever play professional tennis. She moved to the United States from her home country of Russia in the early 1990s to pursue her dream of being a champion. In the past three decades, she has worked hard and become a regular on the WTA, even holding the number one place in singles on five separate occasions.
Sharapova is a prime example of determination and has bounced back from numerous injuries over her career. She is still at the top of the tennis game today and has recently released a book titled “Unstoppable.”