Strongman Hafthor Björnsson deadlifted a world record 501 kg (that’s back 1,105 pounds) in May—and since then, he’s radically transformed his training to prepare for a 2021 boxing match with rival Eddie Hall.

But a slimmer, fitter Mountain was still pushed to his limits by one of the other most notable athletes of his native Iceland in a recent training session. Björnsson joined two-time CrossFit Fittest Woman on Earth, Annie Thorisdottir, for a circuit workout. The pair previously trained together last November, and Björnsson barely made it through the session. This time, Thorisdottir’s husband Frederik Aegidius, a five-time CrossFit Games competitor, also joins them—and Thorisdottir is currently very pregnant, with a delivery date in August.

They plan a grueling session that looks like this, which they go through twice:

Round One (2 minutes AMRAP)

Round Two (3 minutes AMRAP)

Round Three (4 minutes AMRAP)

Björnsson called the workout the “hardest session of my life” in the video’s title. From the footage, you can see that his claim about almost passing out wasn’t an exaggeration—he almost didn’t make it through.

They start on the Airbike, for 4 rounds of all-out sprints—but first Björnsson needed to get his console working. Thorisdottir joked, “He doesn’t know how cardio machines work!”

While Björnsson is adjusting to a new style of workouts, Thorisdottir has an entirely different challenge as a mom-to-be.

“It’s been going pretty good,” she said of her training. “I’m not getting to go as heavy as usual, and definitely modifying my overhead lifting. The belly is getting in the way of snatches and stuff, but I’m happy I can do a lot of stuff.”

They finish their circuit of kettlebell swings with Airbike sprints.

“It’s challenging, but I love it. I need it,” Björnsson said.

As the clock hit zero to finish the final round’s first set, Björnsson falls to the floor.

“This is the second time that Annie and Fred have destroyed me, but I’m not going to show them. I’m going to keep pushing,” he said. “I won’t break.”

By the last round, Björnsson is on the verge of tapping out.

“I’m already getting cramped everywhere,” he said, so he finishes on the bike.

Even though he had a tough time, Thorisdottir notes that Björnsson is in better shape than the last time they trained together, when he struggled even more.

“This I can work with!” she exclaims.

“Yeah, my training is going to change more. I need to work on my endurance,” said Björnsson. “She still beats me and she’s 30 weeks pregnant!”

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