Strongman Hafthor Björnsson has continued to train while quarantining in his home country of Iceland, setting up a home gym in his garage. He recently trained online with fellow Strongman Martins Licis, and he’s prepping to attempt a world record 501 kilogram deadlift on May 2. That’s approximately 1,104 pounds—a weight that no one has come close to using a standard barbell since Eddie Hall’s tremendous pull to set the record at 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) in 2016.

Björnsson shared footage of his most recent training session (his last heavy deadlift day ahead of the world record attempt) to YouTube. He decided to take it easy and stick to his training plan—and he still pulls an astounding 470 kilograms, or 1,036 pounds.

“We’re getting ready for a heavy, heavy, heavy pull, a heavy deadlift,” he says. “This is the last deadlift before 501 kilograms. Doing 470 kilograms for one rep. And we’re going to do a backed down set of 400 kilograms for 3 reps.”

And he’s ready to get to it.

“I’m feeling good, feeling strong and excited. Now’s the time to shine, baby,” he says.

He starts his lifts at 170 kilograms, working his way up to 220 kilograms, 320 kilograms, 400 kilograms, 440 kilograms with smooth, easy pulls. Finally, 470 kilograms.

After showing off the plates on each side of the bar before his lift of 470 kilograms, he jokes, “They might be plastic. You don’t know!” Jokes aside, Björnsson gets down to business. He nails the deadlift easily, then lets out some triumphant bellows.

After the big lift, he opts to skip the back down set and end the session.

“Without a doubt, I could pull 501 today,” he says afterwards. “But right now I’m going to be smart and call it a day and recover and get stronger, and pull 501 like nothing on May 2nd. The heaviest lift a human has ever lifted in history and a new world record. Let’s go!”

At the end of the video, he talks more about the day’s lift and his strategy moving forward.

“This was probably the biggest and the most successful training session in my career,” he says. “I just did 470 kilograms. That’s a PR for me on a deadlift bar.” (Björnsson has pulled 480 kilograms on an Elephant bar, a specially designed implement for strongman competitions.)

“But super successful. I pulled 470 kilograms like a warmup, actually.”

Since he decided to skip the back down session, Björnsson says his next moves are to eat, rest, and recover. “I have a few more sessions left, but everything is light from now on,” he says.

The strongman then discussed his upcoming world record lift, which he says will be attended by a doctor, and of course a widely-respected official to confirm the veracity of the record. The event will also be broadcast on ESPN.

“It’s going to be awesome,” he says. “I’m feeling great. I’m excited. All the work is done.”

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