Despite its tiny population, Iceland has a reputation in the World’s Strongest Man competition that stands higher than perhaps any other country’s. This small, black rock in the middle of the ocean has produced a lineage of strongmen dating back to the Vikings.

VICE went out there to investigate why this tiny island produces such strong people. Hanging out at Jakabol—a gym run by ex-champion Magnus Ver Magnusson—we met a whole host of Icelandic strongmen, which includes Hafthor “Thor” Bjornsson, the 6’9″ star of Game of Thrones.