Watch Hafthor Bjornsson Tell Arnold Schwarzenegger How Hard He Trained to Win the Arnold Classic

While the two exchanged pleasantries onstage, the bodybuilding icon asked Bjrnsson about his experience training for the competition. Bjrnsson said that he trains year-round, but he specifically dedicated 17 weeks to the Arnold event. Schwarzenegger teased the Mountain about his eating habits with the audience, saying that a German word, fressen, applied to the strongman's eating habits. Bjrnsson revealed that he ate 10,000 calories a day in order to fuel up for the competition. Then, strongman took a moment to thank everyone who has supported him throughout his journey to become the winner.

Its tough you know? Its hard to be able to do that for 17 weeks. But people are consistent. If you stay consistent, you will progress, he said.

This message of perseverance rang especially true for Bjrnsson, who reminisced how he reached his championship status at the event. The strongman started to compete in the Classic in 2011, in the outdoor division. After placing second, Bjrnsson was given the chance to compete once again after the winner of that division was injured. Although he came in last place in 2012, he eventually made it to become the winner of the Arnold Classic, now three years running.

Everybody said youre never going to win this whole Classic, Bjrnsson told Schwarzenegger and the audience. Youre not strong enough. Youre big, youre athletic, youre fastbut you will never win this Arnold Classic. Those were the people who didnt believe in me... I put in the work every single dayand here I am, three times champ!

Schwarzenegger concluded the mini-interview with strong praise. I like you, because youre a great athlete and the worlds strongest man," he told Bjrnsson. "But youre also a great actor and youre a great human being. So come back again."