INTERNATIONAL SPORTS HALL OF FAME AWARDS
Saturday, March 4, 2023 | Arnold Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio
INDUCTEES
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson – 30X Professional Strongman Champion, Actor
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is an Icelandic professional strongman, famed for being the world’s strongest man in 2018. He has won Europe’s Strongest Man four times, the World’s Strongest Viking twice, and the Arnold Strongman Classic twice. He is also an actor, having appeared in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones as Gregor Clegane.Björnsson began his strength training at the age of 15, and by the time he was 20 he had become Iceland’s Strongest Man. His incredible strength and athletic abilities have earned him a large following, and he was named World’s Strongest Man in 2018. He has continued to compete in strength competitions, and placed second in the 2019 World’s Strongest Man competition.
Björnsson’s acting career began in 2011, when he was cast as Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson for the role of Gregor Clegane in HBO’s Game of Thrones. In addition to acting, he also serves as an ambassador for the sport of strongman, hosting seminars and events to promote the sport to a new generation.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is a remarkable man, with a unique combination of strength and athleticism that has made him a success in both strongman and acting. He is a true ambassador for the sport of strongman, and an inspiration to millions.
Kayla Harrison – 2x Olympic Judo Gold Medalist, 2x Women’s MMA Champion
Kayla Jean Harrison is an American professional mixed martial artist and former Olympic and world champion judoka. She is the first and only American to ever win a gold medal in judo, and has become one of the most successful female fighters in the world.Harrison began her judo career at the age of 13, and quickly rose to the top of the sport. She won the US National Championship in 2008 and 2010, as well as a bronze medal in the World Judo Championships in 2010. In 2012, she became the first American to ever win a gold medal in judo, at the London Olympics.
After her Olympic success, Harrison returned to the US and turned her attention to mixed martial arts. She made her professional MMA debut in 2016, and since then has become one of the best female fighters in the world. She is currently the lightweight champion in the Professional Fighters League, and is the only female to ever hold two professional MMA titles.
Kayla Jean Harrison is a trailblazer in the world of judo and mixed martial arts. Her skill and determination have earned her worldwide recognition, and she is an inspiration to anyone looking to pursue their dreams.
Richard Sorin – Founder of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, Legend of Grip strength
Richard Sorin is a legend in the world of grip strength and the founder of Sorinex Exercise Equipment. He is widely regarded as one of the strongest men in the world and is credited as being one of the main pioneers of the sport of grip strength.Sorin got his start in grip strength as a strength coach in the late 1970s and soon developed a passion for the sport. He began devising and building his own specialty equipment and founded Sorinex Exercise Equipment in 1984. The company quickly became one of the leading manufacturers of specialty strength equipment, and Sorin himself was largely credited with popularizing the long-neglected art of grip strength training.
Throughout his career, Sorin has won a number of national and international competitions, including the World Grip Championships, the World Masters, and the United States Strongman Championships. He is also a certified judge for the World’s Strongest Man competition, and has been inducted into multiple Hall of Fames for his contributions to the sport.
Richard Sorin is a true pioneer of grip strength training and one of the strongest men in the world. He has revolutionized the industry and is an inspiration to strength athletes all over the world.
Ronnie Lott – 4x NFL Superbowl Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Ronald Lott is a true legend in the National Football League and one of the greatest defensive players of all time. He played 14 seasons in the NFL, all with the San Francisco 49ers, and was selected to the Pro Bowl 10 times. He was also named All-Pro 8 times and won four Super Bowl championships.Lott was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and played college football at the University of Southern California. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best defensive players. He was famous for his hard hits and interceptions, and he was part of a 49ers team that won four Super Bowls in the 1980s and 90s.
Lott was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, becoming the first defensive back in history to receive the honor. He currently holds the NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns, and has also been named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for both the 1980s and 1990s.
Ronald Lott is a true legend in the NFL and one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the league. He is a four-time Super Bowl champion and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
