"Tug of War" Pits a Legendary Man Versus a Legendary Machine

You’ve seen Cat machines move mountains. Now, in the latest short film in the Built For It™ Trials, you’re going to see a mountain of a man move a Cat machine.

Shot outside of Reykjavik, Iceland, in brutal weather conditions with limited daylight, the video pits strongman and actor Hafthor “Thor” Bjornsson—whom you may recognize from a popular TV series—against a Cat D10T Dozer in an epic tug of war.

A native of Iceland who won Europe’s 2015 Strongest Man competition, Thor stands 6-feet-9-inches tall, weighs nearly 400 pounds and holds several Guinness World Records for strength. Still, it’s a struggle for him to compete against the 77-ton D10T—until about 250 of his fellow Icelanders and one very determined young girl join him on the rope.

In addition to highlighting Iceland’s strongman culture, which dates back to the time of the Vikings, “Tug of War” showcases Caterpillar’s roots—featuring a machine descended from the track-type tractors that gave the company its name 90 years ago. And it proves we’re serious when we say our products are designed to take on anything, anywhere, anytime.

Watch the video to see the sense of joy and accomplishment Thor and his countrymen and women get from winning the battle against one of the world’s most iconic machines. It’s a reminder that Cat dealers and Cat products always do what it takes to help our customers achieve their own victories.