Strongman

Strongman is today - borrowed from the English language - common name for strength athletes (older strongman , Strongman , force acrobat , heavy athlete ) who among themselves make in different comparing their physical strength to the test.

Because of the different requirements in different competition disciplines in this sport, as opposed to powerlifting ( powerlifting less), maximum power demand as a rather muscular endurance and conditioning.

Up until the 20th century, demonstrations of strength served primarily to entertain the audience and were mainly used as an attraction at fairs and the like. to marvel at. Little changed with the advent of television . Skillfully staged show performances such as rolling up frying pans, tearing up the telephone book, etc. were sensational crowd pullers, whereby sporting aspects played less of a role. It was only with the start of organized competitions, which were increasingly broadcast on television at the end of the 1970s, that the strongman sport changed in the perception of viewers. Today it has developed into an independent sport in which various competitions are carried out according to fixed rules.

The history of modern strongman sport

The beginnings in the USA

In the mid-1970s, the concept of a competition was developed for American television in which several strength athletes were to compete in different disciplines. Classic weightlifting competitions such as the world championships for professional weightlifters and strength acrobats before the Second World War, in which Milo Barus won the title of world load-carrying champion several times , or the Highland Games served as a model . The disciplines were chosen from the point of view of using as many muscle groups as possible. Various objects had to be carried, lifted, held or pulled by the participants.

1977 this transmission format celebrated under the name of "The World's Strongest Men" ( The strongest men in the world ) at CBS premiere. In the first few years, the original character of such attractions was taken into account by this competition being held mainly in American amusement parks ( Universal Studios Hollywood , Magic Mountain ). The field of participants consisted almost exclusively of local athletes from various “strength-oriented” sports, such as weightlifting , powerlifting , bodybuilding , American football and wrestling . With Bill Kazmaier , who won the competition three times in a row in the early 1980s, the sport of strongman finally had its first star.

Establishment as a recognized sport

In 1982 CBS sold the rights to "The World's Strongest Men" to the sports marketing company Trans World International (TWI), which from then on took care of the organizational matters relating to the competition (selection of athletes, conclusion of television contracts, etc.). The change in the management floor also led to noticeable changes in the broadcast format. Thus, the event, now after its pattern - primarily in Europe - more Strongman competitions were held at the US competing broadcaster ABC from now on under the new name " The World's Strongest Man " ( The most powerful man in the world - in short, WSM) broadcast . The new name was chosen to clarify the claim to the only legitimate determination of the world's strongest athlete. Another change concerned the location of the strongman competition. In 1983 the competition was held outside the USA for the first time ( Christchurch / New Zealand ). The field of participants in this unofficial world championship was also characterized by international competition this time. With the Briton Geoff Capes, for the first time, the winner did not come from the United States. In this tournament finished with the Icelander Jón Páll Sigmarsson an athlete second place, that of the "strongest man in the world" could and in the next few years the crown four times in total Place became the successor Kazmaiers.

In the following years the number of competitions increased further. Strongman decisions were also broadcast more and more often on television. The introduction of new disciplines also provided variety and led to an increase in audience interest. More and more athletes, mostly weightlifters and powerlifters, started the more lucrative strongman sport. In the early 1990s there was a scene of professional strength athletes who exclusively practiced this sport. The power density increased. The competition for the strongest man in the world was again shaped by an Icelander during this period. The former powerlifter Magnús Ver Magnússon was also able to win the “World's Strongest Man” four times - in the years 1994 to 1996 he managed a hat trick like Kazmeier fourteen years earlier .

In 1995 the umbrella organization for international strongmen was founded under the name IFSA Holdings Limited (International Federation of Strength Athletes). a. from then on acted as co-host of the WSM competition.

At the beginning of the 21st century, there was a clear shift in the balance of power in strongman sport. Whereas previously mainly athletes from Northern Europe were successful, more and more Eastern European athletes have now been able to celebrate successes. In the WSM competition, too, with the victory of the Norwegian Svend Karlsen, the title went to a northern European country for the last time in 2001. Since then, athletes from Poland and the former Soviet republics in particular have caused a sensation. Mariusz Pudzianowski caused a sensation, with five WSM victories in terms of number of titles to catch up with the two previous record holders Sigmarsson and Magnússon.

Reorganization of the strongman sport

In 2001, on the initiative of IFSA and the Swedish marketing agency World Class Events (WCE), various strongman competitions were merged into the "IFSA Strongman Super Series". The aim was to increase the commercialization of the sport by establishing a series of tournaments based on the model in golf or tennis . Points were awarded in the individual competitions according to a fixed system depending on the placement. The participant with the highest points after completing this Grand Prix series was named "IFSA World Champion". At the same time, the title of the World's Strongest Man continued to be awarded in the form of an individual competition. The field of participants in both competitions was almost identical.

Division of the international strongman scene

With the transformation of the former world association IFSA into society (IFSA Strongman Limited) in 2004, a new era began in strongman sport. Immediately after its re-establishment, the IFSA announced the introduction of an official world championship. The "IFSA Strongman World Championship", which was proclaimed as a counter-event to The World's Strongest Man , was henceforth also held annually.

The agency World Class Events as co-host and rights holder of the Strongman Super Series , however, concluded a cooperation agreement with the WSM organizer Trans World International . As a result of this agreement, the previous Grand Prix series was continued under the new name "WSM Super Series" as a qualification for the WSM competition. The athlete with the most qualification points received the title of "WSM Super Series World Champion".

Analogous to the WSM tournament series, the so-called “IFSA Strongman Champions League” has been functioning at IFSA since 2008 as a qualifying tournament for the IFSA World Championship . Both tournament series have their own national associations and athletes and compete for top sporting position in international business. Mariusz Pudzianowski, the last "absolute world champion", remained loyal to the WSM events even after the split in the strongman scene and was able to continue his triumphant advance in recent years. Other actors, however, followed the IFSA and took part in its competitions from then on. In the first few years, the Lithuanian Žydrūnas Savickas was able to celebrate great successes there, including that of the IFSA world champion in 2005 and 2006. Thus "The Big Z" also advanced to Pudzianowski's great competitor for the fictional title of the "true World's Strongest Man" .

Logo of the WSMC Federation

The question of the strongest man in the world

In addition to the WSM Super Series and the IFSA Strongman Champions League , the “World Strongman Cup” organized by the Austrian World Strongman Cup Federation (WSMCFederation) was another international tournament series launched. Although both WSM and IFSA athletes are eligible to start on the part of the organizer, the IFSA repeatedly forbade their athletes from participating in the WSMC events. But also on the part of the WSMC Federation or the WSM organizers, cooperation with the IFSA was partially rejected. The resulting strict separation of the strongman tournament series ultimately led to a loss of prestige for the IFSA World Championship and the World's Strongest Man , as the field of participants in both competitions did not embody the entire world elite in strongman sport. Only the Arnold Strongman Classic has seen an image gain since then. The Grand Prix event, which has been held since 2002 as part of the annual Arnold Sports Festival (until 2005 Arnold Fitness Weekend ), has seen a significant upgrade since 2005, when from then on it was the only event at which both IFSA - as well as WSM athletes were allowed to participate. So far, the IFSA strength athletes have been able to keep the upper hand in direct comparison with the competition. The dominant athlete at this event is Žydrūnas Savickas, who dominated the competition even before the strongman scene was split up and since 2003 has put the competition in its place six times in a row. In 2006, Pudzianowski was able to achieve his best position so far at the Arnold Strongman Classic with a third place.

Overview of the previous strongman world champions

1977-2000

year	The World's Strongest Man
1977	Bruce Wilhelm
1978	Bruce Wilhelm
1979	Don Reinhoudt
1980	Bill Kazmaier
1981	Bill Kazmaier
1982	Bill Kazmaier
1983	Geoff Capes
1984	Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1985	Geoff Capes
1986	Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1987	not done
1988	Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1989	Jamie Reeves
1990	Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1991	Magnús Ver Magnússon
1992	Ted van der Parre
1993	Gary Taylor
1994	Magnús Ver Magnússon
1995	Magnús Ver Magnússon
1996	Magnús Ver Magnússon
1997	Jouko Ahola
1998	Magnus Samuelsson
1999	Jouko Ahola
2000	Janne Virtanen

Since 2001

year	The World's Strongest Man	IFSA World Champion (IFSA Strongman Super Series)
2001	Svend Karlsen	Magnus Samuelsson
2002	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Hugo Girard
2003	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Mariusz Pudzianowski
2004	Vasyl Virastyuk
		WSM Super Series World Champion (WSM Super Series)	IFSA Strongman World Champion
2005	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Žydrūnas Savickas
2006	Phil Pfister	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Žydrūnas Savickas
2007	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Vasyl Virastyuk
			IFSA Strongman Champions League
2008	Mariusz Pudzianowski	Derek Poundstone	Žydrūnas Savickas
2009	Žydrūnas Savickas	Brian Shaw	Andrus Murumets
2010	Žydrūnas Savickas	Brian Shaw	Terry Hollands
2011	Brian Shaw	-	Ervin Katona
2012	Žydrūnas Savickas	-	Žydrūnas Savickas
2013	Brian Shaw	-	Krzysztof Radzikowski
2014	Žydrūnas Savickas	-	Martin Wildauer
2015	Brian Shaw	-	Krzysztof Radzikowski
2016	Brian Shaw	-	Dainis Zageris
2017	Eddie Hall	-	Matjaz Belsak
2018	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson	-	Dainis Zageris
2019	Martins Licis	-	Aivars Smaukstelis

Source: The World's Stronges Man Archive and strongmancl.com Results Rankings

Previous participant in Strongman World Championships

Jouko Ahola Bill Anderson Patrik Baboumian Jamie Barr Gerrit Badenhorst Matjaz Belsak Bryan Benzel Ralf Ber Raimonds Bergmanis Jason Bergmann Nick Best Adam Bishop Keith Bishop Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Jerry Blackwell Anton Boucher Derek Boyer Rick "Grizzly" Brown Ross Browner Jean-Pierre Brulois Peter de Bruyn Mike Burke Geoff Capes Jean-François Caron Jon Cole Wayne Coleman ( "Superstar" Billy Graham ) Harold Collins Franco Columbu Forbes Cowan Mike Dayton Cleve Dean Adam Derks Rob Dixon Boris Djerassi Hubert Dörer Geoff Dolan Bishop Dolegiewicz Joe Dube Bill Dunn Gerard Du Prie Jarek Dymek Gregor Edmunds Johan Els Roger Ekstrom Gregg Ernst László Fekete Mark Felix Lou Ferrigno Dominic Filiou Martin Forsmark George Frenn Allen Gallberg John Gamble Hugo Girard Raffael Gordzielik Yngve Gustavsson Ernie Hackett Eddie Hall Jerry Hannan Johnny Hansson

Arild Haugen George Hechter Lars Hedlund Graham Hicks Manfred Höberl Terry Hollands Jim Hough Tobias Ide Konstantine Janashia Louis-Philippe Jean Mike Jenkins Dave Johns Svend Karlsen Ervin Katona Bill Kazmaier Rob Kearney Rongo Keene Doyle Kenady Bernd Kerschbaumer Larry Kidney Mateusz Kieliszkowski Ilkka Kinnunen Riku Kiri Dennis Kohlruss John Kolb Mikhail Koklyaev Rudolf Küster Vytautas Lalas Martins Licis Tom Magee Benedikt Magnússon Magnús Ver Magnússon Peiman Maheripourehir Dusko Markovic Curt Marsh Phil Martin Jesse Marunde John Matuszak Rene Minkfitz Mikhail Shivlyakov Tarmo Mitt Martin Muhr Kevin Nah Elbrus Nigmatullin Ilkka Nummisto Robert Colonel Pius Ochieng Jorma Ojanaho Chris Okonkwo Torfi Ólafsson Brian Oldfield Heinz Ollesch Joe Onosai Travis Ortmayer Dave Ostlund Ken Patera Jessen Paulin James Perry Johnny Perry Stefán Sölvi Pétursson Phil Pfister

Mark Philippi Stago Piczko Durwin Piper Don Pope Daniel Poulin Derek Poundstone Wayne Price Jerry Pritchett Mariusz Pudzianowski Ivan Putski Joe Quigley Krzysztof Radzikowski Michael Rammelsberger Juha Rasanen Flemming Rasmussen Henrik Ravn Andrew Raynes Jamie Reeves Don Reinhoudt Gus Rethwisch Magnus Samuelsson Dimitar Savatinov Žydrūnas Savickas Laurence Shahlaei Brian Shaw Jón Páll Sigmarsson Aivars Smaukstelis Adrian Smith Paul Smith Luke Stoltman Tom Stoltman Markku Suonenvirta Grzegorz Szymański Gary Taylor Henning Thorsen Slawek Toczek Florian Trimpl Aap Uspenski Regin Vagadal Tjalling Van Den Bosch Ted Van Der Parre Marko Varalahti Berend Veneberg Raivis Vidzis Vasyl Virastyuk Janne Virtanen Cees de Vreugd Dave Waddington Klaus Wallas Sebastian Wenta Martin Wildauer Bruce Wilhelm OD Wilson From Wolders Craig Wolfley Jack Wright Simon Wulfse Bob Young Joe Zaliezniak Wout Zijlstra

Well-known strength athletes of the past

• Paul Edward Anderson
• The Great Antonio
• Charles Atlas
• Milo Barus , world champion from 1930 to 1935
• Louis Cyr
• Hermann Goerner
• Angus Graham
• John Green
• Georg Hackenschmidt
• Georg Lurich
• Angus MacAskill
• Grutte Pier
• Ivan Poddubniy
• Eugen Sandow
• Arthur Saxon
• Hans Steyrer
• Koca Yusuf
• Alexander Zass

Strongman disciplines

Farmer's Walk

Stone to shoulder

Stone to shoulder: natural stone weighing 165 kg

• Bavarian Stone Lift

The athlete sits on a platform in which there is a weight with a handle. Similar to the deadlift , the weight must be pulled out as far as possible.

• Car flip

A car must be made to roll over to the side using physical strength until it is back in its starting position. A handle bar is usually attached to the side skirts. The fastest athlete wins.

In a modified version of the car flip, the athlete has to cover a distance on which there are several cars in a row. The vehicles that are at right angles to the route must be "put on their side". The athlete who covers the distance in the shortest time wins. Even if the goal is not reached and the same number of knocked over cars, the fastest time is decisive.

• Carry and drag

First, an object must be carried a certain distance, then another object is dragged. The fastest athlete wins. The type of objects is different, for example a carriage or sled can be loaded with one or more objects in order to then be pulled to the destination. Other disciplines such as Farmer's Walk and Truck Pull can also be combined with one another.

• Carwalk

The athlete stands inside a body shell of a car and has to carry it over a certain distance by means of a shoulder strap attached to it. The athlete who covers the distance in the shortest time wins. If the goal is not reached, the longer route is decisive.

see also Yoke Race

• Conan Wheel

The athlete must lift a weight and transport it as far as possible (without putting it down). To do this, he uses a rod as a lever that is attached to this weight and rotatably mounted, similar to the pointer of a clock. For reasons of effectiveness, the rod is touched at its extreme end. The winner is the athlete who has covered the longest distance on the resulting circular path without stopping. The result is measured in degrees.

• Deadlift

When Deadlift (dt. Deadlifts ) must be the athlete with a barbell, which he holds in his hands, straighten up. In the final position, both the back and the legs must be straight and the shoulders pointing backwards.

In contrast to powerlifting , dumbbell bars with a larger diameter are often used in strongman competition. In some competitions, a car has to be lifted at the rear instead of a dumbbell. For this purpose, handles are attached to the vehicle, similar to the Wheel Barrow.

There are several variants for the deadlift. In one embodiment, the weight is only lifted once and then held in the end position for as long as possible. In another variant, the weight must be lifted as often as possible in a given time. But there is also the version in which the athlete who has brought the highest weight to the high distance (as in powerlifting) wins.

• Duckwalk

The athlete must cover a specified distance with a weight. He has to lift the weight slightly with both hands , similar to the Bavarian Stone Lift . The athlete who completed the route in the shortest time wins. If the destination is not reached, the length of the route is decisive.

• Farmer's Walk

The athlete holds a weight in each hand (usually in the form of a suitcase). With this weight, which is carried on the side of the body, the athlete has to cover a certain distance. The fastest athlete wins. If the goal is not reached, the longer route is decisive.

• Fingal Fingers

Lying pipes or masts must be erected and knocked over by the athlete. One end of the tube or mast is locked in a moveable manner, similar to a barrier. The whole thing can also be compared to putting up a telephone pole.

• Front hold

Before the start of the discipline, the athlete lifts a weight (dumbbell, ax, crate of drinks, etc.) with his hands. Then he has to stand upright with his arms stretched and held in front of his body at shoulder height. The athlete who can hold this position the longest wins.

• Hand over hand

This discipline is very similar to the traditional tug of war . The rope is attached to a moving object (usually a truck) that the athlete has to pull towards him over a predetermined distance. The athlete who completed the route in the shortest time wins. If the destination is not reached, the length of the route is decisive.

• Hercules Hold

Similar to side hold , the athlete stands between two objects and holds a rope (handle) in each hand. These ropes have a constant tensile force applied to them, which is usually achieved by two cars attached to them standing on a sloping ramp. The athlete who can hold the grip the longest wins.

• Log lift

As a rule, a tree trunk weighed down with weight plates, in which special handles are incorporated, must be brought to the high distance, similar to weightlifting (pushing). An attempt is valid if the arms are in the extended position. Log lift can be carried out in several variants. For example, several logs of different weights must be lifted as quickly as possible.

In another variant, a single trunk has to be moved and ejected as often as possible in a given time. The rules differ from competition to competition. At some events, both the successful attempts at (trunk) transfer to the breast and the "pure" ejection of the trunk are assessed separately.

• Powerstairs

Each athlete must place three weights at the foot of the stairs on a podium that is climbed by stairs. As a rule, the weights are of different weights. The athlete who has transported the three weights to the podium in the shortest possible time wins. If the goal is not reached and the same number of weights is overcome, the number of steps taken with the weight not overcome is decisive.

• Side hold

Before the start of the discipline, the athlete lifts two weights with his hands. Then he has to stand upright and extend his arms to the sides of the body. The arms must be in line with the shoulders, both from above and from the front. Whoever can hold this position the longest wins.

• Stones of strength

Usually 5 stone balls with different weights (mostly between 100 kg and 200 kg) each have to be placed on a pedestal. The athlete starts with the lightest ball. He may only try his hand at the next heavier ball if he has successfully placed it. In some competitions, the height of the podium decreases as the weight of the balls increases. The athlete who has loaded the most balls wins - with the same number of balls conquered, the fastest wins.

• Truck pull

This discipline is based on the previously widespread activity of towing (towing ships). The athlete carries a harness with which he has to pull a truck over a certain distance. The athlete who completed the route in the shortest time wins. If the destination is not reached, the length of the route is decisive.

• Wheel barrow

A vehicle (e.g. a car) must be pushed over a predetermined distance like a wheelbarrow. Special handles are attached to the vehicle for this purpose. The athlete who completes the route in the shortest time wins. If the destination is not reached, the length of the route is decisive.

• Wheel flip

A large dumper or wheel loader tire must be set up and knocked over. Either the number of tire overturns or the time the athlete needed for a given number of overturns is evaluated.

In some competitions, the wheel flip is also completed in combination with other disciplines (e.g. Farmer's Walk ).

• Yoke Race

The athlete has to carry a steel frame on his shoulders, which is weighted on each side with weights, over a certain distance. The fastest athlete wins. If the goal is not reached, the longer route is decisive.

See also

• Strongest man in Germany
• World's Strongest Man
• Europe's Strongest Man
• Arnold Strongman Classic

Web links

• Strongman associations
  • The World's Strongest Man
  • WSM Super Series (formerly IFSA Super Series)
  • Homepage of the WSMC Federation
  • Homepage of the International Strongman Association (IFSA)
  • Homepage of the German Strongman Association (GFSA)
  • Homepage of the Austrian Strongman Association (CWA)
  • Homepage of the Swiss Strongman Association
  • Homepage of the Dutch Strongman Association
  • Homepage of the Spanish Strongman Association
  • Homepage of the Baltic Strongman Association
  • Homepage of the American Strongman Association (ASC)
  • Links to the Canadian strongman associations
  • Homepage of the Australian Strongman Association
  • Homepage of the World Natural Strongman Federation (WNSF)

• other web links
  • Information page about the WSM competition
  • Result lists of all WSM competitions. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012 ; Retrieved October 20, 2013 . 
  • Information site about the strongman scene in Austria
  • Sports Illustrated: Titans of Testosterone (Eng.)
  • Result lists of the most important strongman competitions

Individual evidence

1. ^ Uwe Träger, Roland Weise: Milo Barus. The strongest man in the world. Verlag Erhard Lemm, Gera 2017, p. 52
2. ↑ www.secinfo.com (Engl.)
3. ↑ History of the WSM Super Series
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e} World's strongest man archive , accessed October 19, 2014
5. ↑ Terry Hollands is the 2010 SCL Champion
6. ↑ Ervin Katona Wins SCL World Championships
7. ↑ Rankings 2012
8. ↑ Article on lift.net , accessed on October 19, 2014
9. ^ The World's strongest man archive . theworldsstrongestman.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
10. ↑ Results Rankings . strongmancl.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.