Strongman History

Strongman acts have been going on ever since the caveman saw the first rock but some strongman of the past stand out, including Thomas Inch, Bob Peoples, Louis Cyr and Arthur Saxon among many. If you are interested in some of the feats of this old time strongman please vists Here and Here

Strongman really took off with mainstream popularity when the Worlds Strongest Man was establised in 1977 with the first offical WSM being held in Universal Studios, California and was originally an invitation featuring only athletes from USA, varied collection of American football players powerlifters AND olympic lifters where assembled and even the Hulk himself Lou Ferrigno. The First winner was Bruce Wilhelm who came from a weight lifting background he won it again 1978.

Enter Bill Kazmaier from America who dominated for 3 straight years from 1980-1982 raising the bar for those who followed. Proclaimed as the Strongest man who ever lived, he currently held the most WSM titles of any many so far in history although There would be no 4th title for the American in 1983 for the very first time the competition mvoed away from the united states to Christchurch. Kazmaier did not attend.

The winner of 1983 was Englishman Geoff Capes coming 2nd Jon Pall Sigmarsson from Iceland. These two would battle it out for the next 3 years 2 wins going to Sigmarsson in 1984,1986 and one to Capes in 1985. Sigmarsson won his 3rd title in 1988, (no worlds strongestman in 1987). His final title came in 1990 where he managed to win the final event the brick running race against O.D Wilson from America who came dead last. O.D Wilson is known as the strongest man to never win WSM.

There have been many champions in worlds strongest man but others that stand out include Magnus Ver Magnusson again from Iceland who won 4 titles in 1991,1994,1995,1996. The title stayed in scandinavian with Jokuo Ahola winning two titles magnus samuelsson and Svend Karlsen winning a title each. This was until 2002 when a new man hit the scene Marusz Pudzianowski.

Pudzianowski who comes from Polland would go on to be the most sucessful strongman of all time, and is still to this current day although he retired in 2009. Pudzianowski dominated strongman winning 5 titles(only man to do so) in 2002,2003,2005,2007,2008. He would of Won in 2006 but lost from a small mistake on the Atlas Stones head to head against Phil Pfister.

After coming 2nd to Zydrunas Savickas in 2009 Pudzianowski decided to focus his efforts on a fighting Career. Since 2009 Zavickas has defended his title sucessfully in 2010 although there as been a new generation of strongman that are showing massive potential including Brian Shaw(American), Mikhail Koklyaev(Russia) and Terry Hollands(England).