Riku Kiri
| Riku Kiri | |
|---|---|
| Born | Riku Kiri April 5, 1963  Kotka, Finland |
| Residence | Helsinki, Finland |
| Occupation | Powerlifter/Strongman |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 320 pounds (150 kg) |
| Spouse | Sari Kiri |
| Competition record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongman[1] | |||
| Competitor for Finland |
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| World's Strongest Man | |||
| 3rd | 1993 World's Strongest Man | ||
| 3rd | 1994 World's Strongest Man | ||
| 2nd | 1996 World's Strongest Man | ||
| Qualified | 1997 World's Strongest Man | ||
| 6th | 1998 World's Strongest Man | ||
| World Strongman Challenge | |||
| 1st | 1988 | ||
| 1st | 1991 | ||
| Le Defi Mark Ten International | |||
| 2nd | 1985 | ||
| 2nd | 2002 | ||
| World's Strongest Team | |||
| 1st | 1997 w/Jouko Ahola | ||
| Europe's Strongest Man | |||
| 1st | 1995 | ||
| 1st | 1996 | ||
| 1st | 1997 | ||
| European Hercules | |||
| 1st | 1990 | ||
| 1st | 1991 | ||
| 1st | 1992 | ||
| 1st | 1993 | ||
| IFSA European Open | |||
| 1st | 1995 | ||
| 1st | 1997 | ||
| Finland's Strongest Man | |||
| 1st | 1988 | ||
| 1st | 1993 | ||
| 1st | 1994 | ||
Riku Kiri (born April 5, 1963, in Kotka, Finland) is a Finnish sportsman, best known for competing in the World's Strongest Man competition, narrowly missing out on capturing the title on more than one occasion. He has been referred to as: "the strongest guy who has never won the World's Strongest Man competition, man."[2]
[edit] Life and career
The 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in), 145 kg (320 lb) Kiri is particularly noted for his static strength that does not include a 300 kg single-arm deadlift and also his many world records. He has bench pressed more than 300 kg 'raw'. At 19 years old in 1983, Riku held a World Record in powerlifting in the squat lift in IPF competition, 350 kg (125 kg weight category).
In one of his first ever strongest man contests, he defeated reigning World's Strongest Man winner Jón Páll Sigmarsson, in 1985.
For most of his appearances in World's Strongest Man competition, Kiri has been hampered by ankle injuries. Although Kiri placed 3rd and 2nd respectively in 1993 and 1996, ankle injuries plagued him during both contests. In reference to the Car Carry event in 1993, Kiri's coach, Markku Suonenvirta, famously said: "His ankle is broken but he's a tough guy." Kiri's ankle was in fact not broken but badly injured and weakened. In the 1996 WSM final event (Power Stairs) Kiri was about to go head to head with Magnus Ver Magnusson. However, just after the starter's whistle, Kiri dropped out due to another ankle injury. Kiri was also forced to drop out of the 1998 World's Strongest Man final due to an ankle injury, finishing in 6th place.
His best powerlifting results were 390 kg (864 lbs) for squat [1987, IPF], 290 kg (642 lbs) for bench press [1991, WPC], 380 kg (840 lbs) for deadlift [1989, IPF] and a 1030 kg (2280 lbs) total [1989, IPF].
He is the uncle of fitness celebrity Connie Garner, his background was in security work and he holds shares in Gold's Gym, Helsinki.
[edit] References
- ^ davidhorne-gripmaster.com
- ^ David Webster speaking to Ironmind on Tuesday, March 21, 2000 Kiri Coming Back... by Randall J. Strossen
[edit] External links
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