Gary Taylor (strongman)

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Gary Taylor
Personal information
Born (1961-10-14) 14 October 1961 (age 62)
Cardiff, Wales
Occupation(s)Strongman, Olympic Weightlifting, Bodybuilding, Powerlifting
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
ChildrenEvan Taylor
Medal record
Strongman
Representing  United Kingdom
World's Strongest Man
3rd 1991 World's Strongest Man
5th 1992 World's Strongest Man
1st 1993 World's Strongest Man
Qualified 1994 World's Strongest Man
6th 1995 World's Strongest Man
World Muscle Power Championships
3rd 1995
World Strongman Challenge
3rd 1991
3rd 1992
3rd 1994
World's Strongest Team
1st 1995 w/Jamie Reeves &
Forbes Cowan
World Mighty Man
2nd 1992
4th 1993
Representing  Wales
Europe's Strongest Man
1st 1991 tie w/Forbes Cowan
Other Grand Prix & Internationals
2nd Callander Grand Prix (Scotland) 1994
1st Lithuania Grand Prix (IFSA) 1995
2nd Manfred Hoeberl Classic 1995
Britain's Strongest Man
1st 1991
3rd 1997
British Muscle Power Championship
1st 1995
Wales' Strongest Man
1st 1989
1st 1990
1st 1991
1st 1992
1st 1993
1st 1994
1st 1995
1st 1996
1st 1997
Men's Weightlifting
Representing  United Kingdom
World Weightlifting Championships
Silver medal – second place 1984 Los Angeles 110 kg snatch

Gary Taylor (born 14 October 1961) is a Welsh former world's strongest man champion (1993). Competing in bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and strongman.

Strength sports[edit]

A former weightlifter, powerlifter, and bodybuilder, Taylor competed at 6" (183 cm) and approximately 295 lbs (134 kg) during his strongman career.[1] He competed in weightlifting at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, taking second in the snatch in the 110 kg class.[2]

Gary is best known for winning the 1993 World's Strongest Man contest in Orange, France.[1] He also finished 3rd in 1991, 5th in 1992, and 6th in 1995.[1]

Taylor was extraordinarily strong on the Behind-The-Neck push press. At Brian Batcheldor's Strength Seminar in Birmingham in 1995, he performed an incredible Behind-The-Neck push press of 272.5 kg (600.75 lb) (judged by David Webster, the organizer of the World's Strongest Man competitions).

Gary suffered a career-ending knee injury during the tire flip event at the 1997 Europe's Strongest Man contest. The injury was so severe that it forced Gary to retire from strongman competition permanently.

Personal Records[edit]

  • Bench Press – 235 kg (518 lb) raw.
  • Squat – 405 kg (892 lb)
  • Deadlift – 357 kg (786 lb) raw, no wrist straps.
  • Behind-the-Neck Push Press – 210 kg (462 lb) winning lift at 1995 World's Strongest Man Final
  • Behind-the-Neck Push Press – 267.5 kg 1994

Retirement/later years[edit]

Taylor, now retired from competition, worked for the Control & Restraint team with Aylesbury Young Offenders Institute, a prison for Category A (highest and most considered dangerous), as well as being the Senior Gym Officer and rugby coach for Ampthill youth rugby team. He moved to Littlehey Prison Cat-C/YOI as a Security Governor. Gary currently does commentating and event organizing for the annual UK's Strongest Man contest.

World's Strongest Man results[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Gary Taylor". strongestman.billhenderson.org.
  2. ^ Olympic results Archived 14 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine