Brian Shaw (strongman)
Brian Shaw | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Brian Shaw February 26, 1982 |
| Occupation | Strongman |
| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Strongman | ||
Representing  United States
| ||
| World's Strongest Man | ||
| Qualified | 2008 World's Strongest Man | |
| 3rd | 2009 World's Strongest Man | |
| 2nd | 2010 World's Strongest Man | |
| 1st | 2011 World's Strongest Man | |
| Arnold Strongman Classic | ||
| 1st | 2011 | |
| Strongman Super Series | ||
| 1st | 2009 Los Angeles Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 2009 Gothenburg Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 2009 Overall Champion | |
| 2nd | 2010 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 2010 Viking Power Challenge | |
| 1st | 2010 Swedish Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 2010 Overall Champion | |
| Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic | ||
| 1st | 2010 | |
| 1st | 2011 | |
| Fortissimus | ||
| 3rd | 2009 | |
| Giants Live | ||
| 3rd | 2009 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 2010 South Africa | |
| 2nd | 2010 Istanbul | |
| 1st | 2011 London | |
| North America's Strongest Man | ||
| 2nd | 2007 | |
| All-American Strongman Challenge | ||
| 1st | 2009 | |
Brian Shaw (born Friday, February 26, 1982)[3] is an American professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 World's Strongest Man competition.[4]
Early life
Brian Shaw was born in Fort Lupton, Colorado to Jay and Bonnie Shaw.[2] Both his parents were taller than average, his father standing at 6 feet (1.83 m) and his mother 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m). However, it has been noted that he did have uncles of exceptional stature.[2]
At Fort Lupton High School Shaw excelled in basketball.[citation needed] Upon graduating, he was 240 pounds.[citation needed] He then attended Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado.[5] There he was able to form an inside combination with current Northwestern State Assistant Coach Bob Austin. Shaw was one of the team leaders for the Rattlers in his sophomore season. Following Otero he went to Black Hills State University where he was on a full basketball scholarship[1] and received a degree in wellness management.[2] During his basketball career he was "hooked on the weights," and Shaw has said that the weight room is his sanctuary. In addition to huge hands and size-16 feet he was also a naturally very powerful person. In his own words "I've always been able to do this. The biggest tire, the heaviest stone . . . I've always been able to walk up and lift it. Odd strength is what it is, not weight-room strength. It's brute strength, brute power."[2]
Career
Shaw began his career as a strongman with a win when he entered the Denver Strongest Man contest in October 2005. He had entered with no formal training. Just seven months later in June 2006 he joined the professional ranks and his successes continued.[2]
In 2009 he entered Fortissimus, otherwise known as the Strongest Man on Earth competition, in Canada where he came third and was the only man to lift six Atlas stones — weighing from 300 to 425 pounds. He then competed in Romania in the World Strongman Super Series. In September he travelled to his second World's Strongest Man contest in Valletta. There he was grouped in what was termed the "group of death" not least because of his presence in it. Alongside him in this group was Zydrunas Savickas who went on to win the title. Although Savickas won the group he and Shaw were separated by just two points. In the final Shaw went on to attain a podium finish, something Randell Strossen of Ironmind has predicted would happen when he said "he has to be considered a favorite for a podium position. If he can stay healthy, there's no end to what he could do. He's got these gifts. He's the total package."[2]
Shaw qualified for the finals at the 2010 World's Strongest Man in Sun City, South Africa in September 2010. He was tied for the lead at the end of the finals with Zydrunas Savickas and lost by countback, a system of scoring based on how the athletes placed in each event throughout the finals. Savickas had higher overall placings (3 first places out of 6 events) than Shaw (2 first places out of 6 events) and won the 2010 title.
Shaw competed against Savickas again in October 2010 at the Giants Live Istanbul contest. Shaw again finished second behind Savickas.[6]
Shaw won the inaugural Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic on Nov. 21, 2010.[7]
Shaw won the Strongman Super Series Swedish Grand Prix and became the 2010 overall Super Series champion on Dec. 18, 2010.[8] This was Shaw's second consecutive overall Super Series championship.
In 2011, Shaw once again participated in the World's Strongest man competition. Going into the final event, the Atlas Stones, Shaw was tied with two time champion Zydrunas Savickas. Shaw beat Savickas taking 1st place.
Personal life
Shaw is single and will settle down when he finds the perfect woman.[2]
He also is interested in BBCs.
References
- ^ a b c WSM profile
- ^ a b c d e f g h Jim Armstrong, Coloradan eyes coveted title of world's strongest man, 5th July 2009, The Denver Post
- ^ Giants Live Athletes
- ^ http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/uncategorized/2011-worlds-strongest-man-winner/
- ^ Otero Junior College official website - Men's Basketball Moving On
- ^ http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2010/Oct/Giants_Live-Savickas_and_Shahlaei_Attack_the_Apollonxs_Axle.html
- ^ http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2010/Nov/Brian_Shaw_Wins_the_Inaugural_Jon_Pall_Sigmarsson_Classic_Strongman_Contest.html
- ^ http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2010/Dec/Brian_Shaw_Wins_World_Strongman_Super_Series_Swedish_Grand_Prix_and_Overall_Title.html
External links
- Bilger, Burkhard, 23 July 2012. "The Strongest Man in the World". The New Yorker.