World's Strongest Man: Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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Note: Tyler Mcferry, the weakest man on earth was beat up by Cameron Sweeny |
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===1970s–1980s=== |
===1970s–1980s=== |
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Revision as of 18:31, 14 January 2013
| 2012 | |
| File:WSMlogo.gif The official logo of World's Strongest Man | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | varies; 2012 competition held in Los Angeles, California |
| Established | 1977 |
| Format | Multi-event competition |
| Current champion | |
 Žydrūnas Savickas[1] | |
The World's Strongest Man is an event in strength athletics[2] which has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman.[3][4] Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year.[5] Competitors qualify based on top placings at the World's Strongest Man Super Series events or are invited based on a top placing in selected national or international competitions. Thirty contestants take part across five heats; the top two in each go through to the ten-man final.
The current event sponsor is Met-rx, other past sponsors include Tonka and PartyPoker.com. The event has a number of rival and parallel competitions with which it is often confused including the Strongman Super Series (producing the World Champion), the now defunct IFSA Strongman World Championships (run from 2005-2007 after the International Federation of Strength Athletes parted company with WSM in 2004), Giants Live and Strongman Champions League. However, these are separate competitions.
History
Note: Tyler Mcferry, the weakest man on earth was beat up by Cameron Sweeny
1970s–1980s
The concept behind "The World's Strongest Men", as it was originally named, was developed in 1977 for CBS by Langstar Inc. David Webster, a Scot who later received an OBE for his services to sport, was the head coordinator of the competition from its inception. Dr Douglas Edmunds, seven-times Scottish shot and discus champion and twice world caber champion[6] worked with Webster and when David Webster retired from his position Edmunds took over. These two men were responsible for inviting the competitors and choosing the events. In the meantime, in 1982, CBS sold the rights to the BBC, who in turn sold the rights to TWI. In 1987, the WSM was not held for the only time since its inception. In that year the first and only non-team Pure Strength competition was held but it was not part of the WSM franchise.
1990s–2000s
In 1995, Edmunds and Webster, along with representatives from the competitors including Jamie Reeves, Ilkka Kinnunen and Marcel Mostert formed a governing body called the International Federation of Strength Athletes ("IFSA"). The IFSA began organizing its own bespoke events, such as the IFSA European Championships but also took the lead in working with BBC and TWI to organize the World's Strongest Man competition. For almost a decade the IFSA and WSM were inextricably mixed, but this changed in 2004. The InvestGroup Ventures' sports rights management arm, InvestGroup Sports Management, invested heavily into IFSA and this led to the creation of IFSA Strongman. The strategy was to acquire most of the international assets and properties relating to the strongman sport. In essence this was a new organisation[7] with some, such as Magnus Samuelsson describing it as "a new company...with the same name as our old federation".[8] The attempt at dominance was not well received by TWI and disagreement ensued leading to a split in the sport. Previously, in 2001, the IFSA in its former guise had entered an agreement with World Class Events (WCE), headed by Ulf Bengtsson, to run the Super Series. This Super Series was designed to award the World Championship title, but also acted as a qualifying vehicle for the WSM. When strongman split in 2004, the Super Series sided with TWI forming a rival federation to the IFSA.[7] With the WSM being a TWI owned event, IFSA Holdings announced its own world championships for 2005, to be held in Quebec, and thus from that point had no involvement in the WSM contest.
The split with IFSA, which banned its registered athletes from competing at WSM, meant that not all the recognised best strength athletes in the world were eligible to compete. However, the reputation of WSM as the premier event maintained its lure for broadcasting purposes. In recent years, the competition has been broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and Five. The longevity of the contest in strength athletics and its high levels of TV exposure over the years has led to it being described as "the granddaddy of all strongman contests".[7] The contest has been criticised in recent years for its slant towards athleticism away from raw strength, with other contests whose emphasis is on the latter, such as the Arnold Strongman Classic or Fortissimus, being cited as producing the true strongest man in the world. However, it is routinely described as "the Worlds" by top strongman competitors[7] and despite the critics, it is the leading brand name in the field. No other strongman contest commands close to the WSM's levels of TV exposure.[7]
The 2006 competition ended in dramatic fashion, with Phil Pfister edging out Mariusz Pudzianowski in the final event, the Atlas stones. Pfister became the first American to win the event since 1982, and the only American to win the event outside the USA.
In 2008, local debutant Derek Poundstone had a large lead over Mariusz Pudzianowski after 3 events but Pudzianowski tied the deadlift event for first place and then won the crucial plane-pull to narrow the gap. Pudzianowski and Poundstone then battled for the title of World's Strongest Man in the last event, the Atlas Stones. Pudzianowski blistered through the event and was able to keep pace with the taller and heavier Poundstone. On the final stone, Pudzianowski was able to capitalize on Poundstone's drop and clinched his fifth title.
Competition format and commonly contested events
Initially, eight men representing various sports and strength disciplines were invited to compete against each other in unique events designed to test each individual to the fullest extent. The earliest events were relatively crude, but new ideas were introduced over the years. Some events had a basis in both powerlifting and Highland Games heavy events, and others were created based on mythological feats of strength. There are a number of events that make up each competition. The events used in each individual contest vary in order to prevent favoring certain types of competitor.
- Loading Race – Five heavy objects weighing between 220–360 lbs (100–164 kg) are loaded onto a truck bed or a similar platform over a course of about 50 ft.
- McGlashen Stones / Atlas Stones – Five heavy round stones increasing in weight from 220–352 lbs (100–160 kg) are placed on top of five high platforms that make up a 16–33 ft. long course. There are three variations to the Atlas Stones event. In one, the stones are placed directly in front of the platforms and the competitors must simply lift and place them. In another, the stones are placed in a diagonal line, with the first stone being in front of the first platform and each subsequent stone set further back from the course with the heaviest stone being furthest away. The third variation sees the five platforms in a straight vertical line with the stones in front of each, and the competitors must place the stones and then move a short distance to the next one. In recent competitions this is typically the final event.[9]
- Truck / Airplane Pull – Vehicles such as transport trucks, trams, boxcars, buses or planes are pulled across a 100 ft course by hand as fast as possible. Also, the vehicles may be pulled with a harness around the shoulders.[10] The 2007 competition featured pulling a fire truck (possibly a nod to 2006 champion Phil Pfister, a professional firefighter), and the 2008 qualifying rounds featured a coal truck (a reference to the coal mining industry in West Virginia, where the competition was held).[citation needed][original research?]
- Overhead Press – The heaviest possible load is pressed overhead, or a lighter weight is used for repetitions.[11]
- Fingal Fingers – A series of hinged poles ("fingers") are lifted starting from a horizontal resting position and flipped over to the other side. The poles get progressively heavier and longer. The event is scored by time and by how many of the poles a competitor was able to flip over. The event takes its name from Fingal, a mythological Gaelic hunter-warrior.[12]
- Power Stairs – A series of three Duck Walk implements ranging from 400–600 lbs (182–273 kg) are lifted, step by step, to the top of a flight of stairs.
- Squat – Squatting large weights, like 900 lb (409 kg) of bricks, a car, or people on a platform. Recently, an apparatus has been used that drops weighted kegs into a cage, one at a time after each successful lift (the event in this case is scored by weight instead of repetitions). The athlete will continue until completion, failure or time expires.[13]
- Dead Lift – Lifting weights or vehicles up to about 1,100 lb (500 kg) straight off the ground until knees lock in a standing position. Lift is for either maximum weight, maximum repetitions with a fixed weight, or for time whilst holding a single repetition. In recent years, a similar keg-loaded apparatus to that described above for the squat has been used.[14][15]
- Keg Toss – Competitors must throw kegs, of increasing weight, over a 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) high steel wall.
- Car Carry – Competitors stand inside a stripped-down automobile, which is missing some of its roof and all of its bottom and interior, and carry it across a twenty-five meter course. Players are scored by how fast they carried the car across the finish line or how far they were able to get the car before the time-limit expired.
- Hercules Hold – The athlete stands between two hinged pillars, gripping handles that prevent the pillars from falling to the side. The pillars are held for the longest possible time.[16]
- Carry and Drag – An anchor and a chain are carried to the end of a set distance, where they must be attached to each other and then dragged back the same distance.[17]
- Farmer's Walk – Competitors carry heavy objects (usually anvils) weighing from 275-375 lbs (125– 170 kg) in each hand for a set distance, and compete for the fastest time. A variation involves use of a heavy frame with parallel handles, and another involves much heavier weights (referred to as the Giant Farmer's Walk).[18] This event is usually done on the same course as the Carry and Drag is and conducted as a race, but the competition in Sanya, China saw the competitors compete individually carrying the weights up a small set of stairs.
- Yoke Walk / Fridge Carry – A yoke, composed of a crossbar and two weighted uprights (normally refrigerators) weighing about 904 lb is carried across the shoulders for a set distance.[19]
- Husafell Stone – A flat, somewhat triangular rock weighing around 400 lb (182 kg) is carried high on the chest for a set distance. During the three years in which the competition took place in Africa, this event was known as the Africa Stone.[20]
- Duck Walk – A 400 lb (182 kg) pot with a handle is carried, suspended between the legs, over a set course.
- Log Throw / Caber Toss – A five meter long log is thrown for distance or for height over a bar.
- Tug of War – One on one tug of war in a single-elimination tournament.
- Pole Pushing – One on one pole pushing in a Sumo-style ring in a single-elimination tournament. The pole has handles at either end.
- Crucifix – Weights are held straight out at each side for as long a time as possible. A common variation entails weights being held out in front, using either one or both hands.
- Giant Dumbbell Press — Single-handed dumbbells are hoisted from the ground onto the competitor's shoulder, from where, with one hand, he must raise it vertically over his head and lockout his arm. With four weights between 220 to 255 pounds (~100 to 115 kg), scoring is based on time and number of successful lifts.
- Stone Circle - Using his arms, a competitor must move around a circular platform while carrying a basket of heavy stones (the apparatus is held in such a way that the competitor is using his forearms and not his hands).
Official results – top three places
- Notes
- In 1987 the WSM was not held for the only time since its inception. In that year the first and only non-team Pure Strength competition was held. Although it was not part of the WSM franchise, some commentators regard it as a replacement for WSM in that year with Bill Kazmaier, Geoff Capes and Jón Páll Sigmarsson being the entrants who between them won the WSM a total of nine times. Capes was injured during the event, but Jón Páll Sigmarsson was dominant, winning overall. However, this win does not count in his tally.
Championships by country
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
 United States |
8 | 7 | 6 | 21 |
 Iceland |
8 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
 Poland |
5 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
 United Kingdom |
4 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| Lithuania |
3 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
 Finland |
3 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
 Sweden |
1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
 Netherlands |
1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
 Norway |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
 Ukraine |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 Denmark |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
 Canada |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 South Africa |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Austria |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Latvia |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Russia |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Australia, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, France, Germany, Grenada, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Serbia and Samoa have all placed in Top 10 but never won a medal.
Repeat champions
| Champion | Times |
|---|---|
| Mariusz Pudzianowski |
5 |
| Jón Páll Sigmarsson |
4 |
| Magnús Ver Magnússon |
4 |
 Bill Kazmaier |
3 |
| Žydrūnas Savickas |
3 |
| Jouko Ahola |
2 |
| Geoff Capes |
2 |
| Bruce Wilhelm |
2 |
Hall of Fame
The WSM Hall of Fame was created in 2008, to recognize the greatest competitors in the history of the contest.[22] As of 2012, there are 3 members of the WSM Hall of Fame, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Svend Karlsen and Jon Pall Sigmarsson.[22] The official WSM website holds online voting to determine who is elected to the Hall of Fame as voted by the fans.[22]
Hall of Fame Members
See also
References
- ^ a b http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2012/Oct/Zydrunas_Savickas-Worldxs_Strongest_Man_Winner.html
- ^ "Competition History".
- ^ Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D., World’s Strongest Man Update, July 14 2009, IronMind
- ^ samson-power.com/archived_news.htm
- ^ "The Worlds Strongest Man Official Website". Theworldsstrongestman.com. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ The Herald Scotland Bring on the war games DOUG GILLON, Athletics Correspondent, 19 May 2007
- ^ a b c d e IFSA, WCE, TWI, WSM, ESPN: Who's On First and How Do I Get To World's Strongest Man?, by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind, Thursday, February 10, 2005
- ^ Magnus Samelsson Official website
- ^ "McGlashen Stones / Atlas Stones Event".
- ^ "Truck Pull Event".
- ^ "Overhead Press Event".
- ^ "Fingal's Fingers Event".
- ^ "Squat Lift Event".
- ^ "Dead Lift Event".
- ^ "Dead Lift (Reps) Event".
- ^ "Pillars of Hercules Event".
- ^ "Carry and Drag Event".
- ^ "Farmer's Walk Event".
- ^ "Yoke Walk / Fridge Carry Event".
- ^ "Husafell Stone / Africa Stone Event".
- ^ delfi.lt
- ^ a b c "Hall of Fame". The Worlds Strongest Man. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
