For centuries strongmen have been entertaining crowds by their demonstrations of strength. Many strongmen relied on unique acts that would set them apart from other strongmen and usually claimed they were the only one in the world to perform such a feat. This list includes 10 of the most amazing and unique acts performed by the strongmen of yesteryear.
Stan Efferding, IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and the Strongest Bodybuilder of all time takes us on his quest for a 2,300lb total in powerlifting. Stan already owns a 2,226lb total world record set in 2011. Remember, this was a RAW competition. No suits, no bench shirts, no wraps, straps, baps... Watch as Stan does some quick squat work and gives us some insight into his training for an unheard of record!
Now in its 35th year, the event, which is also owned and operated by IMG, is being held from 24 September-01 October 2012 in Los Angeles, at the Commerce Casino, with additional venues in and around Los Angeles, where the event first started in 1977. Qualifying rounds are being held from 24-27 September with the final taking place over two days from 30 September.
The biggest American Strongman show of the year returns to the Olympia in September.
The America’s Strongest Man® contest previously scheduled for Reno, Nevada on August 25th & 26th, has been rescheduled for September 28th & 29th at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Mr. Olympia Weekend. “We are excited to bring ASM back to the Olympia,” said ASC President Dione Wessels, “the fan base during the weekend is always overwhelming. We look forward to introducing new events and to a great weekend of top notch performances.”
Defending 77-kilo Olympic Gold Medalist South Korean Sa Jae Hyouk was injured today during a 2nd round Snatch attempt. In the video his pull is perfect (162k or 357lbs) and as he settles the weight into the locked position at the bottom, his right elbow appears to dislocate, sending the lifter to the floor in pain. He was fortunate enough to push past the bar as he came forward on the platform and the weight landing behind him.
Derek Anthony Poundstone was born into a military family at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho in 1981 and lived the first ten years of his life in Spain and Italy before the family settled in Rapid City, South Dakota. It was there that he joined the local YMCA and began his lifelong passion for lifting weights. After moving to Waterbury in 1999, he caught the attention of a local power lifting champion, who encouraged him to enter his first Powerlifting contest, which he won. In 2004, while training to enter his first Strongman competition, he became a Naugatuck police officer. He entered his first professional Strongman competition later that year and has become the most decorated American Strongman in the last four decades, winning five major Strongman titles, while serving with the Naugatuck police department.
Poundstone was named America’s Strongest Man three times. He won the Strong Man Super Series three times and the Giants Live and the Arnold Strongman Classic titles twice. In 2007 he ranked 4th in the IFSA Stongman World Championship and third in the IFSA 2-Man Team World Championship. He won the Fortissimus title in 2008 and has ranked in the World’s Strongest Man competition four times. Of the twenty-six competitions he has entered, he has finished in the top three an amazing twenty-one times.
When not spending his time in the pool, US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte credits a technique called Strongman training with helping him bring home gold at this year's games.
Heralded as the man to beat, Lochte earned the first medal for the US in London but faltered in two performances, including losing a lead to France's Yannick Agnel in the 400-meter relay, costing the US team the gold. But his strongest events are forthcoming, and Lochte is definitely one to watch.
Om, who stands just 5-feet tall and weighs only 123 pounds, won a gold medal in the men's 56-kilogram category thanks in large part to clearing an Olympic record 168 kilograms (370.4 pounds) in the clean and jerk. In the process, he joined the likes of world record holder Halil Mutlu and Naim Suleymanoglu of Turkey in an exclusive group of weightlifters who have lifted three times their body weight.
Asked how a man so small could lift a weight so big, Om credited the "Great Leader" as North Korean athletes often do after great achievements.
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