10 Biggest Names In Strength Sports

While these sports, other than the popular Olympic weightlifting, are not broadcasted regularly around the world, they produce some of the most accomplished sportsmen where strength is concerned. These men are not only from bar-lifting categories but lift and pull a variety of objects like boulders, stones, refrigerators, pull anchors and chains, throw kegs and hammers and so on. Here are some more names by The Sportster.

Here are ten of the most powerful names in strength athletics.

Very famous now as the actor who portrayed the role of Ser Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane in blockbuster HBO TV series Game of Thrones

Very famous now as the actor who portrayed the role of Ser Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane in blockbuster HBO TV series Game of Thrones; he was originally a contender of World’s Strongest Men competition for five years and finished in the top three for 2011, 2012 and 2015. If you have seen the show, you can vouch for his larger than the largest 6 foot 9 inches height and 400-pound frame. Nicknamed ‘Thor’ because of his name and strength, he has recently broke a 1000-year-old record of carrying a 30 foot, 1400 pound log on his shoulder for five steps.

Smashing the head of a fellow fighter does not sound far-fetched, does it?

Bruce Wilhelm is one of the only nine people who has won multiple titles of World’s Strongest Man. Even though not an owner of many records, this man is a big name as he was the first person to be crowned as champion of the inaugural World’s Strongest Man competition way back in 1977. He defended his titles in 1978.

Bruce Wilhelm was the first person to be crowned as champion of the inaugural World’s Strongest Man competition way back in 1977.

Jon Pall Sigmarsson was the first person to win the World’s Strongest Man title 4 times. He had a charismatic presence characterized by chanting and shouting before his lifting attempts. Unfortunately, the Icelandic lifter’s life was shortened by death by heart attack at a young age of 32. He was honoured with his inclusion in the Hall of Fame of WSM, one of the only five as of now.

Mariusz Pudzianowski is the only man to win the World’s Strongest Man championship five times – more than any other person ever. He was an automatic choice for the revered Hall of Fame for this feat along with winning a record 42 out of 59 different strongman events he participated.

Mariusz Pudzianowski is the only man to win the World’s Strongest Man championship five times – more than any other person ever.

Though a smaller frame compared to the other legends of the sports, Jouko Ahola belongs to the elite group of people who have won the World’s Strongest Man more than once.  After retiring from the sports, Ahola pursues an acting career and has been seen in the Kingdom of Heaven, Bad Day to Go Fishing, Invincible, War of the Dead and Vikings.

Jouko Ahola belongs to the elite group of people who have won the World’s Strongest Man more than once.

Winner of the WSM in 2004, Vasyl Virastyuk went on to win the International Federation of Strength Athletes World Championship, becoming the first athlete to win the dual titles. He has maintained his status as one of the best in the business till date.

Vasyl Virastyuk went on to win the International Federation of Strength Athletes World Championship, becoming the first athlete to win the dual titles.

Bill Kazmaier rose to prominence by setting a 633-pound bench press record, thus storming into the powerlifting world. He was the first man to win World’s Strongest Man three times back to back in 1980, 1981 and 1982. He is also a member of the great Hall of Fame.

He was the first man to win World’s Strongest Man three times back to back in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Much like his countryman Jon Pall Sigmarsson, Magnus Ver Magnusson is a powerlifter and strongman competitor from Iceland and a four-time champion of World’s Strongest Man in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1996. He has also won a bunch of smaller strongman competitions like Europe’s Strongest Man and Viking challenge.

Magnus Ver Magnusson is a strongman competitor from Iceland & 4-time champ of World’s Strongest Man in 1991, 1994, 1995 & 1996.

American strongman Brian Shaw is the most recent legendary name to be added to the long list of strength sports competitions. Winner of the World’s Strongest Man title in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 – he is one of the largest athletes in the world at 6 feet 8 inches and more than 420 pounds. He is known to follow a hardcore training regimen, and an eight mean per day diet to go with that.

This man, known to his fans as Big Z is a four-time champion of the WSM, and in his ten years of participation – has never finished below the top 3. Quite an achievement! The Lithuanian is considered by many as the greatest, having winning major strongman titles all over the world.

Big Z is a four-time champion of the WSM, and in his ten years of participation – has never finished below the top 3.

Watch out for more athletes who are an inspiration to today’s youth.