World's Strongest Man
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The Met-Rx World's Strongest Man is the best-recognized annual international event in strength athletics. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is held around the end of September each year. 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. Twenty five contestants take part across five heats; the top two in each go through to the final.
Currently, the event sponsor is Met-Rx, and the top prize is known as the Met-Rx Trophy. For many years the competition was dominated by the Nordic countries; however, the early years of the present decade have seen a growth in the number of strongman competitors from eastern Europe.
The World's Strongest Woman contest was held alongside the men's competition starting in 2001. Women compete in the same disciplines as men, but use weights which are significantly lighter
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[edit] History
The concept behind "The World's Strongest Men", as it was originally named, was developed in 1977 for CBS. In 1982, CBS sold the rights to the BBC, who in turn sold the rights to TWI.
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.
[edit] List of champions
[edit] Championships by country
| Country | Titles |
|---|---|
 Iceland |
8 |
 United States |
7 |
 United Kingdom |
4 |
 Finland |
3 |
 Poland |
3 |
 Netherlands |
1 |
 Norway |
1 |
 Sweden |
1 |
 Ukraine |
1 |
[edit] Repeat champions
| Champion | Times |
|---|---|
| Magnús Ver Magnússon |
4 |
| Jón Páll Sigmarsson |
4 |
| Bill Kazmaier |
3 |
 Mariusz Pudzianowski |
3 |
| Jouko Ahola |
2 |
| Geoff Capes |
2 |
| Bruce Wilhelm |
2 |
[edit] Commonly contested events
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 competitors.
- Farmer's Walk - Competitors carry heavy objects weighing from 275 - 375 lb in each hand for a set distance, and compete for the fastest time. A variation involves use of a heavy frame with parallel handles.
- Yoke Walk - A yoke, composed of a crossbar and two weighted uprights and weighing about 775-880 lb is carried across the shoulders for a set distance.
- Loading - Five heavy objects weighing 220-360 lb 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 weighing from 265-400 lb each are put on top of high platforms. The course is about 16-33 ft. long. In recent competition this is typically the final event.
- Husafell Stone - a flat, somewhat triangular rock weighing around 400 lb is carried high on the chest for distance.
- Duck Walk - a 400 lb pot with a handle is carried, suspended between the legs, over a set course.
- Power Stairs - a series of three Duck Walk implements ranging from 400-600 lb are lifted, step by step, to the top of a flight of stairs.
- Truck Pulling - Vehicles such as transport trucks, trams, boxcars or airplanes 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.
- Log Press / Stone Press - The heaviest possible load is pressed overhead, or a lighter weight is used for repetitions.
- 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.
- Squat - Squatting large weights, like 900 lb of bricks, a car, or people on a platform. Recently, an apparatus has been used that drops water-filled kegs into a cage, one at a time after each successful lift. The athlete will continue until failure or time expires.
- Deadlift - Lifting weights or vehicles up to about 1,100 lb straight off the ground until knees lock in a standing position. Lift is for either maximum weight or maximum repetitions with a fixed weight. In recent years, a similar keg-loaded apparatus to that described above for the squat has been used.
- Pillars of Hercules - 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.
- Fingal fingers - a series of progressively heavier, hinged poles ("fingers") are lifted starting from a horizonal resting position and flipped over to the other side. The event takes its name from Fingal, a mythological Gaelic hunter-warrior.
