We're on the eve of WSM 2014 and with it we bring you round four, the Top 5 Dominant Displays. We tried to keep this list fresh so we weren't rehashing situations we'd presented before. Enjoy.
Honourable Mention - Sigmarsson at Pure Strength '87
Not an official WSM competition. In fact, 1987 is the only year since its inception that didn't feature an event with that title. This year featured an old school scottish-themed showdown with the title 'Pure Strength' between all three WSM champions of the 1980s. This could have been a strongman fan's wet dream had Capes not been on the verge of retirement and Kazmaier not yet back to his best (as he would be at WSM 1988). Those two may have been below par but Jon Pall Sigmarsson was at his finest. He won in convincing fashion with 8 victories out of 10.
Not Really Honourable Mention - Pudzianowski in 2005
What could be second most dominant win at WSM won't be on our list. 2005 was the first year for the WSM after the split with IFSA and 5 out of the top 6 competitors from the last year were no where to be found. No offense to Jesse Marunde and Dominic Filou but at this competition they were barely any trouble as Pudzianowski cruised to victory. He didn't really even seem to be trying. The split did force the sport to develop a much deeper and stronger field of athletes. The benefits of which were obvious when the split ended. 2005 though was right at the beginning and the rebuilding process was painfully obvious to see.
5) Reeves in 1989
The history of strength sport is rife with 'what ifs'. "What if so-and-so was there", "If only this guy didn't get injured", or "But if he was at his best he would have won". We're all guilty of it. Some of it is luck but preparation is the key to shaping luck to your will. Even with injuries, you can consider some of it bad luck but also some of it is that the competitors mind or body was just not prepared for the challenge.
In 1989, Jon Pall Sigmarsson and Bill Kazmaier were not prepared and Jamie Reeves capitalized. Kazmaier's body was especially not prepared for the events as he sprained his ankle, pulled his groin, and partial tore his bicep all in the first two events. Jon Pall's leg was hurting him at the start too but didn't seem to be specifically troubling him too much. Yet, the Viking seemed a step off his game the whole time.
Jamie's name only once left the top three. After being only up by 0.5 points after 4 events he pulled away to the where he only needed to place a single implement on the truck in the loading race to secure his win. He's also the subject of his own what if: "What if he hadn't been injured for the next two WSM's, what might the leaderboard have looked like then"?
4) Wilhelm in 1977
The first 'World's Strongest Men' show was really more novelty than true test of the world's greatest strength athlete. It featured powerlifters, weightlifters, highlanders, football players and bodybuilders, but many of them were past their primes. However, that shouldn't minimize the display of first champion, Bruce Wilhelm. While many of the other athletes would do well in one event or another, Bruce did it all well and was the undisputed winner that year. His display legitimized the event as more than just spectacle.
3) Kazmaier in 1980
The loudest criticism of the earliest WSM events was that they predominately featured Americans. While that is true of some of Bill Kazmaier's wins, 1980 had a very international flavour. There was a Swede, a Dane, a Canadian, and an Englishman among an array of Americans. Of the American's two were world powerlifting champions. This competition was legit. Going in, the favourites were the top two from the previous year, Don Reinhoudt and Lars Hedlund. No one expected the clinical display that occurred. None of the athletes could do a thing but stand in awe as they witnessed the rise of the first true Strongman athlete, Bill Kazmaier.
2) ver Magnusson in 1991
A few people, even ver Magnusson himself, try to play this one up as a surprise. It's true that Magnus entered the competition as the reserve but that was only because at the time the WSM had a tradition of only inviting one strongman from each country. When Jon Pall Sigmarsson had to withdraw, ver Magnusson was there to step into his place. During the first round interviews with athletes they all named ver Magnusson as the man to watch. He was no stranger to winning other competitions. He and Hjalti Arnason, Sigmarsson's coach, beat the team of Bill Kazmaier and O.D. Wilson at Pure Strength in 1989. No small feat. Magnus was certainly strong enough to compete as WSM, he just held away by the legendary Sigmarsson's presence. This did allow him to develop away from the top stage and already be in world beating form when he got there.
Magus was strong enough to stand up with anyone statically, faster than any strongman before him, and smart enough in figuring out the best ways to attack the awkward implements. He excelled at event after event and stayed near at the top of the leaderboard. It was a crashing entrance for the man that would be a dominant force at the competition for years to come.
1) Poland in 2003
He was called the Dominator for a reason. He was good when he won in 2002 but he was unstoppable in 2003. Of a total possible 70 points to be won, he nabbed 66. He was 10 points clear of the other competitors after four events. He'd won before the final event. We talk here a lot about his losses and close wins, but for those two years he was virtually unbeatable. There's nothing much more to say, in 2003 he was unbelievable.
Now you'll notice I titled this Poland, not Pudzianowski, in 2003. That's because that year also featured the rise of a dominant champion of Strongwoman in Aneta Florczyk. She, also of Poland, was crowned World's Strongest Woman in 2003. While it wasn't in quite as convincing a fashion as her male counterpart it did cement their nation as the undisputed strongest of the planet that year.
An unfortunate casualty of the IFSA split was also losing the development of Strongwoman alongside Strongman as one cohesive event. 2003 of WSW can be found on YouTube with all same production quality as WSM. It is every bit as compelling and exciting to watch as WSM. Maybe one day they will get back to showcases both genders side-by-side again.
Friday, March 21, 2014
CWSA's Top 5 Greatest Rivalries in World's Strongest Man History
Back for round 3. Here we run down the Top 5 Greatest Rivalries in World's Strongest Man History. These are rivalries in competition not personal. Unique to the sport of strongman is the high level of camaraderie between the athletes. These guys routinely trained with each other and shared their secrets. In no sport have I ever seen opponents cheer each other on as much as strongmen do. No one ever wants to beat someone on an off day. They want to beat each other at their best.
5) The Scandanavians
This multi-man rivalry spanned the late 90s and into the early 2000s. What was a tight group of friends outside of competition turned into fierce rivals on the field of battle. Jouko Ahola, Magnus Samuelsson, Janne Virtanen, and Svend Karlsen were the best of them. All of these men were immensely strong yet none possessed the total package to let him completely dominate the field. For five years the title bounced around between them, the others nearly always looked on from the other podium positions.
4) Shaw and Savickas
This modern rivalry is still going strong. Once the cloud of politics passed and Savickas finally won his WSM crown by ending the Pudzianowski era he didn't get much time to enjoy it. In 2009, Savicakas's first victory, the up and coming Brian Shaw placed an impressive third. The next year provided Savickas's second win but it came from the first tie in WSM history. Both Savickas and Shaw being even on points, Zydrunas squeaked out the top spot by virtue of more 1st place event finishes. Since then Shaw has won twice to Savicakas's one. Both have had their fitness questioned; Shaw developed nerve problems in his right hand after a bicep tear and Savickas's age and long, non-stop, career in the sport beg the question of how long he can last. Despite the problems, both find themselves fitter and stronger than ever in 2014 and are ready for their showdown in this year's WSM. Who knows how long these two could go on. I can't wait to see where it goes.
3) Kazmaier vs Sigmarsson
This was a rivalry built out fan's fantasies. Bill Kazmaier's dominant reign of WSM was cut short and Jon Pall's rise began immediately afterwards. By 1987, Geoff Capes was ready to retired and there was no one yet ready to challenge the Viking for dominance. There were other contests they all battled in but none on the stage everyone watched. In 1988, dreams came true. Bill Kazmaier back to his best versus Jon Pall Sigmarsson reaching his prime. We got to see a real toe-to-toe slug fest with the duo trading wins back and forth. Kaz cracked on the weight-over-the-bar event, one in which he was known to be Jon Pall's better, and Sigmarsson seized the win on the MacGlashan Stones. 1989 featured a sub-par Sigmarsson and a fit Kazmaier quickly ravaged by injury and therefore didn't contain the true rematch we were craving for. The next year Bill made way for O.D. Wilson to be the American challenger and the dream was gone. We only got one, but for one brief moment we saw the clash we all wished for.
2) Sigmarsson and Capes
Old vs young, veteran vs rising star. The Capes vs Sigmarsson battle may be what made WSM what it is today. The earliest years were a novelty and then Bill Kazmaier took a strangle hold on the title for three years leaving no real room for drama. Geoff Capes got to see first hand the era of Kazmaier as one of the few non-American competitors. Once Kaz stepped aside, or had been cast aside depending on who you ask, the title for WSM was wide open and finally took on a more international flavour. Capes and Sigmarsson rose to the top and alternated victories for four years.
Their battle was what made the competition compelling. Both had different strengths and body types. Jon Pall was strong, flashy, and fiercely determined with the physique of a body builder and loads charisma. Capes was heavier and not nearly as lean, but he was the natural athlete. A former Olympian and Highland games champion Geoff wasn't nearly as statically strong but could adapt and learn any event. Their battles lasted until Capes declined to retirement just as Sigmarsson reached his prime. What might have been if these two met in their primes, we'll never know.
1) Savickas and Pudzianowski
This rivalry may never have hit the heights and drama it did without forces at play beyond the athletes control. Savickas and Pudzianowski hit the scene together. Rarely in sport do two dominant rising stars arrive at the same time but here they were in 2002 surging to the front of the pack. Pudzianowski was first and Savickas second for two years in a row. In 2004 neither man was first, but they were still on the podium. Savickas managed to be one better than Pudzianowski but came up short of having a title of his own.
The greatest tragedy to strength sports occurred in 2005 when IFSA, the organizaiton previously run as an athletes union, cut ties with the WSM and set out to creat their own rival contests. Savickas went with IFSA and Pudzianowski stayed with WSM. For WSM 2006 only Pudzianowski remained of the top six finishers from the previous year. For four years they were apart. In that time Pudzianowski won three more WSM titles to become the first man to win a legendary five titles, though he did it against what can only be described as a weaker athlete field. Savickas won two IFSA World Championship titles against tougher fields of Strongmen but that competition could never hold the prestige and history of WSM.
Finally in 2009, with IFSA dissolved, both sides of Strongman sport were reunited and we were given the showdown of a lifetime. Four years in the making, WSM 2009 was a clash of legends that played out better you could script it. The battle went back and forth until it all ended with a showdown between the two on the Atlas Stones. Savickas finally turned the tide on Pudzianowski and was crowned World's Strongest Man.
5) The Scandanavians
This multi-man rivalry spanned the late 90s and into the early 2000s. What was a tight group of friends outside of competition turned into fierce rivals on the field of battle. Jouko Ahola, Magnus Samuelsson, Janne Virtanen, and Svend Karlsen were the best of them. All of these men were immensely strong yet none possessed the total package to let him completely dominate the field. For five years the title bounced around between them, the others nearly always looked on from the other podium positions.
4) Shaw and Savickas
This modern rivalry is still going strong. Once the cloud of politics passed and Savickas finally won his WSM crown by ending the Pudzianowski era he didn't get much time to enjoy it. In 2009, Savicakas's first victory, the up and coming Brian Shaw placed an impressive third. The next year provided Savickas's second win but it came from the first tie in WSM history. Both Savickas and Shaw being even on points, Zydrunas squeaked out the top spot by virtue of more 1st place event finishes. Since then Shaw has won twice to Savicakas's one. Both have had their fitness questioned; Shaw developed nerve problems in his right hand after a bicep tear and Savickas's age and long, non-stop, career in the sport beg the question of how long he can last. Despite the problems, both find themselves fitter and stronger than ever in 2014 and are ready for their showdown in this year's WSM. Who knows how long these two could go on. I can't wait to see where it goes.
3) Kazmaier vs Sigmarsson
This was a rivalry built out fan's fantasies. Bill Kazmaier's dominant reign of WSM was cut short and Jon Pall's rise began immediately afterwards. By 1987, Geoff Capes was ready to retired and there was no one yet ready to challenge the Viking for dominance. There were other contests they all battled in but none on the stage everyone watched. In 1988, dreams came true. Bill Kazmaier back to his best versus Jon Pall Sigmarsson reaching his prime. We got to see a real toe-to-toe slug fest with the duo trading wins back and forth. Kaz cracked on the weight-over-the-bar event, one in which he was known to be Jon Pall's better, and Sigmarsson seized the win on the MacGlashan Stones. 1989 featured a sub-par Sigmarsson and a fit Kazmaier quickly ravaged by injury and therefore didn't contain the true rematch we were craving for. The next year Bill made way for O.D. Wilson to be the American challenger and the dream was gone. We only got one, but for one brief moment we saw the clash we all wished for.
2) Sigmarsson and Capes
Old vs young, veteran vs rising star. The Capes vs Sigmarsson battle may be what made WSM what it is today. The earliest years were a novelty and then Bill Kazmaier took a strangle hold on the title for three years leaving no real room for drama. Geoff Capes got to see first hand the era of Kazmaier as one of the few non-American competitors. Once Kaz stepped aside, or had been cast aside depending on who you ask, the title for WSM was wide open and finally took on a more international flavour. Capes and Sigmarsson rose to the top and alternated victories for four years.
Their battle was what made the competition compelling. Both had different strengths and body types. Jon Pall was strong, flashy, and fiercely determined with the physique of a body builder and loads charisma. Capes was heavier and not nearly as lean, but he was the natural athlete. A former Olympian and Highland games champion Geoff wasn't nearly as statically strong but could adapt and learn any event. Their battles lasted until Capes declined to retirement just as Sigmarsson reached his prime. What might have been if these two met in their primes, we'll never know.
1) Savickas and Pudzianowski
This rivalry may never have hit the heights and drama it did without forces at play beyond the athletes control. Savickas and Pudzianowski hit the scene together. Rarely in sport do two dominant rising stars arrive at the same time but here they were in 2002 surging to the front of the pack. Pudzianowski was first and Savickas second for two years in a row. In 2004 neither man was first, but they were still on the podium. Savickas managed to be one better than Pudzianowski but came up short of having a title of his own.
The greatest tragedy to strength sports occurred in 2005 when IFSA, the organizaiton previously run as an athletes union, cut ties with the WSM and set out to creat their own rival contests. Savickas went with IFSA and Pudzianowski stayed with WSM. For WSM 2006 only Pudzianowski remained of the top six finishers from the previous year. For four years they were apart. In that time Pudzianowski won three more WSM titles to become the first man to win a legendary five titles, though he did it against what can only be described as a weaker athlete field. Savickas won two IFSA World Championship titles against tougher fields of Strongmen but that competition could never hold the prestige and history of WSM.
Finally in 2009, with IFSA dissolved, both sides of Strongman sport were reunited and we were given the showdown of a lifetime. Four years in the making, WSM 2009 was a clash of legends that played out better you could script it. The battle went back and forth until it all ended with a showdown between the two on the Atlas Stones. Savickas finally turned the tide on Pudzianowski and was crowned World's Strongest Man.
Monday, March 17, 2014
CWSA's Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Round 2 in our celebration of WSM this year. Either called the McGlashan or Atlas stones they embody everything that is strongman into one contest. More often than any other event they have been the final decider to the World's Strongest Man contest.
Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Honourable Mention - Kazmaier and Sigmarsson in 1988
Only held off our list because the Stones were not yet contested head-to-head. Kazmaier and Sigmarsson had been trading the lead back and forth the lead all competition. Kaz looked to be pulling away until falling apart in the weight-over-the-bar. All that remained were the McGlashans. No one had yet managed to lift all five stone when Kazmaier's turn came. Knowing his only chance lay in lifting it, Kaz struggled through each one until finally placing the last one on its barrel. Sigmarsson proceeded to make everyone else's struggles seem meanless by tearing through every stone with speed ahead of his time to win the event and secure his 3rd title.
5) Savickas vs Virastyuk in 2004
For two years Zydrunas Savickas had come up second to Marius Pudzianowski but this year would be different. Marius was sitting in third. Savickas was tied for the lead with the explosive Vasyl Virastyuk three points clear of Pudzianowski. This was Savickas vs Virastyuk with Pudzianowski looking on. Savickas immediately fell behind and rushed to make up the difference but Virastyuk was too fast. The drama builds every time the camera turns Pudzianowski as he slowly realizes he's lost his title. Vasyl puts home the last stone while Savickas is still pulling it to his lap. In the after event interview you can see the heartbreak set in as Savickas realizes he's placed second at WSM for the third year in a row.
4) Pudzianowski vs Pfister in 2006
Phil Pfister does the impossible, beating Marius Pudzianowski at his prime. Despite winning four events in a row, Phil Pfister still found himself trailing Pudzianowski by half a point coming down to the Atlas stones. Everyone watching was thinking "Can he do it? Can he dominate the Dominator?". It's raining, the stones are wet and the tacky on the Strongmen's arms is nearly useless. The whistle blows and both men nearly skid into the first stone. For the first two they are neck and neck. On the third, Pudzianowski pulls ahead. On the very last stone, Pudzianowski laps it first and waddles to the pedestal. Pfister gambles and lifts the stone to his chest from where he picked it up. Phil guides his stone into place an instant before Pudzianowski and lets out a triumphant roar. Marius's stone skips over the hole and he let's it fall over the back in disgust.
3) Savickas vs Pudzianowski in 2009
The final climax of an epic rivalry. Savickas had been gone for four years. Pudzianowski had won three titles since the two he had over Savickas but in those years real competition was scarce. This was the biggest showdown in WSM since Kazmair and Sigmarsson in 1988. The stones were the fitting final event. Pudzianowski shot out to an early lead but bobbled the second stone. Savickas seized the lead and didn't let it go. When he put his final stone in its place and had the title that eluded him for seven years the joy in his face was unmistakable. Pudzianowski's era of dominance was over.
2) Magnusson vs Hoeberl in 1994
The first time the stones were contested face to face was in 1993. That event was between Riku Kiri and Gary Taylor. That showdown was spoiled by Kiri knocking over the second barrel with his stone and letting Taylor cruise to his victory. This was the first time we saw the now standard tiered podiums and as a showdown it didn't disappoint. It had been three years since Magnus ver Magnusson had won his first title and he'd been second in both the intervening contests. Manfred Hoeberl, the former bodybuilder with the huge physique and supermassive biceps, was getting better every year. Unfortunately, due to a serious motorcycle accident soon after this, it would be his last time at WSM. The two shirtless giants strode out into a colosseum to do battle. The imagery made us feel like this was a clash of titanic proportions. Manfred led out of the gates but Magnus over took him on the third stone. Hoeberl made one last surge at the end but it wasn't enough. Magnus captured his second of four crowns. It was epic, it was close, and it set the standard for years to come.
1) Pudzianowski vs Poundstone in 2008
Half an inch was all that separated this one from going the other way. Marius Pudzianowski was on the verge of his unprecedented fifth title. Derek Poundstone was in his first WSM and had upset Pudzianowski in an event earlier in the year. Poudstone was doing what no one expected and actually led Pudzianowski by a point coming into the Atlas Stones. The lead changed hands more times than you would think possible in such a short race. Poundstone hit the last stone first and was on the verge of ending the competition. He landed the stone on the lip of the podium. The audience held their breath. Instead of it rolling up on to the podium, the stone spun and fell to the ground. Marius placed his stone and won. Just half-an-inch.
Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Honourable Mention - Kazmaier and Sigmarsson in 1988
Only held off our list because the Stones were not yet contested head-to-head. Kazmaier and Sigmarsson had been trading the lead back and forth the lead all competition. Kaz looked to be pulling away until falling apart in the weight-over-the-bar. All that remained were the McGlashans. No one had yet managed to lift all five stone when Kazmaier's turn came. Knowing his only chance lay in lifting it, Kaz struggled through each one until finally placing the last one on its barrel. Sigmarsson proceeded to make everyone else's struggles seem meanless by tearing through every stone with speed ahead of his time to win the event and secure his 3rd title.
5) Savickas vs Virastyuk in 2004
For two years Zydrunas Savickas had come up second to Marius Pudzianowski but this year would be different. Marius was sitting in third. Savickas was tied for the lead with the explosive Vasyl Virastyuk three points clear of Pudzianowski. This was Savickas vs Virastyuk with Pudzianowski looking on. Savickas immediately fell behind and rushed to make up the difference but Virastyuk was too fast. The drama builds every time the camera turns Pudzianowski as he slowly realizes he's lost his title. Vasyl puts home the last stone while Savickas is still pulling it to his lap. In the after event interview you can see the heartbreak set in as Savickas realizes he's placed second at WSM for the third year in a row.
4) Pudzianowski vs Pfister in 2006
Phil Pfister does the impossible, beating Marius Pudzianowski at his prime. Despite winning four events in a row, Phil Pfister still found himself trailing Pudzianowski by half a point coming down to the Atlas stones. Everyone watching was thinking "Can he do it? Can he dominate the Dominator?". It's raining, the stones are wet and the tacky on the Strongmen's arms is nearly useless. The whistle blows and both men nearly skid into the first stone. For the first two they are neck and neck. On the third, Pudzianowski pulls ahead. On the very last stone, Pudzianowski laps it first and waddles to the pedestal. Pfister gambles and lifts the stone to his chest from where he picked it up. Phil guides his stone into place an instant before Pudzianowski and lets out a triumphant roar. Marius's stone skips over the hole and he let's it fall over the back in disgust.
3) Savickas vs Pudzianowski in 2009
The final climax of an epic rivalry. Savickas had been gone for four years. Pudzianowski had won three titles since the two he had over Savickas but in those years real competition was scarce. This was the biggest showdown in WSM since Kazmair and Sigmarsson in 1988. The stones were the fitting final event. Pudzianowski shot out to an early lead but bobbled the second stone. Savickas seized the lead and didn't let it go. When he put his final stone in its place and had the title that eluded him for seven years the joy in his face was unmistakable. Pudzianowski's era of dominance was over.
2) Magnusson vs Hoeberl in 1994
The first time the stones were contested face to face was in 1993. That event was between Riku Kiri and Gary Taylor. That showdown was spoiled by Kiri knocking over the second barrel with his stone and letting Taylor cruise to his victory. This was the first time we saw the now standard tiered podiums and as a showdown it didn't disappoint. It had been three years since Magnus ver Magnusson had won his first title and he'd been second in both the intervening contests. Manfred Hoeberl, the former bodybuilder with the huge physique and supermassive biceps, was getting better every year. Unfortunately, due to a serious motorcycle accident soon after this, it would be his last time at WSM. The two shirtless giants strode out into a colosseum to do battle. The imagery made us feel like this was a clash of titanic proportions. Manfred led out of the gates but Magnus over took him on the third stone. Hoeberl made one last surge at the end but it wasn't enough. Magnus captured his second of four crowns. It was epic, it was close, and it set the standard for years to come.
1) Pudzianowski vs Poundstone in 2008
Half an inch was all that separated this one from going the other way. Marius Pudzianowski was on the verge of his unprecedented fifth title. Derek Poundstone was in his first WSM and had upset Pudzianowski in an event earlier in the year. Poudstone was doing what no one expected and actually led Pudzianowski by a point coming into the Atlas Stones. The lead changed hands more times than you would think possible in such a short race. Poundstone hit the last stone first and was on the verge of ending the competition. He landed the stone on the lip of the podium. The audience held their breath. Instead of it rolling up on to the podium, the stone spun and fell to the ground. Marius placed his stone and won. Just half-an-inch.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
CWSA's Top 5 Biggest Upsets in World's Strongest Man History
World's Strongest Man is coming early this year. We're now less than a week away from the start of the 2014 competition and in celebration I've put my many hours of watching all the previous years contests to good use. In celebration, here is the first CWSA's Top 5 WSM lists.
CWSA's Top 5 Biggest Upsets in World's Strongest Man History
5) Magnus ver Magnusson can't hold on to beat Ted van der Parre in 1992.
As he recounted in the "30 Years of Pain" TV Special, Magnus ver Magnusson had a narrow lead going into the final event, the Hussafel Stone, at WSM 1992 in his native Iceland. ver Magnusson picked the stone up too high and couldn't see. When he stopped to readjust, the stone dropped from his hands. Before the drop Magnus looked like he could have gone on forever, van der Parre could barely hang on to it. Ted did manage to struggle his way to just past ver Magnusson's mark and the title.
4) Lars Hedlund's certain victory is taken away by Jon Kolb in 1979.
For all three of the first WSMs, the final event was a tug-of-war. In 1978 it was a showdown between leader Don Reinhoudt and reigning champion Bruce Wilhelm. Don brought Bruce right to the edge but a misstep cost him and he had the tables turned on him and lost the title. The next year, it was a close race with Don Reinhoudt out front of a young Bill Kazmaier and Lars Hedlund. Fourth place going into the tug-of-war was Jon Kolb, an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He weighed about 260lbs, O-Linemen were much smaller in those days, and was well outweighed by the other three men. Kolb beat Kazmaier and Hedlund beat Reinhoudt. All Hedlund needed to do was beat Kolb and the title was his. If he lost, Reinhoudt was the champion. He lost.
3) ver Magnusson, Kiri, and Badenhorst all fail to qualify for the finals in 1997.
At WSM 1996 were ver Magnusson 1st, Kiri 2nd, and Badenhorst 3rd. This was the fourth year they'd run a qualifying group system and it had already once produced an unexpected exit when Gary Taylor failed to make the finals in 1994, the year after he had won. This was worse. All three of the podium finishers, including 4-time champion ver Magnusson were shut down in their qualifying groups. This opened the way for first time competitor Jouko Ahola to pull a minor upset of his own when Flemming Rasmussen fell apart in the Deadlift and become champion.
2) Phil Pfister relentlessly runs down Marius Pudzianowski in 2006.
Have you ever had one of those days when almost everything's going right? Marius Pudzianowski was having one of those competitions in 2006. He shared the win in the Deadlift and had it all to himself in the Power Stairs but then Phil Pfister turned on an there was no stopping him. Phil Pfister won 5, that's right 5, events in a row to win the title. Marius did all he could to hold on, despite a blip in the Fingals Fingers he stayed ahead of Pfister all the way until the Atlas Stone finally. Pudzianowski even led after the 4th stone. Pfister surged ahead at the last second and locked in his last stone an instant before Pudzianowski could his.
1) O.D. Wilson was robbed in 1990.
Everyone knows Jon Pall Sigmarrsson was an amazing champion. So it's not easy to say he didn't deserve one of this championships. In 1990 the american O.D. Wilson dominated the field and came into the final event with a 5.5 point lead. That last event sunk him. Looking more like "CrossFit, the Early Years" than a WSM event, the competitors had to take 100kg of bricks on their back and run them 200m around a track. The massive O.D. Wilson faded fast on the run and Sigmarsson cruised around to victory. O.D. Wilson lost by 0.5 points overall. O.D. is considered by many to the strongest man never to win the title.
CWSA's Top 5 Biggest Upsets in World's Strongest Man History
5) Magnus ver Magnusson can't hold on to beat Ted van der Parre in 1992.
As he recounted in the "30 Years of Pain" TV Special, Magnus ver Magnusson had a narrow lead going into the final event, the Hussafel Stone, at WSM 1992 in his native Iceland. ver Magnusson picked the stone up too high and couldn't see. When he stopped to readjust, the stone dropped from his hands. Before the drop Magnus looked like he could have gone on forever, van der Parre could barely hang on to it. Ted did manage to struggle his way to just past ver Magnusson's mark and the title.
4) Lars Hedlund's certain victory is taken away by Jon Kolb in 1979.
For all three of the first WSMs, the final event was a tug-of-war. In 1978 it was a showdown between leader Don Reinhoudt and reigning champion Bruce Wilhelm. Don brought Bruce right to the edge but a misstep cost him and he had the tables turned on him and lost the title. The next year, it was a close race with Don Reinhoudt out front of a young Bill Kazmaier and Lars Hedlund. Fourth place going into the tug-of-war was Jon Kolb, an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He weighed about 260lbs, O-Linemen were much smaller in those days, and was well outweighed by the other three men. Kolb beat Kazmaier and Hedlund beat Reinhoudt. All Hedlund needed to do was beat Kolb and the title was his. If he lost, Reinhoudt was the champion. He lost.
3) ver Magnusson, Kiri, and Badenhorst all fail to qualify for the finals in 1997.
At WSM 1996 were ver Magnusson 1st, Kiri 2nd, and Badenhorst 3rd. This was the fourth year they'd run a qualifying group system and it had already once produced an unexpected exit when Gary Taylor failed to make the finals in 1994, the year after he had won. This was worse. All three of the podium finishers, including 4-time champion ver Magnusson were shut down in their qualifying groups. This opened the way for first time competitor Jouko Ahola to pull a minor upset of his own when Flemming Rasmussen fell apart in the Deadlift and become champion.
2) Phil Pfister relentlessly runs down Marius Pudzianowski in 2006.
Have you ever had one of those days when almost everything's going right? Marius Pudzianowski was having one of those competitions in 2006. He shared the win in the Deadlift and had it all to himself in the Power Stairs but then Phil Pfister turned on an there was no stopping him. Phil Pfister won 5, that's right 5, events in a row to win the title. Marius did all he could to hold on, despite a blip in the Fingals Fingers he stayed ahead of Pfister all the way until the Atlas Stone finally. Pudzianowski even led after the 4th stone. Pfister surged ahead at the last second and locked in his last stone an instant before Pudzianowski could his.
1) O.D. Wilson was robbed in 1990.
Everyone knows Jon Pall Sigmarrsson was an amazing champion. So it's not easy to say he didn't deserve one of this championships. In 1990 the american O.D. Wilson dominated the field and came into the final event with a 5.5 point lead. That last event sunk him. Looking more like "CrossFit, the Early Years" than a WSM event, the competitors had to take 100kg of bricks on their back and run them 200m around a track. The massive O.D. Wilson faded fast on the run and Sigmarsson cruised around to victory. O.D. Wilson lost by 0.5 points overall. O.D. is considered by many to the strongest man never to win the title.
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