Arnold Strongman Classic - History

History

The Arnold Strongman Classic (which has been variously referred to as the "Arnold Strongman", the "Arnold Classic Strongman", "Arnold's Strength Summit" and "Arnold's Strongest Man") is one of the many offshoots of the Arnold Classic. The Arnold Sports Festival, founded in 1989 as the Arnold Classic and named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, was originally a bodybuilding contest. It featured a competition for men (Arnold Classic) and for women (Ms. International). The bodybuilding contests have since expanded to include a Fitness International and Figure International competition for women. However, the event had also expanded to include other sports and events, one of which was Strongman, introduced in 2002. The Strongman event was created by world famous powerlifter Dr. Terry Todd at the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The expansion of the programme led to the Classic becoming the Arnold Fitness Weekend and now the Arnold Sports Festival. According to the Arnold Sports Festival co-producer, Jim Lorimer: "The Arnold Strongman Classic has been growing in popularity every year, and we are very excited that the world's best strong men are returning." January 29, 2008

The "Arnold" as it is colloquially referred to in strength athletics, is one of the few neutral events on the strongman calendar in that it is not affiliated to any of the major strong man associations or producers. Athletes affiliated with the now defunct IFSA Strongman organization were not allowed to compete in the World's Strongest Man ("WSM"), which is produced by TWI and thus neither the WSM and its associated WSM Super Series nor the IFSA circuit could claim to have a comprehensive field of the top athletes. At the Arnold athletes from both organizations were allowed to compete together.

In 2002 the American wrestler and former weight lifter Mark Henry won the competition. In addition to competing what were the four official events - the Apollon's Wheel, the deadlift, the Hummer push and the 800+lbs Farmer's Walk (there are now six), the competitors were given the opportunity to attempt to lift the Thomas Inch "unliftable" dumbbell, or Inch Bell. A prize of $1000 was awarded to the man who could pull it the highest in the air. Five men chose to try the Bell with Mark Henry winning the $1000 by pulling it to the level of his chest. As an impromptu exhibition, Pfister took the Inch Bell to his chest with two hands and jerked it for which he received a standing ovation and was awarded by Jim Lorimer $1000.

From 2003 to 2008 Žydrūnas Savickas of Lithuania dominated over the international field. In 2008 he received a $40,000 check from Gerard Dente of MHP, an Audemars Piquet watch by Robert Ronan and the Louis Cyr trophy (after the legendary strongman, Louis Cyr) and congratulations from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the competition 12 world records were set with Savickas setting three of them. In the Tire Deadlift he lifted 1,027 lbs. In the Circus Dumbbell he tied with Derek Poundstone for the world record with nine lifts each, and in the Manhood Stones he lifted 525 lbs, three times.

American Derek Poundstone won in 2009 & 2010. Derek took the vacant throne from Zydrunas when he took 2009 off from the competition. When Savickas returned in 2010, Derek retained his title by defeating Zydrunas.

Just days before the 2011 contest, 2 time defending champion Derek Poundstone was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury. Brian Shaw came in and won the contest, and Mike Jenkins, the winner of the 2010 Arnold Strongman amateur event who was competing in his first ever professional strongman competition, shocked many and finished in second place ahead of 6 time champion Zydrunas Savickas who came in third.