Arnold Strongman Classic

The Arnold Strongman Classic is one of highest profile events featuring strength athletes in the world. It is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio.

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 offshots 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, in 2002. 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 to IFSA Strongman are 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 can claim to have a comprehensive field of the top athletes. At the Arnold they can all meet. In this respect it is the largest such competition.

In 2002, in addition to competing what were the four official events (there are now six), the competitors were given the opportunity to attempt to lift the "Thomas Inch "unliftable" dumbbell", or "Inch Bell". This dumbbell has a very thick handle and weighs 172 pounds. 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 [Bergmanis, Philippi, Pfister, Schoonveld, and Henry] 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. [ [http://www.arnoldsstrongestman.com/2002%20Results.htm www.arnoldsstrongestman.com] ]

From 2003 to 2008 Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania has dominated over the international field. In 2008 he received a $40,000 cheque 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.

Past winners

Regular Events

#"Timber Lift" - In this event, also known as the Farmer's Carry, contestants lift 865 barn timbers bolted together and have to travel, typically up a ramp, as a far as possible in 30 seconds.
#"Manhood Stones" - Contestants have to lift round stones weighing sometimes over 500 lbs over a bar approximately 48 inches high.
#"Apollon's Wheel" - This is a unique barbell made famous by turn-of-the-century strongman Louis "Apollon" Uni. It resembles two train wheels welded to a thick bar and weighs in total 366 lbs. Contestants must lift the wheels from the floor to overhead as many times as possible in two minutes.
#"Tyre Deadlift" - Contestants are required to lift a specially designed long bar weighted with tyres. The beginning weight was approx. 750 lbs at the 2008 event.
#"The Heavy Yoke" - In 2008 contestants had to carry across their shoulders a bar/yoke weighing 1,116 pounds for approximately 36 feet in a timed event.
#"The Circus Dumbbell" - This is the classic "Circus" dumbbell, used by professional Strongmen from the early 20th century. It weighs 202 lbs and has a very big handle over 3 inches in diameter. The requirement in 2008 was to use one hand at a time and lift the dumbbell overhead as many times as possible in 90 sec. [http://www.arnoldclassic.com/h_strongman.asp Arnold Strongman] ]

Past names

*2002 Arnold Classic Strongman Competition
*2003 Arnold's Strength Summit
*2004 Arnold's Strongest Man
*2005 Arnold's Strongest Man
*2006 Arnold Strongman Classic Results

References