Who is the Strongest Man in history

[Kiff]

Just did some Google work and it came up with a couple of suggestions, from Mark Henry to Louis Cyr or Bill Kazmaier..

Just a topic to get people chatting

Would you define it as a winner of WSM or some of the older 'Legends' such as carrying 4000+LBS..

Keiran

[Tom Mutaffis]

I would say that Zydrunas Savickas also belongs somewhere on that list.

[martin]

Andy Bolton as he's the only man to have got 1000 lbs off the floor

It's actually a bit too hard to say. I think the way strongman is going the winners are not the strongest by a long shot.

Powerlifting is more a who's best rather than who's strongest due to todays equipment being so good.

Who cares, so long as we all enjoy it!

[StLRPh]

Finn McCool
http://www.irishstrongman.com/legends/finnmaccool.asp

[Screwtape!]

Savickas.
Sets official world records, no hype or exaggerated tall tales about his lifting prowess.

[BoAnderson71]

I would say that Zydrunas Savickas also belongs somewhere on that list.

I second Savickas. I was a reading a kevin nee interview and he was asked who is the strongest man in the world. He said mariusz pudzianowski is the best strength athlete....... notice i said strength athlete but zydrunas savickas is the strongest man in the world. I got to go with him being the strongest ever because of the type of athletes there are now days.

[Andrew Cohn]

My first reaction would be a perennial strongman winner and Pudzianowski is the first person I think of but the previous post sums it up best, he is a strength athlete who has mastered his craft much in the same way a world champion powerlifter masters gear. Here a couple to consider regardless of sport or gear (and this list is overall strenght not pound for pound):

1. Pudzianowski
2. Zyvickas
3. Bolton
4. Alhazov
5. Mark Henry
6. Reinhoudt
7. John Kuc
8. Jon Cole

I might have to go with Reinhoudt on this one.

[Cmanuel]

Zyvickas hands down.

[NickAus]

No man has walked with 4000lb on his back.

[BoAnderson71]

No man has walked with 4000lb on his back.

Challenge accepted

[Songsangnim]

Paul Anderson should be right near the top. Doesn't he still hold the record for lifting the most weight for a human?

Louis Cyr as well

Jack Scanlan is another good lifter.

[pricedtosell]

Kaz for strongest of all time.

Savickas for strongest right now.

[Kiff]

No man has walked with 4000lb on his back.

I did say 'Legends'

[NickAus]

I did say 'Legends'

Cool, is funny to me how the old time strongman guys are always made out to be stronger than modern lifters, some of the claims are just not possible IMO.

Still very strong!

[NickAus]

I did say 'Legends'

Nice!

[Brian Hopper]

IMO, im going to say Kaz then Zydrunas.

[chris mason]

Are we talking brute strength as in the kind judged by powerlifting? If so, it has to be Reinhoudt. His best total raw has still not been touched to this day.

[Brian Hopper]

Good point Chris!!!!

[Morgan McPherson]

Samson

A: The slaying of lion with his hands

B: The slaying of thirty Philistines

C: The breaking of cords

D: The slaying of a thousand Philistines with the Jaw bone of an ass

E: The carrying away of the gates of Gaza

F: Breaking of the withes and ropes and looms from Delilah

G: The pulling down of the pillars of the Philistine temple.

[KarstenDD]

Donnie Thompson, The Strongest Man in the World.

[Kiff]

Are we talking brute strength as in the kind judged by powerlifting? If so, it has to be Reinhoudt. His best total raw has still not been touched to this day.

Good point Chris, i guess there are a lot of ways to measure strength! So maybe it gets broken down into 3 catagories, Powerlifters, Strongmen and general feats of awesome strength? I guess if anyone could lay claim to being the top of 2/3 they would do it?

[muscle_g]

Paul Anderson, he supposedly squatted over 1200lbs raw

[C-Sobrino]

Yes he did... then when someone actually squats over 1200 raw they will say Paul Anderson did that, FOR REPS!

[robchris]

Paul Anderson, he supposedly squatted over 1200lbs raw

Ageed... Paul was decades ahead of his time!!!

[mastermonster]

I'll vote Garry Frank at his best. First to 2500, 2600, 2700 and 2800+ in relatively light gear if compared to the gear we're using now. The 2805 was in a 1 ply Hardcore to squat and deadlift; and a 2 ply rage X bench shirt (the most agressive piece he had on). Garry never got as much out of gear as some. His best meet squat was 1102, and twice; I've seen him squat 1031 in training with just briefs and a belt.