Showing off his early season form, Larry Brock won the professional class at the Sacramento Valley Highland Games yesterday, in Woodland, California.


Winning both hammers was just part of Larry Brock's formula in Woodland yesterday. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Brock won the 56 for distance, both hammers, the weight for height and tied for first on the caber. Sean Betz was second, Harrison Bailey was third and Dave Brown, who broke the field record in the 28-pound weight for distance, was fourth.


In the amateurs, Bert Sorin was having a lot of fun and doing so well that the guess is that he's on his way to the pro ranks. Incidentally, California's own Steve Conway, shown to Bert's right, will be the head judge at this year's world championships, in Scotland. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Arild Haugen won the Norway's Strongest Man Qualifier in Kristiansand over the weekend.


Arild Haugen (left), who just won the qualifier for the Norway's Strongest Man contest, has been billed as "the next Mariusz" (right). Not a bad label when you're a strongman. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Viking Power.
 

Arild made quite a splash when he broke onto the strongman scene and it looks like 2007 is off to a good start for him. But there was more big news, too, as Lene Karlsen told IronMind® that second place went to "a very BIG man" named Richard Kog. Richard is six feet, six inches tall, 150 kg and 26 years old, Lene said, so is it any wonder that she summed up her opinion by saying, "This is definitely a man of the future!"

Showing that talent can be found in diverse areas, Lene continued, "Also very impressive was a 16-year-old boy who came, inspired by Svend Karlsen's Viking Power training DVD. He never ever tried strongman equipment before, but he lifted the 160-kg stone up 130 cm on his first try! Wow!!"

And if you wondering what this kid does if he's not an aspiring strongman? He's a snowboarder . . . .

IronMind® heard that it was tough for the Svend "Viking Power" Karlsen to sit out the contest, but don't think retirement has turned Svend into a couch potato: We heard he can still flip a 500-kg tire . . . "easily."

Explaining the essence of the thing, World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Samuelsson once told me,"There's a big difference between acting tough and being tough," and what IronMind's resident philosopher Steve Jeck discusses in this month's serving From The Quarry is a key element for being tough.


Not once or even twice, but three times, Zlaten Vanev (Bulgaria) has broken/dislocated his arm while lifting. Did he whine, whimper or quit? No - each time, he shrugged it off and came back . . . determined to lift more than ever. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

What happens when you combine Greek mythology, French existentialism and American stonelifter insight? For the answer, and something good to ponder this weekend, take a couple of minutes to read the latest Steve Jeck offering From The Quarry.

Congratulations to Stefan Falke, who has just been certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper, making it official that this man has a world-class grip.


Stefan Falke and his wife Manuela . . . "who had her birthday the day after [Stefan's official close], so it was a bit of a present to her," said Dr. Hermann Korte, of Choice of Champions. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Dr. Hermann Korte.

At 42 years old, Stefan Falke began as an Olympic-style weightlifter who later turned to powerlifting, said Dr. Korte, adding, "The reason why Stefan is the current German Grip Champion . . . is just because he [is] a complete strength athlete."

Recognizing Stefan Falke's accomplishment, IronMind® is proud to add his name to the official list of people certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper.

Congratulations to Stefan and (late) Happy Birthday to Manuela!

Just because Hugo Girard says that his rehabilitation has been going very well, don't think the Canadian strongman is getting complacent.

In fact, to emphasize what he sees coming up next, Girard told IronMind®, "I'm not as strong as I want . . . It's time to get very strong." And that's because Girard is basing his season around producing a stellar performance at the biggest of all the strongman contests, World's Strongest Man, later this year, a goal that is shaping his entire season. "You have to have a game plan," Girard said. "And you have to stick to it."

Toward that end, Girard's training is now shifting to include event training.

"Stones are going well," Girard said, but there are still some problems in events where you travel with heavy weights, such as the farmer's walk or the super yoke, although Girard said that improvements are coming rapidly. The best news is that Girard, who is coming off back-to-back injuries to his left leg, said that there is "almost no difference between both legs" now, and his squats are back up to "six plates."

And if being big and lean counts for anything, Hugo Girard fans will be pleased to know that their man is tipping the scales at about 320 pounds, at 8.9% bodyfat.

It's official that as the top four finishers at the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Kevin Nee, Mark Felix and Jason Bergmann will receive invitations to the 2007 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest.

WSMSS Tour Director Jesper Albansson said that the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix "was an incredible event where the athletes really kept pushing each other. Kevin was on Mariusz's heels throughout the event and Mark Felix looked incredibly good. Jason Bergman and Marshall White where both putting on a great show, all in the favor of the crowd of 4,000 . . . a new record!"

Really spotlighting the young talent, Albansson said, "Jason entered his first big Grand Prix and qualified for WSM . . . That's impressive!" and he added, "We are really happy to see that America is producing so many young and able athletes. It will be interesting to see what will come out of the rest of the tour.

"New Canadian Louis-Philippe Jean look impressive in his first big competition but a few wrong moves spoiled the day for him. Expect to see big things from him in the future," added Albansson.

"This is becoming a classic strongman event unlike no other," Albansson said enthusiastically. "This proves the the Super Series and Mohegan Sun are a perfect match."

The Mohegan Sun Grand Prix also provided a stage for introducing WSMSS merchandise, Albansson told IronMind®. "We sold out at Mohegan," Albansson said, but just in case you weren't there or couldn't get the shirt you wanted, Albansson said you can still get one of the limited edition shirts from the newly-opened Super Series store.

Strasbourg - Winning the +105-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships tonight, Viktors Scerbatihs (Latvia) earned the right himself the strongest man in Europe.


Viktors Scerbatihs, after he had already won the +105-kg category at the Europeans Weightlifting Championships, gives 252 kg a ride - he cleaned it easily, but missed the jerk. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

Young Dimitrios Papageridis (Greece) has been improving and he sailed through three good snatches to land at 192, which gave him the bronze medal in that lift. Scerbatihs was also good on all three snatches, each knocked off in his typical piston-like style, and his best, 202, gave him the silver medal. Evgeny Chigishev, as well, went three for three, and his 205-kg third attempt was the gold medal snatch.

In the clean and jerk, Papageridis went out after making 220 on his opener, and Chigishev had the same pattern with 230. Gregorz Kleszcz (Poland) got the bronze with 232 kg, and his teammate Pawel Najdek got the silver with 241 - a must-have third attempt that he made after missing 230 and 232. Surrounded by this relative carnage, Scerbatihs stood alone, as he smoked 238 and 245, before missing the jerk on 252.

Scerbatihs totaled 447, followed by Chigishev, with 435, and Najdek, with 421.

Russia won the team classification for both men and women.

Strasbourg - If you just looked at the results and saw that Martin Tesovic (Slovakia) swept the gold medals in the 105-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today, you might get the wrong idea.


It wasn't easy, but Martin Tesovic took home all three gold medals in the 105-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

The lead in this class was in the balance up through the final clean and jerk, and things wasted no time reaching this level of competitiveness, as first through fourth place in the snatch had a gap of merely two kilos, and even that understates how close things really were. Dmitry Lapikov (Russia), gold medalist in the snatch at the 2006 World Weightlifting Championships, took the final two attempts: Facing off with 189 kg on his second attempt, going for the gold medal, he was turned down two-to-one, so he qualified for Jim Schmitz's definition of a close miss. Repeating, he just couldn't quite lock out his left arm and the weight came crashing down, and what might have been first place in the snatch became fourth.

Coming into the clean and jerks, Tesovic certainly looked like the man to beat - he had the gold in the snatch and his opener in the clean and jerk, 220 kg, was the highest in the class and it looked solid.

Gleb Pisarevsky (Russia) only trailed Tesovic by one kilo after the snatch, though, and he wasn't going to roll over and play dead at this point, so he followed with a good lift with 221 on his second attempt - to take the lead in the jerk and the total from Tesovic. In another few attempts, Tesovic was back at the plate, this time facing 224, in an effort to retake the lead, but all he did was a deadlift . . . making things even more interesting. He came back and even though he looked a little shaky, he made a good lift with the 224.

Pisarevskiy must have have been thinking, "I've done this once, how come I have to do it again" and his idea of overtaking Tesovic again got crushed by 225 kg, when he couldn't rack the bar.

On the final attempt, going for the gold in the jerk and the total, Lapikov called for 227 (ten kilos over his second atttempt!). Following a strong clean, he punched the bar up, the lift looked good, but in a heartbreaker, the bar was drifting back and in the blink of an eye, it sailed over his head, and crashed to the platform.

Tesovic finished with 411, Pisarevskiy had 407 and Lapikov got 402.

Strasbourg - Even if the numbers weren't huge, the snatch competition in the 85-kg category was spirited and close, setting the stage for the evening.

 

Valeriu Calancea (Romania) flies under 208 kg for the winning clean and jerk and a gold medal in the total as well, in the 85-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships tonight. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Izzet Ince (Turkey) opened at 169 kg, the highest first attempt, and he made a good lift. Zaur Takhushev (Russia) missed the same weight on his second attempt, and then Vadzim Straltsov (Belarus) smoked it. Takhushev wanted the lead in the snatch, so he took 170 on his third attempt, but it was no lift. Ince made 171 on his second attempt, and then Straltov moved past him by making 172 on his third attempt. But with one lift left, and being lighter, Ince made the same weight and claimed the gold medal in the snatch.

Talkhushev, who had opened with a good 190, took 196 on his second clean and jerk, going for first in the jerk and third in the total, but he stalled out on the jerk, maybe passing out. He repeated and missed the jerk on his third attempt. The French fans went wild when Benjamin Hennequin came out for 197 kg on his second attempt - a good lift was worth the same positions that Talkhushev had been aiming for, but, quel domage, he missed the jerk.

Next up was Valeriu Calancea (Romania), who had finished third in the snatches, with 165 kg, but he was lighter than either of the two guys ahead of him. Calanea made a no-doubt-about-it lift with 198 for his opener, which put him in the lead in the jerk and in third place for the total. If that lift was good, Straltsov's second attempt, 198, was super easy and super impressive, and it moved him to second place in the jerk and first in the total. Ince wanted those slots, too, so he took the same weight, and made a nice lift.

Back to Hennequin who, along with his teammate David Matam, were by far the most muscular competitors in this category, but this is weightlifting not bodybuilding, so the looks were for naught if you couldn't lift the bar. After his second attempt - which ended in a badly-missed jerk - success seemed unlikely, but Hennequin stuck the jerk . . . he might have been as surprised as anyone else following the action, but the crowd cheered wildly.

Alas, Hennequin's moment in the sun was just that, as Straltsou followed with 201 on his third attempt, which he nailed, giving him the lead in the jerk and the total as rewards for his six-for-six day. Ince wanted those places, too, though (is this sounding familiar?), so he took the same weight and also made a good lift, to claim them.

But remember Calancea? Everyone else was done, he had two attempts left and he wanted those same two places that been getting passed around, so the bar was loaded to 208 kg and Calancea blew it away. At this point, he must have felt like Superman, because the Romanian man of the hour called for a world record 219 kg . . . talk about ending the class with an exclamation point . . . but all he did was deadlift it.

In case you didn't get the sense that this class was close, two of the medals in the snatch and all three in the total were decided on bodyweight: Calanacea, Ince, Straltstov was the final finishing order.

Strasbourg - Woe to his competitors when Szymon Kolecki (Poland) leads after the snatch - that was the case in the men's 94-kg category today at the European Weightlifting Championships, and in another hour, Kolecki had three gold medals hanging around his neck.

 

How close was his miss with 181 kg on his third attempt snatch? After the bar sailed over his head, Szymon Kolecki turned toward his coach and showed him. Kolecki won all three gold medals in the 94-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships tonight. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

While Kolecki was expected to be the big gun in this class, the snatch can be a challenge for him; but not tonight, as he made 173 and 177, and with the gold secured, he had a very close miss, up and over, with 181 kg on the last attempt of the category. Roman Konstantinov (Russia) made 170 and 176, before missing 180 kg - his 176 was good for the silver medal in the snatch. Evgheni Bratan (Moldavia) got the bronze in the snatch with 173.

Special mention must go to Nikolaos Kourtidis (Greece), who had 175 locked out overhead on his third attempt, but maybe due to recovering too quickly, he lost the lift and what followed was at least as dramatic as anything that had happened on the platform: When Kourtides missed this lift, Greek coach Christos Iakovou felt no need to hide his feelings, and while my Greek isn't perfect, by reading his lips, it was apparent that Christos wished Nikolaos a slow, painful death and cursed his family for three generations, in a speech that was punctuated with plenty of gestures and reinforced with ample body language.

Clean and jerks are in the Kingdom of Kolecki, so while the others fought it out for first place behind him, Kolecki waited. Bronze in the jerk went to Kostyantyn Piliyev (Ukraine) who polished off his opener, 205, with a deep power jerk. He went a little deeper with 211, and on 213, it was a full squat jerk - each of his attempts was smooth and powerful. Konstantinov missed the jerk on his opener, 210. On his second attempt, repeating with the weight, he chased the clean to about two feet from the front edge of the platform, but he stood there, cooly, and jerked the weight solidly for a good lift. In an effort to leapfrog over Kolecki, who was in gold medal position in the jerk and the total after his opening clean and jerk, 216 kg, Konstantinov jumped seven kilos on his third attempt, a huge increase in these 1-kg days. Konstantinov made a tremendous lift with this weight - he walked all over the platform, rotating, as he fought to save the jerk, which he did at the edge of the platform . . . once again, he never blinked and he got the job done.

On his second attempt, Kolecki took the 218 he needed to regain first and first, making what can only be described as an easy lift. If there were a downside to Kolecki's performance, it would be that some wish he'd been pushed a bit more so that he'd uncork a clean and jerk in the 230-kg range.

Following Kolecki's 395, Konstantinov totaled 393 and Evgheni Bratan hit 382.

Strasboug - Battling his teammate Ara Khachatryan every step of the way, Gevorg Davtyan (Armenia) won all the marbles in the men's 77-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships tonight.



Gevorg Davtyan (Armenia) hits this 197-kg clean and jerk to complete his sweep of the 77-kg gold medals at the European Weightlifting Championships tonight. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

Turkey's Taner Sagir was a podium favorite tonight, but after opening with 160 kg in the snatch and then missing 164 twice, he lost too much ground to be in the hunt for gold. Khachatryan sailed through three good snatches - 159, 163 and 165 - but Davytan, who had made 163 on his opener and then missed 165 on his second attempt, moved up to 166 on his third attempt, in a bid for the lead. He made a good lift, but with nothing to spare.

The competition hall was rocking with enthusiastic Armenian and Turkish fans, there to support their lifters full force, and Khachatryan was the first of the leaders to post a clean and jerk, a good opener with 191 kg. Sagir took 193 kg on his first attempt, but he was blown out the back trying to rack the weight and looking as if he had jammed his leg, he limped off, but came back to make a tough success with the same weight on his second attempt. Kachatryan made a solid second attempt with 194, once again power jerking the weight, and for his third attempt he made 196 kg with a lift that was never in doubt - for the lead in the jerk and in the total. The Armenian fans erupted in celebration, but more was coming to make them happy as Davtyan, who had made 193 and 195, called for 197 kg on this third attempt, aiming for the gold medals in the jerk and the total, and he made a good lift. Taner passed on his third attempt.

Also noteworthy was the return of Zlaten Vanev (Bulgaria), back from three broken arms, and although he was not in top form, he was strongly supported by his fans who were happy to see him make 141/190.

Earlier, in the women's + 75-kg category, Olha Korobka (Ukraine) was the big news: Tipping the scales at 164.57 kg, Olha is now within a few pommes frites of Hossein Rezazadeh's PR bodyweight at the Olympics and the World Weightlifting Championships! Another way to get a sense of the gravity of this situation is to consider what Hossein Rezazadeh has weighed recently and then to realize that if Olha Korobka matched him on the lifts, Hossein Rezazadeh would still get the win - on bodyweight.

Anyway, putting that mass in motion, Korobka snatched 122, 127 and then 133 - the last lift being a new senior European record. Things did not go so smoothly in the clean and jerk, even though after her opener, 153 kg, the feeling was that Korobka was poised to squash the continental record. Instead, she couldn't stand up with 160 kg on her second attempt, but bouncing back on her third attempt, although not massively easy, she made a good lift with the weight.

Strasbourg - Things were pretty quiet in the training hall today at the European Weightlifting Championships . . . until the top Poles and Russians from the heavier classes walked in.



MILO cover guy and superheavyweight gold medalist in the snatch at the 2005 World Weightlifting Championships, Evgeni Tchigichev (Russia) wrapped up his training at the European Weightlifting Championships today with some light squats and presses. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

Marcin Dolega and Szymon Kolecki turned the tide when the pair heavily favored for medals in the 105- and 94-kg categories, respectively, strolled in. Dolega drilled more than any other lifter in the training hall today, going up to 150 in the snatch and doubling it for several sets. He gave 170 kg similar treatment in the clean and jerk.

Kolecki has been creating a major buzz in the weightlifting world in recent months because of his top performances earlier this year. "He is the Szymon of old," the Polish coaching staff told IronMind®, explaining the back trouble that had been plaguing the lifter with superstar potential was finally under control. Talking after his workout today, Szymon told IronMind®, "If things go well tomorrow and I snatch 180, then I will clean and jerk 217, 218 or 219. I am ready for 230, but the Europeans are not the Worlds."

Other stars in the training hall today included Dmitry Lapikov (Russia), who won the 105-kg gold medal in the snatch at the 2006 World Weightlifting Championships and came within a whisker of taking home the whole enchilada . . . lifting in the B session at close to midnight.

And for more even more rumble in the jungle, Russian super heavyweight Evgeni Tchigischev was training, too.

In a lift that still has the fans gushing, at the 2005 World Weightlifting Championships (Doha, Qatar), Tchigishev outsnatched the mighty Hossein Rezazadeh - which is impressive enough any way you slice it, but Chigishev - who was giving up nearly 40 kg of bodyweight - faced a hostile Iranian crowd that kept booing as he lifted. No matter, though, because guess who snatched 211 kg for the gold medal?

Strasbourg - When Vencelas Dabaya won the 2006 World Weightlifting Championships, his French compatriots had one more good reason to drink Champagne, and tonight, at the European Weightlifting Championships, his delivered an encore.


Vencelas Dabaya (France) celebrated his victory in the 69-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today with a back flip. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Tigran Martirosyan (Armenia) got started where his teammate Hripsime Khurshdyan had left off in the women's 75-kg category, opening in the snatch after everyone else was finished, ripping up 150 and 155, before missing 157 in what would have been a new junior European record. Dabaya was second in the snatch, with 148 kg, but he was lighter than Martirosyan, and Vladislav Lukanin (Russia) was also in the hunt, with his bronze medal snatch of 147 kg.

Of the leaders, Lukanin opened first in the clean and jerk, making a good lift with 175 kg, but when he returned the bar to the platform, he looked like he was in a lot of pain. Martirosyan opened with 176, but his power jerk was out front and the bar came crashing down. On his second attempt Matirosyan was passing out as he stood up, and he had to dump the bar, so now his back was against the wall, but when he repeated, there was no doubt about the lift and he went into the lead in both the clean and jerk, and the total.

Dabaya, who was lighting up the large crowd there to cheer their man on, opened with an easy 180, to overtake Martirosyan in the jerk, and move into second in the total. Dabaya followed himself, and showing that he wasn't being reckless, he took 183, to move into the lead in the total. To say that his second attempt looked easy would be quite an understatement. Lukanin was the only other lifter still in the competition at this point and he had two attempts left. He had originally been in for 188, but his second was lowered, and when he came out for 185, looking very fired up, he was stopped as he stood over the bar and called back, as the jury debated, possibly, whether the change had been received in time. The delay seemed likely to affect Lukanin when he was then cleared to lift, but another school of thought was that it would only make him than much hungrier to succeed.

This weight would move Lukanin into the lead in both the jerk and the total, so it was a huge attempt, but after attacking the bar for a good but not easy clean, Lukanin missed the jerk. He repeated and it was pretty much the same thing again, so the French fans had something big to cheer about. Dabaya, wasn't quite ready to rest on his laurels yet, though, and he called for 190, although all he did was a pull. No matter, the corks were ready to fly.

Earlier, in the women's 75-kg category, it was all Hripsime Khurshudyan (Armenia), who won with 262 kg (122/140). Tatiana Mateeva (Russia) was second (108/139), edging the ever-popular Lidia Valentin (Spain), on bodyweight.

Strasbourg - The women's 69-kg class at the European Weightlifting Championships featured the (former) junior stars, Russian lifters Oxana Slivenko, who holds the junior and senior world record in the snatch at 123 kg, and Zarema Kasaeva, who holds the junior and senior world records in the clean and jerk at 157 kg.

We heard that she hurt her hand and was given a break from training, but the bottom line was that Kasaeva (who is still a junior) didn't look like the same person we're used to seeing in the past, making only one snatch, 100 kg, and two clean and jerks, 125 and 128 kg, before deadlifting 136 kg. Slivenko, who is now a senior, might not have been in top form, but she appeared to just be doing enough to win, which she did very easily via 112/145, good for three gold medals. Nazik Avdalyan (Armenia) was second, via 105/136, edging her teammate Natalya Davydova (who did 109/132) on bodyweight.

Strasbourg - Doing the juniors proud, Sergey Petrosyan (Russia) won the men's 62-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today.


Sergey Petrosyan (Russia) shows that a junior can win at the Senior European Championships as he took the 62-kg category gold medals in the clean and jerk and the total today. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Henadzy Makhveyenia (Belarus) won the snatches with 134 kg, building a good lead going into the clean and jerks, but after making his opener with 154 kg, he missed the jerk twice on 158, opening the door for his rivals.

These misses were all Sergey Petrosyan needed to make up his four-kilo deficit after the snatch, as he hit 155 on his opener, 159 on his second attempt, and with the clean and jerk and total gold medals in hand, he attacked 166 kg on his third clean and jerk, in a junior European record attempt. He got under the bar, but could not stand up with it.

Petroysan finished the night with a 289-kg total, followed by Makhveyenia (288 kg) and Turkey's Erol Bilgin (286 kg).

Earlier, in the women's 63-kg category, Maline Daluzyan (Armenia) set a new Junior European record in the snatch with 108 kg on her third attempt, and when everyone else was done, she won the gold medals in the clean and jerk as well as the total on her first attempt, 123 kg. Taking 135 on her second attempt, she made a good lift, for new Junior European records in both the clean and jerk, and the total. Sibel Simsek (Turkey) edged Hanna Batsiushka (Belarus) on bodyweight for the silver medal in the total, with 215 kg.

Strasbourg - Marina Shainova (Russia) had an easy time winning the women's 58-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today.


Marina Shainova (Russia) nails this 130-kg clean and jerk, sweeping the gold medals in the women's 58-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Going six for six, Shainova ended the day with 100 kg in the snatch and 130 kg in the clean and jerk. Fetie Kasaj (Albania) got the silver in the total (91/123), missing the jerk with 131 on the final attempt of the class. Some of the biggest news was Ruth Kasirye, originally from Uganda but now lifting for Norway. Kasirye came in fourth in the snatch as well as in the clean and jerk, but her total gave her the bronze overall - the first women's medal ever won by Norway at the European Weightlifting Championships.

Strasbourg - After the snatches, things looked good for Vitali Dzerbianiou (Belarus), but one big clean and jerk by Igor Bour (Moldavia) turned the tide.


Igor Bour pushed ahead of Vitali Dzerbianiou with his first clean and jerk, and he went on to win the 56-kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships today in Strasbourg. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Dzerbianiou marched through three good snatches, ending up with 122, but the gap seemed much larger than the three-kg lead he had over Bour. Bour made 115 and 119, before missing 121, but none of his lifts looked easy, and Dzerbianiou had made three pretty effortless-looking lifts.

Dzerbianiou opened with 140 in the clean and jerk, for the lead, but then Bour, who originally was in for a 147 opener, smoked 143, for the lead. The wisdom of the change in weight seemed even greater when Dzerbianiou missed the jerk with 144 on his second attempt. He came back on his third attempt and following a very strong clean, he made a decisive jerk, to move back into the lead.

Bour showed that his original opener was no bluff, as he took the weight on his second attempt, for a good lift and the gold medals in the jerk and in the total. Not content to stop there, he made another good lift with 151 on his third attempt. This was a big class for Moldavia, as Bour's teammate Igor Grabucea won all three bronze medals.

Earlier today, Estafania Juan (Spain) won the women's 48-kg category with a 189-kg total, while Nurcan Taylan (Turkey), well off her best lifts, came in second with 186. Genny Pagliaro (Italy), who narrowly missed the lift that would have given her the gold medal in the snatch, was third, with 179 kg.

Marioara Munteanu (Romania) won the women's 53-kg category with a 190 total, followed by Natliya Trotsenko (Ukraine), with 186, and Svenlana Ulyanova, who hit 184 kg.

IFSA's Marcel Mostert told IronMind® that Heinz Ollesch, "under the auspices of IFSA Strongman," will be organizing an exciting strongman event at FIBO for the first time.

Held in Essen, Germany, FIBO is massive in scale and Mostert said that the strongman exhibition will be seen by 50,000 spectators. And along with the top strongman competitors from such countries as Germany, Austria and Holland, World's Strongest Woman Aneta Florzyk will be there. The events are: farmer's walk, log lift, stones, Bavarian stone lift and a truck pull.

FIBO runs April 19 - 22 and for full details, please check the official FIBO website.

Strasbourg - Weightlifting fans will be happy to know that Marc Huster is at the European Weightlifting Championships, where the lifting begins tomorrow.


Marc Huster in Strasbourg today. Marc's had some great battles with Pyrros Dimas, and his huge clean and jerks, capped off with ballistic victory leaps, will long be remembered by lifting fans. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Huster will be working as a commentator for Eurosport and that should be a big plus for everyone watching their coverage.

Marc said he is weighing 83 or 84 kilos, so even though he appears noticeably trimmer, he weighs about what he did in the days when he was cleaning and jerking 215 kg. Marc said he lifts once a week, and plays football (soccer) once a week. His training consists of deadlifts and squats, both done for sets of five reps, working up from 130 to 180 kg in 10-kg jumps. A little ab work finishes things off, Marc said.

In addition to his TV work as a commentator and a presenter, Marc is now a partner in a waterbed business, which he said gives him the challenge of expanding a business.

WSMSS Tour Director Jesper Albansson told IronMind® that ticket sales for the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix are already more than double of last year and to put that in context, yesterday they even outsold such big acts as Ricky Martin and John Legend.


Mark Philippi makes it happen on the Apollon's Axle™ at the 2006 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix. Mark will be back this year - he's another top World's Strongest Man competitor you will see, and be able to meet, at the Mohegan Sun on April 22. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

What you have going at the Mohegan Sun, observers say, is the perfect mix of a world-class setting, world-class strongmen and staging, and a history of sound working relationships . . . all the critical elements for success are in place and that is why the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix is thriving.

Want to talk big names in strongman? Look at this list, starting with the competiors:

Mariusz Pudzianowski
Janne Virtanen
Terry Hollands
Mark Felix
Vlad Ahlizov
Jessen Paulin
Louis-Philippe Jean
Don Pope
Kevin Nee
Marshall White
Mark Philippi
Jason Bergman
Darren Sadler
Odd Haugen

If that's not enough, consider that Svend Karlsen will be working as the World's Strongest Man Super Series Expert Commentator and the great Bill Kazmaier will be the emcee. Still not impressed? The ever-popular Jesse Marunde "is booked for TV and radio appearances starting Thursday next week and continuing all through Saturday," Jesper Albansson told IronMind®.

If you're in the area or want to pick a terrific destination for a strongman contest, plan to be at the Mohegan Sun on April 22. For full details, and tickets, please check the official Mohegan Sun website.

"I'm sitting on top of 325," Jesse Marunde said, "but I've still got abs."


Backed up by 325 pounds of energetic muscle, Jesse Marunde works the mike and entertains the crowd at the 2007 FitExpo, where the MET-Rx All-American Strongman Challenge was a big hit. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

He's heavier than last year at this time, but Jesse said he's in super-fit condition because he is putting an hour a day of cardio work as part of the rehab work he is doing for his knees. And talking work, Jesse said, "I get up at five and get home at 8:30," he's not knocking it because he said sitting still is not his style.

"My knees are still healing," the 2005 World's Strongest Man runner-up said, so he's coming off a period of primarily upper body training, along with reverse hypers and ab work. And while he would not say that he's at 100% yet, Jesse said his knees are pain-free for the first time in years.

Work is piling in Jesse said, and things are going so well in terms of his personal training business, working for his sponsors and emceeing/refereeing contests, that Jesse is going to be very selective about which contests he competes in this year, he told IronMind®. First up, Jesse said, will be the WSMSS contest at Muscle Beach on June 16 - selected, he said, because it gives him the maximum amount of time to let his knees heal, he can still qualify for the 2007 World's Strongest Man contest and because "it's in the same time zone."

Holding off on predictions for his performance at the 2007 WSM contest, Jesse said, "It's too early to tell. I need to be at 100% to see how my new body performs."

Saying he is "very excited to hear the news regarding the USAPL's invitation to become involved with the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival," two-time IPF super heavyweight world champion Brad Gillingham added, "This is huge for the sport of powerlifting."


Brad Gillingham hauls up, for him, what is a routine 375-kg deadlift. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Brad Gillingham.
 

"The USAPL is the USA national affiliate to the IPF," Gillingham explained for people who have gotten lost in the alphabet soup of powerlifting federations. "The IPF is the international governing body for the sport of powerlifting and is recognized worldwide through its affiliation with the IOC-patronized IWGA World Games. It makes great sense for the Arnold Sports Festival and the USAPL to form a partnership."

Explaining more about what makes the USAPL unique, Gillingham said, "The USAPL/IPF rules require a strict standard for completing the lifts, in addition to compliance with WADA drug testing requirements."

And what's the bottom line from Brad Gillingham?

"The spectators at the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival will be able to watch powerlifting at its highest level. I am looking forward to participating in next year's event," he told IronMind®.

Citing its history, drug testing policy and affiliation with the IPF, Jim Lorimer announced today that USAPL is being welcomed to the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival.

With a crowd of approximately 150,000 attending the 2007 weekend, the scope of the Arnold Sports Festival is enormous, and Jim Lorimer, the event's producer, told IronMind® that his efforts are fully in line with the goal of eliminating banned substances from sports. Showcasing sports from sumo to cheerleading, the Arnold Sports Festival grows each year, and it is committed to clean athletic competition, Lorimer said.

"USA Powerlifting is committed to the honor and integrity of competitive powerlifting," said Dr. Larry Maile, President of USA Powerlifting. "We are thrilled to join the Arnold Sports Festival in the presentation of this sport on a fair competitive platform emphasizing honor and respect. Our international affiliation with the esteemed International Powerlifting Federation will bring added attention to the sport and the Arnold Sports Festival."

Svend "Viking Power" Karlsen told IronMind® that he hopes his comments regarding future participation in WSMC contests were not misunderstood.

"I have never had anything against World Strongman Cup," Karlsen told IronMind®, "and I never meant to discredit them in any way."

Karlsen was addressing the recent brouhaha surrounding the WSMC contest on Kish Island, in the Persian Gulf.

"Arild [Haugen] is a young guy," Karlsen explained, "and he did not mean to offend anyone or break any laws. Someone should have made it clear to him that in Iran, men are not allowed to touch women . . . it should have been explained to him that he was not allowed to lift up those Iranian girls. My objection was to the way this was handled because no competitor should have been forced to sign a statement with his name plus 'stupid.' "

Karlsen commands great respect in the strongman world, having won the sport's most prestigious contest - World's Strongest Man - and being a leader off the field as well.

Adding further clarity and emphasis to his comments, Karlsen said, "I hope that nothing I said in any way jeopardizes the relationship between Arild and World Strongman Cup because Arild is on his way to becoming the biggest thing ever in strongman."

IronMind® has received an official statement from the World Strongman Cup (WSMC) about the contest it recently held in Iran.

"Statement of World Strongman Cup to competition Iran -Kish Island / Letters Patent to Mr. S. Karlsen

The last days really haven't been as easy for World Strongman Cup Federation as desired. The WSMC intended to hold an absolutely unique strongman competition in a country, Iran, whose culture and mentality differ very much in comparison to the most Eastern and Western countries, in order to provide a historical chance to both - Iran and the international strongman scene as well.

Nevertheless, reconsidered, the plan to hold a competition in such a foreign and difficult country like Iran has been a very brave decision of WSMC, for the Iran has a quite interesting strongman association.

WSMC is very thankful for suggestions and feedback, but only criticism is just not enough and helps nobody. Particularly in situations which are difficult for all participants -WSMC, the athletes, and everybody who made efforts that the competition takes place - all people who love strongman sports should hold together in order to cut the losses.

The competition in Iran was supposed to be a good chance for Iran as well as for the international strongman scene, but unfortunately it was stopped by the Iranian government.

The reason was that an athlete of WSMC, Mr. Arild Haugen from the Norwegian strongman association whose president is Mr. Svend Karlsen, put two Iranian girls on his shoulders. This action is strictly forbidden by the local laws, so there hasn't been any chance for WSMC or the organisers to excuse for him and to continue the cup.

The competition was organised under much efforts and energies by Mr. Vlad Redkin, and licensed with all authorisations needed. WSMC had to face many criticism of a lot of officials due to the imprudent acting of Mr. Arild Haugen, and we never got tired of sticking up for him, defended and excused for him. As a considerable strongman association, we felt in duty bound. That's why WSMC is a little bit confused by the way, Mr. Haugen chose to act his gratitude. In his mail, sent to the Office WSMC in March 2007, Mr. Haugen didn't mention anything of such an apology, moreover there are no information available on the part of the Iranian government or the embassy concerning this matter or the fact, that anybody of the people attending the contest was supposed to be arrested. That's a very serious accusation, we are sure Mr. Haugen is awake to this.

Regarding the fact, that Mr. Svend Karlsen, who used to participate at our World Strongman Cups formerly as well, wants to press Norwegian athletes to pass up many opportunities in strongman sports, saddens us and provokes our thoughts in equal measures.

WSMC would highly regret it for Norway if we'd not be able to present the world via many distinguished international TV broadcasting stations a strong Norwegian athlete any longer. Although there's absolutely no lack of athletes wanting to get the chance to compete in a World Strongman Cup (in fact, the waiting list is pretty filled since months!), it'd be a pity that the Norwegian athletes couldn't be represented any more.

Concerning the unpleasant situation with the payments promised: WSMC understands the awkward situation of the athletes. But we have to tell you that we are noted for handling money matters as unbureaucratic and generous as possible. Just now Mr. Vlad Redkin ensured us to sort all the problems out properly.

We are sorry for all our athletes, but neither WSMC nor the athlete lifting up the girls can be blamed of the acting by the Iranian government.

But please keep in mind: nothing ventured, nothing gained in experience!

It's the main aim of WSMC to improve this amazing sport in order to push it to its maximum level.

In order to gain this goal, everybody who loves strongman sports should pull together, so that an amicable and successful cooperation continues in future as well. WSMC will always be present for problems and suggestions for improvements of athletes and fans in equal measures and is, according to our philosophy of guaranteeing absolutely free and fair competitions besides any unsportsmanlike habits imposed, looking forward for a good collaboration of all athletes, strongman associations and fans.

Best 'be strong' regards,
Office
World Strongman Cup Federation"

"All I did was play a little keyboard, hoot and holler my address, and lift a truck . . . what's the problem"


The back cover of Rock Iron Steel: The Book of Strength by Steve Justa shows the author in action. This book is considered the real deal among functional strength training books. Courtesy of IronMind® Enterprises, Inc.
 

Never one to follow the herd, Steve Justa's recent videos on YouTube left a lot of people chatting and not all their comments were pretty. Unperturbed by any flak, Steve Justa said, "Controversy creates cash," and the vice president of his local bank has been impressed by how much interest Steve has stirred up.

A MILO® author whose creativity is highly regarded at IronMind®, Steve said that some people have been bragging him up, while others were hammering him down, but none of it bothers him. "It goes with the territory," Justa said.

Not to be limited by convention, Steve Justa's barrel lifting course was a prime example of his cutting edge thinking and the old ads for his White Buffalo (a training tool for arm wrestlers) gave form to his different way of doing things. Comparing his book Rock Iron Steel to other functional training books has been said to be like comparing an actual Hell's Angel to an accountant who doesn't shave one weekend and then rides around on his Harley in a black T-shirt.

Justa said that he had the option of screening comments, but he said no, preferring "to let them have their say."

Describing himself as "acting like a nut," Justa explained that he not only knew the video would be controversial, but also that this was his intent. "I wanted to leave an impression in their minds," he said. "I wanted to make something they wouldn't forget," and according to what Justa hears, "it's spreading like a bonfire" across the Internet, so there's no doubt that he has succeeded.

"I need to make some money," Justa said. "I'm sick of being broke. I have 30 years of knowledge and need to transform that into cash."

And as far as being a nut goes, Steve Justa says, "To be a hardcore lifter, you have to be half crazy."

Over the weekend, Elizabeth Horne broke the women's world record on the Rolling Thunder®, securing her claim to some pretty big grip-world bragging rights and Laine Snook took a shot at the men's world record, which he holds.


Elizabeth Horne breaks the women's word record on the Rolling Thunder® with a lift of 65.5 kg. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of David Horne.

Elizabeth pushed the women's record up to 65.5 kg and we look for more big lifts in the future. And speaking of the future, don't think Laine doesn't have plans for the men's world record.

"I was not surprised that I did not increase my record," Laine told IronMind®, "as I injured my lower back badly at the end of March and my training stopped at that point. One week before the contest I doubled 283 pounds and was confident that even injured I could increase the record. Two days before the contest I felt good, but after a visit to the osteopath for a last session, I could hardly walk. The day before the contest I telephoned David [Horne] to say that I would not be lifting - later that evening I remembered what Wade Gillingham had said about winning the title - you have to to show up and take the title - so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, whilst it felt quite light, I just couldn't stand up with the weight, and I am ashamed to say that it just hurt too much."

But that was just the warm up, because on May 19, at the British Grip Championships, the stage is being set for Laine to take another shot . . . our crystal ball says that 130 kg could be going airborne.

Reporting from the Peter Horne Memorial Grip Contest, David Horne said, ". . . Weather's been awesome, and the day has been excellent!"

As part of today's festivities, both the men's and the women's world records in the Rolling Thunder® were under assault, the former by Laine Snook and the latter by Elizabeth Horne. Laine "got 125.5 kg off the floor, but his back was too bad, and he couldn't straighten up. It's definitely there another day," David Horne told IronMind®. And on the women's side, hats off to Elizabeth Horne who brought home the bacon, lifting a new world record of 65.5 kg.

Sounds like a terrific tribute to David's dad, Peter Horne, and a great time for all.

World Strongman Cup Manager Vlad Redkin told IronMind that he is all set to (re)open the 2007 WSMC season, with a contest set for Riga, Latvia on May 13.


Local hero Raivis Vidzis, shown at the 2006 WSMC competition in Riga. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Vlad Redkin.

"I have first stage in Riga!!," Vlad said, featuring six events: deadlift for reps (car), stone lift (five stones), front squat, yoke, Atlas stones (120 - 180 kg), tire flip (maybe with farmer's walk). This is the official start list:

1. Mark Felix (Grenada)
2. Mariusz Pudzianowski (Poland)
3. Terry Hollands (UK)
4. Rene Minkwitz (Denmark)
5. Raivis Vidzis (Latvia)
6. Tarmo Mitt (Estonia)
7. Antanas Abrutis
8. Elbrus Nigmatullin (Russia)
9. Ralf Ber (Austria)
10. Dominic Filiou (Canada)
11. tbd
12. tbd
13. tbd

Vlad also reported the followed WSMC contests for 2007:
 

July 1 - Moscow ( in exchange the Iranian stage )
July 22 - London
July 28 - Irkutsk, Russia
November tbd - Holland
June 23 - Dubai (possibly)

Addressing the concerns about the remainder of the season and moving forward, Vlad told IronMind®, "I have big reserve. WSMCF will have full list of stages and we will organize eight stages without any problems. Iranian stage was a little mistake; all normal men understand this."

IronMind® just received official word from IMG that the British Strongest Man contest is returning this year.

"TWI, an IMG Media Company, will be bringing Britain's Strongest Man back to the TV screens later in 2007," IronMind® was told. "Details are still being finalized but TWI are delighted to be staging this event again, after a two-year break."

British Strongest Man (BSM) has a illustrious role in the strongman world and securing its status, TWI told IronMind®, "The winner of Britain's Strongest Man will automatically qualify for a place in this year's WSM event."

IronMind® will post more details as they become available, but also keep your eye on the official WSM website for complete information.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the national weightlifting team at its training hall in Tehran yesterday, as a delegation prepared to leave for the upcoming Asian Weightlifting Championships.


Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh (left), Olympic champion Mohammad Nasiri (center) and Iranian President Mamoud Ahmadinjegad (right) at the IRIWF training hall in Tehran yesterday. IronMind® | Mohammad Babaei photo.

While the IRIWF's superstar, two-time Olympic gold medalist Hossein Rezazadeh, will not be making the trip, eight lifters will be going to China for the Asian Weightlifting Championships, IronMind® was told. Hossein Rezazadeh, with an eye toward the Beijing Olympics, said that he will not be competing in the Asian Weightlifting Championships this year, but will focus on preparing for the World Weightlifting Championships, instead.

Highland Games pro Dave Brown came by the 2007 Last Chance Seniors Qualifier and Junior Open at Sacramento High School yesterday to watch the lifting and meet Jim Schmitz - as a fringe benefit, he officially closed the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper . . . right and left handed.


Dave Brown and Jim Schmitz at the PWA weightlifting meet yesterday at Sacramento High School. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

One of the things that has always been unique about Dave Brown is how little he lifts, especially given how strong he is, but when he decided it was time to get serious about his lifting and wanted some expert advice on how snatch, and clean and jerk, who better to ask for help than Jim Schmitz. So Dave came to the PWA weightlifting contest yesterday - where he was quick to praise the lifters that Paul and Kevin Doherty have been developing in their high school programs in Sacramento and San Francisco, respectively.

Dave Brown has long been known for his tremendous hand strength, and over the years we've heard of him not just closing the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper with great regularity, but we've also regarded him as short-list candidate to close the No. 4. as well. When Dave arrived at the Pacific Weightlifting Association meet yesterday, he kindly agreed to give the No. 3 a shot, and he's so relaxed in his approach that at first he wasn't even going to chalk up. With almost zero warmup followed by a clear success on an already-opened No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper, Dave earned a shot at doing it officially: A new gripper was opened on the spot and he crushed it, first right-handed, then left-handed, then right-handed again, and again . . . giving his somewhat lame photographer (yours truly) multiple chances to get the required picture.

Recognizing his accomplishment, IronMind® is proud to certify Dave Brown on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper and we have added his name to the official list.

Way to go Dave!