Besides being a front runner from days when American strongman started to grow in the late 1990s, Karl Gillingham is the Sultan of the Strongman Stats, so when Karl told IronMind® that Brian Schoonveld had competed in about 25 strongman contests in 2001, we knew it was smart to listen.


Brian Schoonveld on his way to breaking the world record in the Apollon's Axle at the 2005 Fit Expo strongman contest. The next day, Schoonie won the whole contest. too. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


A quick call to Brian Schoonveld confirmed that Karl Gillingham was on the money once again and a crew is working right now to document the count, but by every indication there appears to be no question that Schoonie's run in 2001 exceeded the number presented for Zydrunas Savickas as being a record. Interestingly, though, Schoonie is quick to nod toward Mariusz Pudzianowski as being the leader on this score - Schoonie's point is well taken, because the Polish strongman superstar - the only man ever to win the World's Strongest Man contest five times - is also the Duracell Bunny of strongman . . . he runs laps around his competition.

Brian Schoonveld also expressed concern about what he sees as a lack of knowledge about strongman history and some disrespectful comments about Mariusz Pudzianowski, saying "Get your facts right . . . Strongman didn't start last year."