Strength athletics in Iceland refers to the participation of Icelandic competitors and the holding of Icelandic events in the modern phenomenon of strength athletics inaugurated by the World's Strongest Man. The sport's roots have a long and ancient history going back many centuries with the legends of Orm Storolfsson and Grettir Ásmundarson to the 19th century traditional strongmen including Snorri Björnsson, Brynjólfur Eggertsson and Gunnar Salómonsson; before the televisation of strongman competitions in the late 1970s.

In terms of modern strength athletics, Iceland has held a preeminent position as a nation due to the enormous success of its competitors on the international stage, who between them have won Nine World's Strongest Man titles and numerous other international competitions, and is often regarded as the strongest nation on Earth.[1][2]

History

The origin of Icelanders testing each other through feats and tests of strength predates the introduction of strength athletics and in terms of strength based sports there had been a number of noted powerlifters and weightlifters during the twentieth century. However, in the era of strongman competition Iceland has a record that belies the size of the nation's population having won 9 World's Strongest Man titles, second only to the USA who have won 12 titles. Before Iceland had its own national competition, it already had men competing on the international circuit. In 1983, the young powerlifter and bodybuilder, Jón Páll Sigmarsson entered the 1983 World's Strongest Man competition and was only beaten into second place by the experienced Geoff Capes. Sigmarsson went on to win the competition the following year and in total won the World's Strongest Man four times, and became the first man to win the title 4 times. Sigmarsson was also a six times World Muscle Power champion, 2 times Europe's Strongest Man and winner of the Pure Strength title. His contemporary, and good friend Hjalti Árnason, was also competing at this time and as well as podium finishes in World Muscle Power and World Strongman Challenge, he won the highly regarded Le Defi Mark Ten International competition. Magnús Ver Magnússon followed in their footsteps and emulated Sigmarsson's four World's Strongest Man titles, becoming the second man to win the title 4 times. He also won World Strongman Challenge, Europe's Strongest Man and European Hercules competitions. Ver Magnússon and Árnason also won the 1989 Pure Strength team competition. There have also been a number of other highly respected Icelandic competitors in the top international events including Andrés Guðmundsson, Benedikt Magnússon, Torfi Ólafsson and most notably Stefán Sölvi Pétursson who achieved fourth-place in the 2010 World's Strongest Man competition. The next entire decade of Icelandic Strongman competitions was dominated by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson who won the main National title 10 consecutive times in addition to winning several other national competitions multiple times and also winning 9 Giants Live tours including the Europe's Strongest Man 5 times, 8 Strongman Champions League titles, the Arnold Strongman Classic 3 consecutive times, the World's Strongest Man and the World's Ultimate Strongman becoming the most decorated Icelandic Strongman of All time.[3]

National competitions

Since 1985, Iceland has had its own national competition, Iceland's Strongest Man. There have also been three other major titles contested in Iceland, including Strongest Man in Iceland, Iceland's Strongest Man (IFSA) and Iceland's Strongest Viking; in addition to Westfjord's Viking, Grundarfjord Viking, Highland Viking, Eastfjord Strongman Championships and Thor's Powerlifting Challenge.

Iceland’s Strongest Man

In 1985, the very first Iceland's Strongest Man contest was held[4] and it was not for the faint-hearted. Three of the six competitors ended up in hospital.[5] Jón Páll won the competition while Hjalti Árnason emerged second and Magnús Ver third. Thus, in the very first contest the podium finishers would between them go on to win the World's Strongest Man eight times, the World Muscle Power Classic seven times, the World Strongman Challenge, Le Defi Mark Ten International and numerous powerlifting titles including the super-heavyweight IPF World Powerlifting Championships. The contest's profile was immediately internationally renowned and it eventually became an open competition, although if a non-Icelander wins, the title of Iceland's Strongest Man defers to the highest placed Icelander. This has only happened on 2 occasions when the legendary Bill Kazmaier of the United States and Regin Vagadal of the Faroe Islands won. Tom Stoltman, Terry Hollands and Adrian Rollinson of the United Kingdom and Don Pope of the USA have all placed second. Luke Stoltman of the United Kingdom has placed third.

Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place
1985Jón Páll SigmarssonHjalti ÁrnasonMagnús Ver Magnússon
1986Jón Páll SigmarssonHjalti ÁrnasonMagnús Ver Magnússon
1987Jón Páll SigmarssonHjalti ÁrnasonMagnús Ver Magnússon
1988Bill Kazmaier United StatesMagnús Ver MagnússonHjalti Árnason
1989Magnús Ver MagnússonHjalti ÁrnasonTorfi Ólafsson
1990Jón Páll SigmarssonAndrés GuðmundssonHjalti Árnason
1991[6][7]Magnús Ver MagnússonHjalti ÁrnasonBjörgvin Filippusson
1992Jón Páll SigmarssonAndrés Guðmundsson
1993Magnús Ver MagnússonAndrés Guðmundsson
1994Gunnar Þór GuðjónssonTorfi Ólafsson & Audunn Jónsson
1995Magnús Ver MagnússonTorfi ÓlafssonAndrés Guðmundsson
1996Magnús Ver MagnússonHjalti ÁrnasonAndrés Guðmundsson
1997Torfi Ólafsson
1998Regin Vagadal Faroe IslandsGunnar Þór GuðjónssonTorfi Ólafsson
1999[8]Gunnar Þór GuðjónssonAudunn Jónsson & Torfi Ólafsson
2000[9]Gunnar Þór GuðjónssonTorfi ÓlafssonAudunn Jónsson
2001Magnús Ver MagnússonMagnús MagnússonKristinn Óskar 'Boris' Haraldsson
2002[10]Magnus MagnussonAudunn JónssonGrétar Guðmundsson
2003Benedikt MagnússonAudunn JónssonGrétar Guðmundsson
2004Magnús Ver MagnússonBenedikt MagnússonAudunn Jónsson
2005[11]Kristinn Oskar 'Boris' HaraldssonAdrian Rollinson United KingdomGuðjón Gíslason
2006[12]Kristinn Óskar 'Boris' HaraldssonDon Pope United StatesJens Fylkisson
2007[13]Kristinn Óskar 'Boris' HaraldssonTerry Hollands United KingdomDon Pope United States
2008Kristinn Óskar 'Boris' HaraldssonStefán Sölvi PéturssonOrri Geirsson
2009Stefán Sölvi PéturssonKristinn Óskar 'Boris' HaraldssonPáll Logason
2010Stefán Sölvi PéturssonBenedikt MagnússonHafþór Júlíus Björnsson
2011[14]Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonPáll Logason
2012Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonPáll Logason
2013Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonPáll LogasonAri Gunnarsson
2014Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonPáll LogasonÚlfur Orri Pétursson
2015Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonFannar Smári Vilhjálmsson
2016Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonStefán Sölvi PéturssonAri Gunnarsson
2017Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonSigfús Fossdal
2018Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonEyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðSigfús Fossdal
2019Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonTom Stoltman United KingdomLuke Stoltman United Kingdom
2020Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonEyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðAri Gunnarsson
2021Stefán Karel TorfasonEyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðKristján Sindri Níelsson
2022Kristján Jón HaraldssonStefán Karel TorfasonPáll Logason
2023Kristján Jón HaraldssonVilius JokužysTheodór Már Gudmundsson

Champions breakdown

Champion Times Years
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson10 (consecutive)2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Iceland Magnús Ver Magnússon71989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2004
Iceland Jón Páll Sigmarsson51985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992
Iceland Kristinn Óskar 'Boris' Haraldsson4 (consecutive)2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Iceland Gunnar Þór Guðjónsson31994, 1999, 2000
Iceland Stefán Sölvi Pétursson2 (consecutive)2009, 2010
Iceland Kristján Jón Haraldsson2 (consecutive)2022, 2023
Iceland Torfi Ólafsson11997
Iceland Magnús Magnússon12002
Iceland Benedikt Magnússon12003
Iceland Stefán Karel Torfason12021
United States Bill Kazmaier11988
Faroe Islands Regin Vágadal11998

Most podium finishes without winning the title

Athlete Times (breakdown)
Iceland Hjalti Árnason8 (6 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd)
Iceland Ari Gunnarsson7 (4 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd)
Iceland Audunn Jónsson6 (4 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd)
Iceland Páll Logason6 (2 x 2nd, 4 x 3rd)
Iceland Andrés Guðmundsson5 (3 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd)
Iceland Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð3 (3 x 2nd)
Iceland Grétar Guðmundsson2 (2 x 3rd)
Iceland Sigfús Fossdal2 (2 x 3rd)

Strongest Man in Iceland

Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place
2010[15]Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonBenedikt MagnússonPáll Logason
2011[16]Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonGeorg Ögmundsson
2012[17]Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonPáll Logason
2016[18]Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonAri GunnarssonStefán Sölvi Pétursson
2017[19]Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonÒskar Pétur HafsteinEyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð
2018Ari GunnarssonEyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðAndré Bachmann
2019Ari GunnarssonEyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðKristján Jón Haraldsson
2020Eyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðStefán Karel TorfasonÒskar Pétur Hafstein
2021Eyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðKristján Jón HaraldssonTómas Darri Thorsteinsson
2022Kristján Jón HaraldssonVilius JokužysTheodór Már Gudmundsson
2023Kristján Jón HaraldssonVilius JokužysPálmi Guðfinnsson

Iceland's Strongest Man (IFSA)

The IFSA organised the Iceland's Strongest Man competition for a number of years before 2005. However, when the IFSA disassociated from the World's Strongest Man competition, Iceland's Strongest Man remained the official qualifier with no IFSA involvement. The IFSA did continue to promote their own version until their financial demise at the end of 2008.

Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place
1999Andrés Guðmundsson
2005Benedikt Magnússon
2006Benedikt MagnússonStefán Sölvi PéturssonGeorg Ögmundsson
2008Stefán Sölvi PéturssonPáll LogasonGrétar Guðmundsson

Iceland's Strongest Viking

This contest dates back to 1992[20] however, in some years the results of this contest have been combined with those of Iceland's Strongest Man in order to ascertain who qualifies for the World's Strongest Man.

Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place
1998Regin Vagadal  Faroe IslandsGunnar Þór GuðjónssonTorfi Ólafsson
2000Magnús Ver MagnússonAudunn JónssonSvavar Einarsson
2001Magnús Ver MagnússonGuðmundur Otri SigurðssonJón Valgeir Williams
2002Magnús Ver MagnússonJón Valgeir WilliamsMagnús Magnússon
2003Magnús Ver MagnússonJón Valgeir WilliamsAudunn Jónsson
2004Magnús Ver MagnússonBenedikt MagnússonJon Valgeir Williams
2005[21]Magnús Ver MagnússonMagnus MagnussonGeorg Ögmundsson
2006[22]Stefán Sölvi PéturssonGeorg ÖgmundssonJón Valgeir Williams
2007Benedikt MagnússonPetur Bruno and Georg Ögmundsson
2009Stefán Sölvi PéturssonPáll Logason
2010Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson[20]Páll LogasonAri Gunnarsson
2011Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonStefán Sölvi PéturssonAri Gunnarsson
2012Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonStefán Sölvi PéturssonGeorg Ögmundsson
2020Eyþór Ingólfsson MelsteðAri GunnarssonStefán Karel Torfason
2021Ari GunnarssonKristján Jón HaraldssonStefán Karel Torfason
2022Kristján Jón HaraldssonStefán Karel TorfasonKristján Sindri Níelsson
2023Vilius JokužysKristján Sindri NíelssonSigfús Fossdal

Other competitions

  • Westfjord's Viking (Vestfjarðarvíkingin)
  • Grundarfjord Viking (Grundarfjarðartröllið)
  • Highland Viking (Upsveitarvíkingin)
  • Eastfjord Strongman Championships (Austfjarðartröllið)
  • Thor's Powerlifting Challenge
  • Magnus Classic

Regional Competitions

Nordic Strongman Championships

The Nordic Strongman Championships consists of athletes from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.[23]

Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Location
2005Norway Svend KarlsenSweden Magnus SamuelssonFinland Juha-Matti RäsänenNorway IFSA Nordic Strongman Championships Kristiansand, Norway
2012[23]Sweden Johannes ÅrsjöNorway Lars RorbakkenDenmark Michael LichtNorway Nordic Strongman Championships Harstad, Norway

See also

References

  1. Tuesday, June 15, 2021, The Giants of Iceland - Strength Beyond Measure by Richard Chapman, Verified Expert - www.guidetoiceland.is
  2. Monday, October 17, 2022, Jamaica makes sprinters. Kenya makes marathoners. And Iceland makes Strongmen! by Greg Merritt - www.guidetoiceland.is
  3. "Strongman Archives - Athletes". Strongman Archives. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  4. Wednesday, June 17, 2009, Stefán Sölvi Pétursson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D., IronMind
  5. Friday, June 19, 2015, Hafthor: 5X Iceland’s Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D., IronMind
  6. 2 september 1991, Sterkasti maður íslands 1991: Magnús Ver sigraði
  7. In 1991 Jón Páll Sigmarsson was unable to compete due to injury sustained in Denmark. Andrés Guðmundsson took fourth place
  8. Iceland's Strongest Man 1999, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-03-27
  9. Sunday, June 18, 2000, Gunnar Thor Wins Icelandic Strongest Man... by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind
  10. Monday, June 17, 2002, Magnus Magnussson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind
  11. Saturday, June 18, 2005, Boris Wins Iceland's Strongest Man, Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind
  12. Tuesday, June 20, 2006, Iceland's Strongest Man Contest: Boris Wins, Qualifies for WSMSS, by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind
  13. Boris Repeats as Iceland’s Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.
  14. "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man". Archived from the original on 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  15. "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins 2010 Strongest Man in Iceland". Archived from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  16. "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins the Strongest Man in Iceland". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  17. "Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Wins Strongest Man in Iceland". Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  18. "Hafthor Wins Strongest Man in Iceland".
  19. "Hafthor Wins Strongest Man in Iceland Viking Challenge 2017".
  20. 1 2 Monday, July 12, 2010, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Wins Iceland’s Strongest Viking: Magnús Ver Magnússon Praises His Progress by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind
  21. Ironmind report, 2005 Iceland's Strongest Viking
  22. "Ironmind report, 2006 Iceland's Strongest Viking". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  23. 1 2 "Nordic Strongman Championships: Viking Loses His Title!". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
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