World's Strongest Man is the most important annual international event in strength athletics. Organised by the International Federation of Strength Athletes (IFSA), it is held around the end of September each year. Thirty contestants take part across five heats; the top two in each go through to the final. The event sponsors are Met-Rx and the top prize is known as the Met-Rx Trophy. For many years the competition was dominated by the Nordic countries; however, the early years of the present decade have seen a growth in the number of strongman competitors from eastern Europe. In 2003 Mariusz Pudzianowski retained the title by the greatest margin ever recorded.

The World's Strongest Woman contest is held alongside the men's competition. Women compete in the same disciplines as the men, but using weights which are 20 to 30 percent lighter.

Previous champions

1977 Bruce Wilhelm (USA)
1978 Bruce Wilhelm
1979 Don Reinhoudt (USA)
1980 Bill Kazmaier (USA)
1981 Bill Kazmaier
1982 Bill Kazmaier
1983 Geoff Capes (UK)
1984 Jón Páll Sigmarsson (Iceland)
1985 Geoff Capes
1986 Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1987 not held
1988 Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1989 Jamie Reeves (UK)
1990 Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1991 Magnús Ver Magnússon (Iceland)
1992 Ted van der Parre (Netherlands)
1993 Gary Taylor (UK)
1994 Magnús Ver Magnússon
1995 Magnús Ver Magnússon
1996 Magnús Ver Magnússon
1997 Jouko Ahola (Finland)
1998 Magnus Samuelsson (Sweden)
1999 Jouko Ahola
2000 Janne Virtanen (Finland)
2001 Svend Karlsen (Norway)
2002 Mariusz Pudzianowski (Poland)
2003 Mariusz Pudzianowski
2004 Vasyl Virastyuk (Ukraine)

External link

• Table of final results 1978-2002