Derek Poundstone

Poundstone began by competing in powerlifting and progressed to become the Connecticut State Champion. He started competing in strongman after finding an advertisement for a contest on the back of a powerlifting flyer. After earning his Professional Strongman card from the ASC (American Strongman Corporation), Poundstone took two years off competing to enter the Police Academy and become a police officer.

He returned to compete in strongman, and placed fifth in the 2006 St. Patrick's Strongman National Qualifier.[1] Poundstone then went on to place 2nd to the current IFSA World Champion Žydrūnas Savickas in the 2006 World Strongman Challenge contest in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[2] Next, Poundstone placed 5th in the 2006 America's Strongest Man contest.[3] This earned him an invitation to the 2006 IFSA World Championships. On October 26, 2006, two weeks before the IFSA World Championships, Poundstone severely injured his lumbar spine during training while attempting a maximum effort deadlift of 366 kg (805 lb).[4] Poundstone had a lumbar disc herniation (L4/5) and a massive spinal cord hemorrhage. Doctors told him that he would never lift again due to the severity of the injury.[5]

Poundstone's return to the strongman competition circuit was the 2007 St. Patrick's Strongman contest in Columbia, South Carolina. Poundstone won by 13.5 points [6] and overcame his deadlifting injury fear by completing a 364 kg (800 lb) deadlift during the competition. This victory qualified Poundstone to compete in the 2007 America's Strongest Man contest, which Poundstone won by a record 30 points.[7] Poundstone also qualified to compete in the 2007 IFSA World Championships in Geumsan, South Korea.[8] Additionally, Poundstone received an invitation from Dr. Terry Todd to compete at the 2008 Arnold Strongman Classic, in Columbus, Ohio.

Poundstone also competed in two Team Strongman contests and a Highland Games/Strongman hybrid contest. First was the USA vs. World team contest put on by Al Thompson [9] in Philadelphia. Poundstone and his team (Travis Ortmayer, Van Hatfield, Nick Best, Walt Gogola) pulled out an unprecedented victory against three of the top five European strongmen in the World, (Žydrūnas Savickas, Vasyl Virastyuk, and Andrus Murumets). Team USA won the first three events and Team World won the next three events. Team USA won with a victory in the final event, the Atlas Stones.[10]

Poundstone's next contest was in Callander, Scotland at the World Highland Games contest.[11] This contest was a Highland Games / Strongman hybrid. Poundstone won the event and set two world records. Poundstone broke Igor Pedan's 9 rep 125 kg (275 lb) Log Clean and Press World Record [12] by powering through 13 reps, with 130 kg (286 lb). Poundstone also broke Žydrūnas Savickas, 140 kg (308 lb) Block Press World Record by pressing out a 145 kg (319 lb) block.[12]

Poundstone's next contest was a team contest, the World's Strongest Nation held in Ukraine. This time Team USA consisted of Poundstone along with Travis Ortmayer, Tom McClure, and Brian Shaw. Team USA placed 2nd overall [13] behind Team Ukraine led by Vasyl Virastyuk.[14]

Poundstone competed in the 2007 IFSA World Championship held in Geumsan, South Korea. Poundstone was in 2nd position throughout the entire competition until the last event. During the final event, Poundstone ripped open his hands during the Farmer's Walk event, which caused him to drop the implements. Poundstone placed 4th overall in his first appearance at the World Championship, 2 points behind Mikhail Koklyaev and 1 point behind the 2006 World Champ Žydrūnas Savickas. Vasyl Virastyuk won the competition, becoming the first athlete to win both the World's Strongest Man Title and the IFSA World Championships. Poundstone's performance was the best ever recorded by an American at the IFSA World Championships.[15]

Poundstone decided to compete on the WSM/SS circuit after sufficient political differences with IFSA. Poundstone was called up by Odd Haugen and asked to enter as a replacement athlete into the Mohegan Sun Super Series due to Kevin Nee pulling out with a torn biceps. Poundstone accepted and competed for the first time against Mariusz Pudzianowski. Poundstone defeated the four-time WSM champion and secured a qualification spot for the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest.

Poundstone competed in the 2008 Arnold Strongman Classic contest, his first appearance at the Arnold. Poundstone would take second place behind Žydrūnas Savickas.[16]

On June 29, 2008, during the 2 day Fortissimus contest, Poundstone became the first American to defeat Žydrūnas Savickas. Poundstone and Savickas were approximately 40 points ahead of all the other competitors. Poundstone was the only athlete who managed to lift the 517 lb Louis Cyr Stone and secured his victory and title at the "Mightiest Man on the Planet."

Poundstone became the 2008 Strongman Super Series champion after accumulating the most points throughout the Grand Prix. 1st at the Mohegan Sun, 2nd at Madison Square Garden, and 4th at Sweden earned Poundstone enough to take the overall title.

Poundstone competed in the 2008 World's Strongest Man competition where he and Mariusz Pudzianowski, Poland's then four-time champion would go head-to-head in the final event, the atlas stones, with Poundstone leading in points. In the atlas stones, Poundstone gained the lead, but as he lifted the final stone, the stone slipped, falling to the ground and giving Pudzianowski his record 5th World's Strongest Man title.[17]

Poundstone's next challenge was the 2009 Arnold Strongman Classic. With Žydrūnas Savickas opting to take a year off, the crown was vacant. Poundstone set a new world record with 15 reps in the circus dumb bell event. Poundstone took first place overall, and became only the third man behind Mark Henry and Žydrūnas Savickas to win the Arnold Strongman Classic title since its inception in 2002.[16]

In May 2009, Poundstone was scheduled to defend his title at the Mohegan Sun Strongman Championship hosted by Giants Live. Poundstone won five of six events, taking second on one event, and took the overall title. Poundstone also set a new world record on the max Apollon's axle clean and press with 415 lbs.[18]

Poundstone competed in the 2009 World's Strongest Man competition, which took place in Malta, coming in fourth place after Brian Shaw, Mariusz Pudzianowski and Žydrūnas Savickas.[19]

Poundstone successfully defended his title at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic. Leading up to the last event, the timber carry, Poundstone had a 3-point lead over 6-time champion Žydrūnas Savickas. Poundstone won the last event and the overall title for a second consecutive time, only the second man to accomplish this feat at the Arnold Strongman Classic. Žydrūnas Savickas came in second and Travis Ortmayer came in third place. During the awards ceremony, Poundstone proposed to his girlfriend on stage and she happily accepted.[16]

Poundstone defended his title at the 2010 Mohegan Sun Strongman Championships hosted by Giants Live, winning 3 out of 6 events including the shield carry. This was Poundstone's third consecutive victory at this contest. Brian Shaw came in second and Stojan Todorchev came in third place.[20]

Shortly before the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest, Poundstone severely tore his quad muscle and was unsure if he would be able to compete, but he decided to heal and focus on upper body training. Poundstone was able to qualify for the finals and finished in 9th place overall.[21] Less than 24 hours after the 2010 WSM contest, Poundstone won his 3rd America's Strongest Man title.[22]

Poundstone is currently coaching professional strongman Rob Kearney. [23]