Strength athletics in Iceland
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.
Champions breakdown
| Champion | Times | Years |
|---|---|---|
 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 10 (consecutive) | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Magnús Ver Magnússon | 7 | 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2004 |
| Jón Páll Sigmarsson | 5 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992 |
| Kristinn Óskar 'Boris' Haraldsson | 4 (consecutive) | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Gunnar Þór Guðjónsson | 3 | 1994, 1999, 2000 |
| Stefán Sölvi Pétursson | 2 (consecutive) | 2009, 2010 |
| Kristján Jón Haraldsson | 2 (consecutive) | 2022, 2023 |
| Torfi Ólafsson | 1 | 1997 |
| Magnús Magnússon | 1 | 2002 |
| Benedikt Magnússon | 1 | 2003 |
| Stefán Karel Torfason | 1 | 2021 |
 Bill Kazmaier | 1 | 1988 |
 Regin Vágadal | 1 | 1998 |
Most podium finishes without winning the title
| Athlete | Times (breakdown) |
|---|---|
| Hjalti Árnason | 8 (6 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd) |
| Ari Gunnarsson | 7 (4 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd) |
| Audunn Jónsson | 6 (4 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd) |
| Páll Logason | 6 (2 x 2nd, 4 x 3rd) |
| Andrés Guðmundsson | 5 (3 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd) |
| Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð | 3 (3 x 2nd) |
| Grétar Guðmundsson | 2 (2 x 3rd) |
| Sigfús Fossdal | 2 (2 x 3rd) |
Strongest Man in Iceland
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010[15] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Benedikt Magnússon | Páll Logason |
| 2011[16] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Ari Gunnarsson | Georg Ögmundsson |
| 2012[17] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Ari Gunnarsson | Páll Logason |
| 2016[18] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Ari Gunnarsson | Stefán Sölvi Pétursson |
| 2017[19] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Òskar Pétur Hafstein | Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð |
| 2018 | Ari Gunnarsson | Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð | André Bachmann |
| 2019 | Ari Gunnarsson | Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð | Kristján Jón Haraldsson |
| 2020 | Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð | Stefán Karel Torfason | Òskar Pétur Hafstein |
| 2021 | Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð | Kristján Jón Haraldsson | Tómas Darri Thorsteinsson |
| 2022 | Kristján Jón Haraldsson | Vilius Jokužys | Theodór Már Gudmundsson |
| 2023 | Kristján Jón Haraldsson | Vilius Jokužys | Pálmi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Andrés Guðmundsson | ||
| 2005 | Benedikt Magnússon | ||
| 2006 | Benedikt Magnússon | Stefán Sölvi Pétursson | Georg Ögmundsson |
| 2008 | Stefán Sölvi Pétursson | Páll Logason | Grétar Guðmundsson |
- Results courtesy of David Horne's World of Grip
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 |  Svend Karlsen |  Magnus Samuelsson |  Juha-Matti Räsänen | IFSA Nordic Strongman Championships Kristiansand, Norway |
| 2012[23] | Johannes Årsjö | Lars Rorbakken |  Michael Licht | Nordic Strongman Championships Harstad, Norway |
See also
References
- Tuesday, June 15, 2021, The Giants of Iceland - Strength Beyond Measure by Richard Chapman, Verified Expert - www.guidetoiceland.is
- Monday, October 17, 2022, Jamaica makes sprinters. Kenya makes marathoners. And Iceland makes Strongmen! by Greg Merritt - www.guidetoiceland.is
- "Strongman Archives - Athletes". Strongman Archives. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- Wednesday, June 17, 2009, Stefán Sölvi Pétursson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D., IronMind
- Friday, June 19, 2015, Hafthor: 5X Iceland’s Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D., IronMind
- 2 september 1991, Sterkasti maður íslands 1991: Magnús Ver sigraði
- In 1991 Jón Páll Sigmarsson was unable to compete due to injury sustained in Denmark. Andrés Guðmundsson took fourth place
- Iceland's Strongest Man 1999, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-03-27
- Sunday, June 18, 2000, Gunnar Thor Wins Icelandic Strongest Man... by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind
- Monday, June 17, 2002, Magnus Magnussson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind
- Saturday, June 18, 2005, Boris Wins Iceland's Strongest Man, Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind
- Tuesday, June 20, 2006, Iceland's Strongest Man Contest: Boris Wins, Qualifies for WSMSS, by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind
- Boris Repeats as Iceland’s Strongest Man by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.
- "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins Iceland's Strongest Man". Archived from the original on 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins 2010 Strongest Man in Iceland". Archived from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- "Hafthor Julius Bjornsson Wins the Strongest Man in Iceland". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- "Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Wins Strongest Man in Iceland". Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- "Hafthor Wins Strongest Man in Iceland".
- "Hafthor Wins Strongest Man in Iceland Viking Challenge 2017".
- Monday, July 12, 2010, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Wins Iceland’s Strongest Viking: Magnús Ver Magnússon Praises His Progress by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind
- Ironmind report, 2005 Iceland's Strongest Viking
- "Ironmind report, 2006 Iceland's Strongest Viking". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- "Nordic Strongman Championships: Viking Loses His Title!". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2012-06-21.