Žydrūnas Savickas

In 2001, a contest in the Faroe Islands dealt Savickas a major setback, as he tore both patellar tendons during the Conan's Wheel event. Many believed that the extent of the injury meant that his career was over.[10] However, nine months later, Savickas won the Lithuanian powerlifting championships and a short time later, he also won the 2002 Lithuania's Strongest Man contest.[11] Savickas would go on to finish in 2nd place at the 2002 World's Strongest Man in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He would finish in 2nd place five more times in 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and 1st place at the 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014 World's Strongest Man contests.

Savickas won the Arnold Strongman Classic six consecutive times from 2003 to 2008.[3] Savickas won the IFSA European Championships in 2005 which qualified him for the IFSA World Championships.[15] In September 2005, he broke three world records and won the IFSA Strongman World Championships in Quebec, Canada.[16] In December 2005, Savickas won the IFSA World Team Championships with Team Europe and won the IFSA World Championships for the 2nd time in 2006 in Reykjavík, Iceland.[16]

On October 24, 2005, Savickas represented Lithuania in a team competition with Vidas Blekaitis, Saulius Brusokas, and Vilius Petrauskas. Team Lithuania placed 5th overall at the IFSA World's Strongest Nation contest in Ukraine.

In September 2007, Savickas finished in 3rd place at the last ever IFSA World Championships behind runner-up Mikhail Koklyaev and champion Vasyl Virastyuk in Geumsan, South Korea.[17]

Savickas won 5 out of the 7 total contests during the inaugural 2008 Strongman Champions League season and won the 2008 overall title 58 points ahead of second-place finisher Ervin Katona.[18]

In June 2009, Savickas won Fortissimus after finishing runner-up in 2008 behind Derek Poundstone.[19] On October 3, 2009, Savickas won the 2009 World's Strongest Man competition ahead of defending champion and five-time winner Mariusz Pudzianowski. He had not competed at WSM since 2004.

On the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy on April 1, 2010, Savickas set a record of 70 metres (229 ft 7 in) for the longest distance carrying a 300 kg yoke. The record was part of the Italian TV series Lo Show dei Record.[20] In June 2010, Savickas won the Europe's Strongest Man competition.

In September 2010, Savickas and Brian Shaw tied for points at the 2010 World's Strongest Man competition, but Savickas won the championship on countback.[21] He also set a new world record for the Giant Wooden Log Lift by lifting 210 kg (460 lb).[22]

Savickas also won the World Log Lift Championships in 2008, 2009, and 2011 (no contest was held in 2010).

In April 2011, Savickas set a new Guinness World Record performing a 20-meter Farmer's Walk in 7.55 seconds with 150 kg (330 lb) implements in each hand. The event was broadcast on the Guinness TV show in Europe.[23]

Savickas won five Strongman Champions League events during the 2011/2012 season, in Finland in March 2011, Germany on April 16, 2011,[24] the SCL Semi-finals in Canada in October 2011, Latvia in November 2011 and the SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Bosnia on February 7, 2012.[25] Ervin Katona won the overall championships, with Savickas as the runner-up.[26] During the SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Savickas set a new world record in the Log Lift with 215 kg (474 lb).[26] This was his 7th consecutive world record in the Log Lift, not including his world record in the Giant Wooden Log Lift set at the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest.[22]

In September 2011, Savickas lost his WSM crown to Brian Shaw at the 2011 World's Strongest Man contest at Wingate University, North Carolina, coming in second place for the fourth time.

Savickas won the 2012 Europe's Strongest Man contest on June 23, 2012, his second ESM title after winning in 2010.[27] Savickas also set a new world record in the Log Lift with a lift of 216 kg (476 lb). This was his 8th consecutive Log Lift world record.[27]

Savickas won 11 of the 14 Strongman Champions League contests in the 2012 season and won the overall championships title.[28] During the SCL Holland event, Savickas set another world record in the Log Lift with a lift of 217.5 kg (480 lb).[29] This was Savickas' third Log Lift world record in 2012 and 9th consecutive Log Lift world record.

On October 1, 2012, Savickas regained the WSM crown by winning the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest in Los Angeles, California.[30] This was Savickas' third WSM title, and became the fifth competitor in WSM history to win three or more WSM titles. Savickas also set a new Log Lift world record in the finals with a lift of 220 kg (484 lb).[31][32]

On October 7, 2012, Savickas won the 2012 World Log Lift Championships[33] which was held at the same venue as the SCL Savickas Classic event.[34] This was his fourth consecutive World Log Lift Championships title.

Savickas won his inaugural 2013 contest, the Strongman Champions League Holland event held in Kalkar, Germany on June 22, 2013.[35][36] Savickas also attempted a new Log Lift world record of 221 kg (487 lb), but failed to lockout the weight overhead.[36] Savickas won seven SCL contests in the 2013 season and came second in the overall championships behind Krzysztof Radzikowski.[37]

On June 29, 2013, Savickas won his third Europe's Strongest Man title.[38] He also set a new Log Lift world record with a lift of 221 kg (487 lb).[38]

In August 2013, Savickas finished second in the 2013 World's Strongest Man contest behind Brian Shaw.

At Giants Live Poland, Savickas set a new world record on the Log Lift for 227 kg (500 lb).

In the 2014 World's Strongest Man, he managed to win his fourth title with just half a point difference over the second placed Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson. He became the oldest WSM winner in history, at 38 years and 258 days. Zydrunas also set a new world record in the giant barbell squat event by squatting 329 kg (725 lb) for 15 repetitions.

Savickas also won the 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic, edging out perennial rival Brian Shaw.[39]

Savickas placed 2nd in both the 2015 Arnold Strongman Classic and the 2015 World's Strongest Man competitions, this year losing to Brian Shaw. He also won the 2015 World Log Lift Championship.

Savickas again won the 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, a record 8th time. However, Savickas would miss the 2016 World's Strongest Man competition because of a back injury. [40]

In 2017, Savickas returned to the World's Strongest Man competition. While he made the finals, he was hampered by past injuries, and finished in 9th place. This was the first time he placed lower than 2nd at WSM since the year 2000.

Savickas placed 4th in the 2018 Europe's Strongest Man and 10th overall in the 2018 World's Strongest Man.

Done in official powerlifting competitions under IPF rules (single-ply equipment).

• Squat – 425.5 kg (938 lb) (2005 Lithuanian National Championships)[4][13] (Lithuanian record)
• Bench press – 265.5 kg (585 lb) (2004 Lithuanian National Championships)[4][13] (Lithuanian record)
• Deadlift – 400 kg (880 lb) (2004 Lithuanian National Championships)[4][13] (Lithuanian record)
• Total – 1,090.5 kg (2,404 lb) (425|265.5|400) (2004 Lithuanian National Championships)[4][13] (Lithuanian record)

• Log lift for Max Weight – 228 kg (503 lb) (former world record, 2015 Arnold Classic Brazil Strongman Pro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Giant Barbell Squat for Reps – 329 kg (725 lb) × 15 single-ply suit w/ wraps (World record, 2014 World's Strongest Man, Los Angeles, California)
• Ironmind S-Cubed Bar Deadlift at 1-inch deficit (with straps) – 442 kg (974 lb) (former World record, 2011 World's Strongest Man, Wingate, North Carolina)[41][42]
• Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift (raw with straps) – 404 kg (891 lb) (2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
• Apollon's Axle Press for Max Weight – 215 kg (474 lb) (2010 Giants Live, Istanbul, Turkey)[43]
• Apollon's Axle Press for Reps – 166 kg (366 lb) × 8 clean and press each rep (World record, 2006 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
• Apollon's Axle Press for Reps – 208 kg (459 lb) × 2 clean and press each rep (World record, 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
• Giant Wooden Log lift for Max Weight – 210 kg (460 lb) (World Record, 2010 World's Strongest Man, Sun City, South Africa)[22]
• Apollon's Wheels Overhead for Reps – 155 kg (342 lb) × 8 reps
• Giant Barbell Deadlift for Reps – 320 kg (710 lb) × 10 (World record, 2006 IFSA World Championships, Reykjavík, Iceland)
• Medicine ball for Height – 22 kg (49 lb) for 17 ft (5.18 m) (World record, 2004 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
• One arm Weight over bar – 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 5.6 metres (18 ft 4 in) (2013 SCL Russia)
• Atlas Stones (110-180 kg set) – 22.31 seconds (World record, 2007 IFSA Lithuania Grand Prix, Klaipėda, Lithuania)
• Atlas Stones (140-180 kg set) – 25.65 seconds (World record, 2006 IFSA World Championships, Reykjavík, Iceland)
• Metal Block press – 150 kg (330 lb) (former World record, 2011 World's Strongest Man, Wingate, North Carolina)
• Hummer Tire Deadlift for Max Weight – 524 kg (1,155 lb) (former World record 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)[44][45]
• Heavy Super Yoke 640 kg (1,410 lb) – for 4 meters in 3.87 seconds (World record, 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)

During training:

• Squat – 440 kg (970 lb) for 2 reps;[46] 425 kg (937 lb) for 3 reps;[47] 400 kg (880 lb) for 5 reps[48] Raw with knee wraps
• Bench press – 286 kg (631 lb) for 1 rep;[49] 250 kg (550 lb) for 3 reps[50]
• Deadlift – 435 kg (959 lb)[47] raw with straps on stiff Power bar
• Deadlift – 400 kg (880 lb) for 5 reps in preparation for Arnold Strongman Classic 2014[51] raw with straps on stiff Power bar
• Standing Overhead Press – 200 kg (440 lb) for 5 reps[50] without leg drive
• Standing Overhead Press – 260 kg (570 lb) for 1 rep
• Log Lift – 205 kg (452 lb) for 5 reps in preparation for Arnold Strongman Classic 2015 [52] on steel IFSA log
• Front Squat – 320 kg (705 lb) for 5 reps[48] Raw with knee wraps
• Front Squat – 340 kg (750 lb) for 3 reps[48] Raw with knee wraps
• 18 inch deadlift – 525 kg (1,157 lb) for 1 rep in preparation for Arnold Strongman Classic 2014 [48] Raw with straps on stiff Power bar