Strongman Super Series

World Strongman Super Series
The official logo of World Strongman Super Series 2010
Founded2001; 24 years ago (2001)
Ceased2010
Last
champion(s)
Brian Shaw
Tournament formatMulti-event competition

The Strongman Super Series, known from 2001 to 2004 as the IFSA World Strongman Super Series, from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series, and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics. It was introduced in 2001 in response to concerns that, unlike other individual sports such as golf or tennis, there was no recognized international "tour" in strength athletics. The Strongman Super Series ensures that there are a number of high-profile, professionally run contests during the year, with competitors' placings being used to decide the overall Super Series Champion.

Typically, ten to twelve athletes take part in each GP, comprising the top six in the international rankings and at least four qualifiers or wildcard entries. The winner of each grand prix receives ten series points, the second placed, nine, and so on. The highest scoring competitor at the end of the series is named World Champion.

World Class Events ("WCE") ran the Super Series in co-operation with the International Federation of Strength Athletes ("IFSA") from 2001 to 2004 until IFSA cut ties with WCE and World's Strongest Man and began promoting their own grand prix events and world championships. In 2005, WCE signed a deal with Trans World International ("TWI"), the world's largest independent producer and distributor of sports programming, to have the exclusive rights worldwide to be the only qualifying tour to the MET-Rx World's Strongest Man event for 2005–2008. The top four athletes from each Grand Prix competition receive an automatic invitation to WSM.

On April 27, 2009 Giants Live, an arena-based series of live strongman competitions, was named the Official World's Strongest Man Qualifying Tour for 2009–2011, thus taking over from the Strongman Super Series in this regard. The first 2009 qualifying event took place on May 17 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, and the second event being the Viking Power competition in Norway, and finishing off the 2009 season in Poland.

Super Series World Champions

Year Athlete Nationality
2001 Magnus Samuelsson  Sweden
2002 Hugo Girard  Canada
2003/4 Mariusz Pudzianowski  Poland
2004 Žydrūnas Savickas  Lithuania
2005* Mariusz Pudzianowski  Poland
2006* Mariusz Pudzianowski  Poland
2007* Mariusz Pudzianowski  Poland
2008* Derek Poundstone  United States
2009 Brian Shaw  United States
2010 Brian Shaw  United States

*WSM Super Series

2001

The International Federation of Strength Athletes co-produced the Strongman Super Series events from 2001 to 2004 along with World Class Events (WCE)/Ulf Bengtsson.

The official logo of IFSA World Strongman Super Series from 2001 to 2004
Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Netherlands
Holland Grand Prix
Wout Zijlstra Magnus Samuelsson Svend Karlsen 20 May 2001
Prague, Czech Republic
Czech Grand Prix
Hugo Girard Svend Karlsen Magnus Samuelsson 18 August 2001
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden Grand Prix
Magnus Samuelsson Hugo Girard Svend Karlsen 28 October 2001
Overall placings
Magnus Samuelsson
(15 points)
Hugo Girard
(13 points)
Svend Karlsen
(13 points)

2002

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Aberdeen, Scotland
Svend Karlsen Hugo Girard Janne Virtanen 16 June 2002
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden Grand Prix
Hugo Girard Svend Karlsen Žydrūnas Savickas 23 November 2002
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Hugo Girard Žydrūnas Savickas Mariusz Pudzianowski 17 January 2003
Overall placings
Hugo Girard
(17 points)
Svend Karlsen
(13 points)
Žydrūnas Savickas
9 points)
  1. ^ Although held in 2003 the 2002 Hawaii Grand Prix was the final event of the 2002 Strongman Super Series and was not a part of, and had no effect on, the 2003 series.

2003

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Mariusz Pudzianowski Raimonds Bergmanis Žydrūnas Savickas 18 January 2003
Silvolde, Netherlands
Holland Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Žydrūnas Savickas Jarno Hams 14 June 2003
North Bay, Canada
Canada Grand Prix
Hugo Girard Mariusz Pudzianowski Svend Karlsen 1 August 2003
Imatra, Finland
Finland Grand Prix
Hugo Girard Mariusz Pudzianowski Raimonds Bergmanis 16 August 2003
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Žydrūnas Savickas Svend Karlsen Raimonds Bergmanis 5-6 March 2004
Overall placings
Mariusz Pudzianowski Žydrūnas Savickas Raimonds Bergmanis
  1. ^ Although held in 2004 the 2004 Arnold's Strongest Man was the final event of the 2003 Strongman Super Series and was not a part of, and had no effect on, the 2004 series.

2004

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Moscow, Russia
Moscow Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Žydrūnas Savickas Vasyl Virastyuk 11 July 2004
Gothenburg, Sweden
Sweden Grand Prix
Magnus Samuelsson Žydrūnas Savickas Svend Karlsen 5 December 2004
Overall placings
Žydrūnas Savickas Vasyl Virastyuk Mariusz Pudzianowski/
Magnus Samuelsson

2005

Beginning in 2005, WSM/WCE cut all ties with IFSA, who had begun promoting their own separate grand prix events and world championships. The Strongman Super Series then became known as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and was the official qualifying tour for World's Strongest Man from 2005 to 2008.

The official logo of World's Strongest Man Super Series from 2005 to 2008
Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Los Angeles, California, United States
Met-Rx Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Jesse Marunde Janne Virtanen 18 June 2005
Malbork, Poland
Nautilus Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Slawomir Toczek Jesse Marunde 16 July 2005
Varberg, Sweden
Vulkan Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Janne Virtanen Jesse Marunde 30 July 2005
Uncansville, Connecticut, United States
Mohegan Sun Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Jessen Paulin Don Pope 10 August 2005
Overall placings
Mariusz Pudzianowski Jesse Marunde Janne Virtanen

2006

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Uncansville, Connecticut, United States
Mohegan Sun Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Jesse Marunde Josh Thigpen 1 June 2006
Moscow, Russia
Moscow Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Elbrus Nigmatullin Jessen Paulin 2 July 2006
Milicz, Poland
Poland Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Jarek Dymek Sebastian Wenta 12 August 2006
Overall placings
Mariusz Pudzianowski

2007

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Uncansville, Connecticut, United States
Mohegan Sun Grand Prix
Mariusz Pudzianowski Kevin Nee Mark Felix 22 April 2007
Los Angeles, California, United States
Venice Beach Grand Prix
Dave Ostlund Mariusz Pudzianowski Jesse Marunde 16 June 2007
Gol, Norway
Viking Power Challenge
Mariusz Pudzianowski Jarek Dymek Magnus Samuelsson 7 July 2007
Overall placings
Mariusz Pudzianowski

2008

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Uncansville, Connecticut, United States
Mohegan Sun Grand Prix
Derek Poundstone Mariusz Pudzianowski Terry Hollands 19 January 2008
New York City, New York, United States
Madison Square Garden Grand Prix
Travis Ortmayer Derek Poundstone Dave Ostlund 21 June 2008
Gol, Norway
Viking Power Challenge
Arild Haugen Sebastian Wenta Richard Skog 5 July 2008
Lysekil, Sweden
Sweden Grand Prix
Magnus Samuelsson Tarmo Mitt Richard Skog 16 August 2008
Overall placings
Derek Poundstone

2009

Giants Live replaced the World's Strongest Man Super Series beginning in 2009 as the official qualifying tour for the World's Strongest Man. However, Strongman Super Series continued to hold events under the new title of World Strongman Super Series in 2009 & 2010.

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Bucharest, Romania
Romania Grand Prix
Marshall White Nick Best Johannes Arsjo 4 July 2009
Los Angeles, California, United States
Venice Beach Grand Prix
Brian Shaw Stoyan Todorchev Jason Bergmann 14 November 2009
Gothenburg, Sweden
Sweden Grand Prix
Brian Shaw Stoyan Todorchev Jason Bergmann 5 December 2009
Overall placings
Brian Shaw (27 points) Stoyan Todorchev (24 points) Nick Best (21 points)

2010

Name and Location Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Date
Uncansville, Connecticut, United States
Mohegan Sun Grand Prix
Derek Poundstone Brian Shaw Stoyan Todorchev 25 April 2010
Gol, Norway
Viking Power Challenge
Brian Shaw Johannes Arsjo Laurence Shahlaei 26 June 2010
Lysekil, Sweden
Sweden Grand Prix
Brian Shaw Nick Best Laurence Shahlaei 17 December 2010
Overall placings
Brian Shaw
(33 points)
Dave Ostlund
(19.5 points)
Laurence Shahlaei
(16 points)

See also

References

  1. ^ WCE AND TWI SHOW STRENGTH IN PARTNERSHIP
  2. ^ GIANTS LIVE NAMED OFFICIAL QUALIFYING TOUR FOR WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN COMPETITION Archived 2009-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "2001 Holland Grand Prix". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. ^ "2001 Czech Grand Prix". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  5. ^ "2001 Sweden Grand Prix". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Hugo Girard won the Hammer Strength Grand Prix Stockholm". Super Series. Archived from the original on 26 February 2005. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  7. ^ Strossen, Randall J. "Hugo Girard Handily Wins Stockholm Super Series GP". Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
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  11. ^ "2003 Holland Grand Prix". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  12. ^ "2003 Canada Grand Prix results". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  13. ^ "2003 Finland Grand Prix results". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  14. ^ "2004 Arnold's Strongest Man Results". arnoldsstrongestman. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
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  18. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (16 July 2020). "Polish Power: Pudzianowski and Toczek Shine in Nautilus WSM Super Series". IronMind. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  19. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (30 July 2005). "Mariusz Pudzianowski Wins WSMSS Vulkan Grand Prix". IronMind. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  20. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (10 August 2005). "Mariusz Wins Mohegan Sun Grand Prix . . . Paulen, Pope and Thigpen Qualify for WSM". IronMind. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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  23. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (12 August 2006). "WSMSS Poland Grand Prix". IronMind. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  24. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (24 April 2007). "From the Mohegan Sun to WSM '07". IronMind. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  25. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (16 June 2007). "Dave Ostlund Wins at Muscle Beach". IronMind. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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  27. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (19 January 2008). "Poundstone Wins the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix". IronMind. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  28. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (21 June 2008). "Travis Ortmayer Blossoms in the Garden: The Texan Stone Eater Wins the Super Series Madison Square Garden Grand Prix . . . Qualifies for World's Strongest Man". IronMind. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  29. ^ Strossen, Randall J. (5 July 2008). "Arild Haugen Wins Viking Power Challenge". IronMind. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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  31. ^ Official site breaking news
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