Riku Kiri is a Finnish former strongman and powerlifter, best known for competing in the World's Strongest Man competition, narrowly missing out on capturing the title on more than one occasion. He has been referred to as: "the strongest man never to win World's Strongest Man."
Jouko Ahola is a Finnish former strongman, powerlifter and actor. He is a two time World's Strongest Man winner, a two time Europe's Strongest Man winner, and is regarded as one of the best pound for pound strongmen in history.
World's Strongest Woman is an annual strongwoman contest, and considered the pinnacle for female competitors and recognized as the world championships, and was held during the same time and same location as WSM from 2001 to 2003.
Ted van der Parre is a former strongman from the Netherlands, who won the World's Strongest Man contest in 1992 and was 4th in 1991. He also participated in 1994 when he finished 8th, having to drop out after the second event due to a calf injury. At 2.13 m and 160 kilograms (350 lb), Van der Parre was the tallest man ever to compete in the World's Strongest Man contest, and also has the lowest WSM BMI of 35. He also won the Netherlands Strongest Man contest in 1991, 1992, and 1994.
Phil Pfister is an American former strongman competitor and winner of the 2006 World's Strongest Man competition on September 23, 2006 in Sanya, China. He was the first American to win since Bill Kazmaier in 1982. Pfister stands 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and weighs 375 pounds (170 kg).
Berend Veneberg is a former strongman and powerlifter from the Netherlands. He finished 5th at the World's Strongest Man games in 1993, 9th in 1998, 6th in 1999, 1st at Europe's Strongest Man in 2000 and won Strongest man of the Netherlands 7 times.
Jimmy Laureys is a Belgian powerlifter and strongman competitor.
Jarno Hams is a strongman from the Netherlands. He participated in the World's Strongest Man in 2002 and 2003, but failed to qualify for the finals both times. Hams is a 7-time winner of Strongest Man of the Netherlands.
Heinz Ollesch is a strongman from Germany. He won Germany's Strongest Man 12 times, and participated in the World's Strongest Man finals in 1995 and 1997.
Strength athletics in Canada refers to the various Strongman events throughout Canada and its provinces in the sport of Strength athletics in association with the World's Strongest Man. The roots of strongman in Canada go back long before the birth of WSM in 1977, particularly with [Louis Cyr] in the early 1900s, who was deemed the "Strongest Man on Earth" during his lifetime. Four Canadian athletes have finished on the podium, placing 2nd in 1982 with Tom Magee and 3rd in 2005 with Dominic Filiou, Jean-François Caron placing 3rd in 2020, and Maxime Boudreault placing 3rd in 2021. The provinces of Canada hold annual championships with the top 2-4 athletes going on to the National Championships at the end of the year to crown Canada's Strongest Man. Mitchell Hooper's win at 2023 World's Strongest Man makes him the first Canadian to finish in first place.
Pure Strength was a vintage Strongman competition held from 1987 to 1990 in Scotland and England which was created by Tjalling van den Bosch.
Strength athletics in Norway refers to the participation of Norwegian competitors and holding national strongman competitions.
Strength athletics in Finland refers to the participation of Finnish competitors and holding national strongman competitions.
Strength athletics in the United States refers to the various strongman competitions organized throughout United States and North America with the elements of all of strength athletics taken into account. United States 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 twelve World's Strongest Man titles and numerous other international strongman competitions. United States has both amateur and a professional sanctioning bodies.
Belgium's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in Belgium and featuring exclusively Belgian athletes. The contest was established in 2008. Jimmy Laureys holds the record for most wins with 6 wins.
Germany's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held by the German Federation of Strength Athletes (GFSA). Heinz Ollesch holds the record for most wins with 12 wins.
Strength athletics in Sweden refers to the participation of Swedish competitors and holding national strongman competitions.
Denmark's Strongest Man is an annual Strongman contest held in various locations in Denmark, and features exclusively Danish strength athletes. The contest was first held in 1983 with Sven-Ole Thorsen winning the title. Flemming Rasmussen holds the record with 7 wins, while Henrik Henning and Mikkel Leicht share 6 wins each. René Minkwitz and Nikolai Hansen share 5 wins each. Anders Aslak is the current champion.
Gerard du Prie was a strongman and powerlifter from Egmond aan Zee in the Netherlands. He won two world titles in the superheavyweight class (+125 kg) at the World Masters Powerlifting Championships in 1983 and 1986, both times competing in the 40–49 age group. He was the Strongest Man of the Netherlands in 1979 and runner-up in 1982. He finished in eighth place at the 1980 World's Strongest Man competition.
Hungary's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in Hungary and featuring exclusively Hungarian athletes. Initiated in 1988, it is one of the oldest national strongman competitions in the world.
Kevin Hazeleger