Arnold Strongman Classic

The Arnold Strongman Classic is an annual competition featuring strength athletes from all over the world. Created by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer, it is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

History

The Arnold Strongman is one of the many offshoots of the Arnold festival. The Arnold Sports Festival, founded in 1989 as the Arnold Classic and named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, was originally a bodybuilding contest. It featured a competition for men and for women. The bodybuilding contests have since expanded to include a Fitness International and Figure International competition for women. However, the event had also expanded to include other sports and events, one of which was a strongman, introduced in late 2002. This Strongman event was created by a powerlifter named Dr. Terry Todd at the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The expansion of the programme led to the Classic becoming the Arnold Fitness Weekend and now the Arnold Sports Festival. According to the Arnold Sports Festival co-producer, Jim Lorimer: "The Arnold Strongman Classic has been growing in popularity every year, and we are very excited that many strong men are returning." January 29, 2008
In 2002, the American professional wrestler and former weight lifter Mark Henry won the competition. In addition to competing in what were the four official events — the Apollon's Wheel, the deadlift, the Hummer push and the 800+lbs Farmer's Walk — the competitors were given the opportunity to attempt to lift the Thomas Inch "unliftable" dumbbell or Inch Bell. A prize of $1000 was awarded to the man who could pull it the highest in the air. Five men chose to try the Bell with Mark Henry winning the $1000 by pulling it to the level of his chest. Pfister raised the Inch Bell over his head with his right hand, to a standing ovation, but his lift was disqualified because he briefly stabilized the dumbbell with his left hand when it was on his knee and because he used a "continental clean" when raising the dumbbell to his chest. Pfister was however also awarded $1000.
From 2003 to 2008 the Arnold Strongman was won every year by Žydrūnas Savickas of Lithuania. In 2008 he received a $40,000 check from Gerard Dente of MHP, an Audemars Piguet watch by Robert Ronan and the Louis Cyr trophy and congratulations from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the competition, 12 world records were set with Savickas setting three of them. In the Tire Deadlift he lifted 1,027 lbs. In the Circus Dumbbell he tied with Derek Poundstone for the world record with nine lifts each, and in the Manhood Stones he lifted 525 lbs, three times.
American Derek Poundstone won in 2009 & 2010. Derek took the vacant throne from Zydrunas when he took 2009 off from the competition. When Savickas returned in 2010, Derek retained his title by defeating Zydrunas.
Just days before the 2011 contest, 2-time defending champion Derek Poundstone was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury. Brian Shaw came in and won the contest, and Mike Jenkins, the winner of the 2010 Arnold Strongman amateur event who was competing in his first ever professional strongman competition, shocked many and finished in second place ahead of 6 time champion Zydrunas Savickas who came in third.

Past winners

Winners breakdown

Regular events

Timber Carry - In this event, also known as the Frame Carry, contestants lift barn timbers bolted together and have to travel, typically up a ramp, as a far as possible in 30 seconds.
Atlas Stones - Contestants have to lift round stones weighing sometimes over 500 lb over a bar approximately 48 inches high.
Apollon's Axle - This is a unique barbell made famous by turn-of-the-century strongman Louis "Apollon" Uni. Reproduced by Ivanko Barbell Company, the Axle is replica of the original, weighing 366 lbs, with the same bar thickness as the original. The bar is mechanically fastened to reproduction train wheels. Contestants must lift the wheels from the floor to overhead as many times as possible in two minutes.
Tire Deadlift - Contestants are required to lift a specially designed long bar weighted with tires. The Tire Deadlift bar was designed and manufactured by Ivanko Barbell Company and comprises a 13 ft. stainless steel bar and up to eight Hummer tires & rims. Additional calibrated barbell plates may be added. The beginning weight was approx. 750 lb at the 2008 event.
The Super Yoke - In 2008 contestants had to carry across their shoulders a bar/yoke weighing 1,116 pounds for approximately in a timed event.
The Circus Dumbbell - This is the classic "Circus" dumbbell, used by professional Strongmen from the early 20th century. Richard Sorin reproduced the dumbbell for this event. It weighs 202 lb and has a very big handle over in diameter. The requirement in 2008 was to use one hand at a time and lift the dumbbell overhead as many times as possible in 90s.
Full results

2002: Arnold Classic Strongman Competition

Dates: 22, 23 February 2002
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Mark Henry		25	Hummer + $10,000
2.	Svend Karlsen		22.5	$15,000
3.	Phil Pfister		21.5	$10,000
4.	Mark Philippi		20	$5000
5.	Andy Bolton		16	$3500
5.	Raimonds Bergmanis		16	$3500
7.	Brad Gillingham		13	$2000
8.	Brian Schoonveld		10	$1000

2003: Arnold's Strength Summit

Dates: 28 February, 1 March 2003
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Žydrūnas Savickas		28.5	Hummer + $15 000
2.	Svend Karlsen		26.5	$15 000
3.	Raimonds Bergmanis		17.5	$10 000
4.	Mariusz Pudzianowski		15.5	$5000
5.	Steve Kirit		14.5	$4000
6.	Phil Pfister		14	$2500
6.	Zdeněk Sedmík		14	$2500
8.	Brad Gillingham		13.5	$1000

2004: Arnold's Strongest Man

Dates: 5, 6 March 2004
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Žydrūnas Savickas		43	Hummer + $16 000
2.	Svend Karlsen		39.5	$15 000
3.	Raimonds Bergmanis		33.5	$12 000
4.	Mark Philippi		33	$6000
5.	Mariusz Pudzianowski		30	$5000
6.	Vasyl Virastyuk		27	$4000
7.	Brian Schoonveld		21	$3000
8.	Anders Johansson		20.5	$2000
9.	Steve Kirit		14.5	$1500
10.	István Árvai		13.5	$1000

2005: Arnold's Strongest Man

Dates: 4, 5 March 2005
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Žydrūnas Savickas		46	Hummer + $16,000
2.	Vasyl Virastyuk		41	$15,000
3.	Glenn Ross		39.5	$12,000
4.	Mark Philippi		35	$6000
5.	Brian Siders		34.5	$5000
6.	Svend Karlsen		33.5	$4000
7.	Van Hatfield		32	$3000
8.	Karl Gillingham		28	$2000
9.	Hugo Girard		23	$1500
10.	Magnus Samuelsson		14.5	$1000

2006: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 3, 4 March 2006
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Žydrūnas Savickas		53.5	Hummer
2.	Vasyl Virastyuk		45	?
3.	Mikhail Koklyaev		38.5	?
4.	Phil Pfister		37.5	?
5.	Benedikt Magnússon		35.5	?
6.	Mariusz Pudzianowski		35	?
7.	Brian Siders		32.5	?
8.	Raimonds Bergmanis		23.5	?
9.	Dominic Filiou		15.5	?
10.	Glenn Ross		13.5	?

2007: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 2–4 March 2007
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Žydrūnas Savickas		52	Hummer
2.	Vasyl Virastyuk		48	?
3.	Andrus Murumets		38.5	?
4.	Phil Pfister		36	?
5.	Mikhail Koklyaev		33	?
5.	Ołeksandr Pekanov		33	?
7.	Brian Siders		28.5	?
8.	Steve MacDonald		23	?
9.	Karl Gillingham		19	?
10.	Travis Ortmayer		17	?

2008: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 29 February, 1 March 2008
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Žydrūnas Savickas		50.5	$40,000
2.	Derek Poundstone		41.5	$20,000
3.	Mikhail Koklyaev		37	$15,000
4.	Andrus Murumets		36.5	$10,000
5.	Benedikt Magnússon		34	$7000
5.	Brian Siders		34	$7000
7.	Phil Pfister		32	$5000
8.	Ołeksandr Pekanov		28	$3000
9.	Van Hatfield		24	$2000
10.	Vasyl Virastyuk		8.5	$1000

2009: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 6, 7 March 2009
Columbus, Ohio:

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Derek Poundstone		47	$40,000
2.	Mikhail Koklyaev		46	$20,000
3.	Travis Ortmayer		39.5	$15,000
4.	Vidas Blekaitis		38	$10,000
5.	Phil Pfister		36.5	$8000
6.	Brian Siders		34	$6000
7.	Andrus Murumets		32	$5000
8.	Ervin Katona		29	$3000
9.	Ołeksandr Pekanov		17	$2000
10.	Dave Ostlund		10	$1000

2010: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 5, 6 March 2010
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Derek Poundstone		45	$45,000
2.	Zydrunas Savickas		41	$20,000
3.	Travis Ortmayer		37.5	$15,000
4.	Mikhail Koklyaev		37	$10,000
5.	Brian Shaw		33	$8000
6.	Dave Ostlund		22.5	$6000
7.	Phil Pfister		20.5	$5000
8.	Konstiantyn Ilin		17	$3000
9.	Nick Best		13	$2000
10.	Brian Siders		8.5	$1000

2011: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 4, 5 March 2011
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Brian Shaw		46.5	$50,000
2.	Mike Jenkins		39.5	$20,000
3.	Zydrunas Savickas		37.5	$15,000
4.	Travis Ortmayer		36	$10,000
5.	Mikhail Koklyaev		30	$8000
6.	Mark Felix		24.5	$6000
7.	Nick Best		20	$5000
8.	Terry Hollands		18	$3000
9.	Serhiy Romanchuk		17	$2000

2012: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 2, 3 March 2012
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Mike Jenkins		40	$50,000
2.	Derek Poundstone		39	$20,000
3.	Zydrunas Savickas		36.5	$15,000
4.	Brian Shaw		36	$10,000
5.	Mike Burke		27.5	$8000
6.	Mikhail Koklyaev		26	$6000
7.	Laurence Shahlaei		22.5	$5000
8.	Terry Hollands		19	$3000
9.	Travis Ortmayer		15	$2000
10.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		13.5	$1000

2013: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 1, 2 March 2013
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Vytautas Lalas		35	$60,000
2.	Brian Shaw		34.5	$20,000
3.	Mikhail Koklyaev		30	$15,000
4.	Krzysztof Radzikowski		26	$10,000
5.	Mike Burke		21.5	$8,000
6.	Mark Felix		20.5	$6,000
7.	Jerry Pritchett		18.5	$5,000
8.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		17	$3,000
9.	Derek Poundstone		11	$2,000
10.	Adam Scherr		1	$1,000

2014: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 1, 2 March 2014
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Zydrunas Savickas		44.5	$65,000
2.	Brian Shaw		42.5	$20,000
3.	Mike Burke		35	$15,000
4.	Vytautas Lalas		32	$10,000
5.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		26.5	$8,000
6.	Jerry Pritchett		25.5	$6,000
7.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		23	$5,000
8.	Robert Oberst		20	$3,000
9.	Dimitar Savatinov		16.5	$2,000
10.	Krzysztof Radzikowski		5.5	$1,000

2015: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 7, 8 March 2015
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Brian Shaw		42.5	$70,000
2.	Zydrunas Savickas		41.5	$20,000
3.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		31	$15,000
4.	Dimitar Savatinov		30	$10,000
4.	Mike Burke		30	$8,000
6.	Eddie Hall		29	$6,000
7.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		28	$5,000
8.	Jerry Pritchett		26	$3,000
9.	Benedikt Magnusson		5	$2,000
10.	Warrick Brant		4	$1,000

2016: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 4, 5 March 2016
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Zydrunas Savickas		42	$72,000
2.	Brian Shaw		41	$22,000
3.	Vytautas Lalas		36	$17,000
4.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		33.5	$12,000
5.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		32.5	$10,000
6.	Jerry Pritchett		24.5	$7,000
7.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		22.5	$6,000
8.	Dimitar Savatinov		18.5	$4,000
9.	Eddie Hall		11	$3,000
10.	Aleksandr Lysenko		10.5	$2,000

2017: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 3, 4 March 2017
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Brian Shaw		47.5	$72,000
2.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		41.5	$22,000
3.	Jerry Pritchett		39.5	$17,000
4.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		31	$12,000
5.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		29	$10,000
6.	Vytautas Lalas		25	$7,000
7.	Dimitar Savatinov		22.5	$6,000
8.	Martins Licis		20.5	$4,000
9.	Zach Hadge		12.5	$3,000
10.	Krzystof Radzikowski		3	$2,000

2018: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 2, 3 March 2018
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		45.5	$72,000
2.	Brian Shaw		42	$22,000
3.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		30	$17,000
4.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		29	$12,000
5.	Jean-François Caron		28	$10,000
6.	Jerry Pritchett		24	$6,500
6.	Matjaz Belsak		24	$6,500
8.	Rauno Heinla		22.5	$4,000
9.	Dimitar Savatinov		18.5	$3,000
10.	Mateusz Ostaszewski		11.5	$2,000

2019: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 1, 2 March 2019
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		45	$72,000
2.	Martins Licis		40.5	$22,000
3.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		31.5	$17,000
4.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		30.5	$12,000
5.	Matjaz Belsak		28	$10,000
6.	Rauno Heinla		27	$7,000
7.	Oleksiy Novikov		25	$6,000
8.	Brian Shaw		21	$4,000
9.	Jerry Pritchett		14.5	$3,000
10.	JF Caron		1	$2,000

2020: Arnold Strongman Classic

Dates: 6, 7 March 2020
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		52.5	$72,000
2.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		50.5	$22,000
3.	Martins Licis		36.5	$17,000
4.	JF Caron		33	$12,000
5.	Oleksiy Novikov		31	$10,000
6.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		29	$7,000
7.	Rob Kearney		29	$6,000
8.	Jerry Pritchett		27	$4,000
9.	Bobby Thompson		24	$3,000
10.	Matjaz Belsak		17.5	$2,000

Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe

In 2012, the inaugural "Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe" contest was formed, and is a joint promotion between Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Lorimer, Dr. Rafael Santonja as well as American Strongman Corporation and Strongman Champions League.
The "Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe" contest will differ significantly from the format of the original Arnold Strongman Classic event, with less of an emphasis on brute strength and heavy events, and will include a wider variety of events and some speed/loading events similar to Strongman Champions League and World's Strongest Man contests. The format change is due largely in part to the event being broadcast and televised in 85 countries.

2012: Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe

The 2012 contest was held in Madrid, Spain on Oct. 13 & 14, 2012, the event was sponsored by MHP. The contest is included as part of the 2012 Strongman Champions League season, and competitors earned points towards the annual SCL overall title. The inaugural contest was won by 6 time Arnold Strongman champion and reigning World's Strongest Man Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania, who was also the 2012 SCL overall champion.
Dates: October 13–14, 2012
Madrid, Spain

Position	Name	Country	Points	Prize
1.	Zydrunas Savickas		47	$10,000
2.	Krzysztof Radzikowski		44
3.	Vytautas Lalas		42.5
4.	Mike Burke		37.5
5.	Mikhail Koklyaev		37
6.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		36.5
7.	Mike Jenkins		35
8.	Ervin Katona		22
9.	Konstiantyn Ilin		16
10.	Lauri Nami		14

2017: Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Matjaz Belsak		53
2.	Krzysztof Radzikowski		49
3.	Jerry Pritchett		48
4.	Dimitar Savatinov		41
5.	Konstantine Janashia		40
6.	Dainis Zageris		33.5
7.	Justin Fisher		32.5
8.	Jitse Kramer		25
9.	Sigfus Fossdal		25
10.	Chris Alitz		11
11.	Jiri Vytiska		8

2018: Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Martins Licis		59.5
2.	Matjaz Belsak		55
3.	Krzysztof Radzikowski		50
4.	Dimitar Savatinov		49.5
5.	Jean-François Caron		45.5
6.	Jerry Pritchett		41.5
7.	Jimmy Paquet		39.5
8.	Robert Cyrwus		35.5
9.	Andrew Clayton		25
10.	Jitse Kramer		24.5
11.	Rauno Heinla		24
12.	Sigfus Fossdal		22.5
13.	Karl Hjelholt		18
14.	Mateusz Ostaszewski		2

2019: Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		80.5
2.	Oleksii Novikov		78
3.	Jean-François Caron		71
4.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		64
5.	Jerry Pritchett		57
6.	Jimmy Paquet		55.5
7.	Brian Shaw		51
8.	Aivars Smaukstelis		49
9.	Matjaz Belsak		47.5
10.	Rauno Heinla		46
11.	Maxime Boudreault		43.5
12.	Aaron Page		41
13.	Jitse Kramer		38.5
14.	Nedzmin Ambeskovic		35.5
15.	Kim Gerhardt		32.5
16.	Brad Neitzel		20.5
17.	Luke Reynolds		14

Arnold Strongman Classic Australia

In 2015, the inaugural "Arnold Strongman Classic Australia" contest was formed, and is a joint promotion between Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Lorimer, Dr. Rafael Santonja as well as Australian Strongman Corporation and Strongman Champions League.

2015: Arnold Strongman Classic Australia

2016: Arnold Strongman Classic Australia

2017: Arnold Strongman Classic Australia

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Brian Shaw		38
2.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		33
3.	Jean-François Caron		32.5
4.	Rauno Heinla		29.5
5.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		24.5
6.	Colm Woulfe		22
7.	Matthew Ragg		28
8.	Adam Derks		13.5

2018: Arnold Strongman Classic Australia

2019: Arnold Strongman Classic Australia

Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

In 2010, the Arnold Amateur contest was formed by Dione Wessels. The contest is open to amateur strongman competitors from all over the world. The winner of the contest receives their pro card, and an invite to the next year's Arnold Strongman Classic event. Mike Jenkins won the inaugural contest in 2010,Mateusz Baron from Poland was the 2011 winner, and Adam Scherr was the 2012 winner.

2010: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Dates: 7, 6 March 2010
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Mike Jenkins		58.14
2.	Mike Caruso		56.10
3.	Alan Kleise		52.75
4.	Artis Plivda		50.85
5.	Ryan Bracewell		49.14
6.	Johnathan Hughes		48.26
7.	Brad Ardrey		47.61
8.	Dainis Zageris		47.18
9.	Scott Cummine		44.32
10.	Paul Vaillancourt		36.22

2011: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Dates: 5, 6 March 2011
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Mateusz Baron		66.4
2.	Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		56.9
3.	Mike Burke		52
4.	Jacob Bodi		51.8
5.	Tomas Rodriguez		44
6.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		43.9
7.	Brad Ardrey		43.7
8.	Paul Vaillancourt		42.8
9.	Oleksandr Lashyn		38.6
10.	Derek Devaughan		32.2

2012: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Dates: 3, 4 March 2012
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Adam Scherr		64.2
2.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		54.7
3.	Tomas Rodriguez		47.5
4.	Steve Schmidt		46.0
5.	Jacob Bodi		41.3
6.	Bartłomiej Bąk		39.8
7.	Kenneth Nowicki		38.8
8.	Luke Skaarup		38.6
9.	Chad Kurian		37.9
10.	Lauri Nami		36.8

2013: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Dates: 1,2 March 2013
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Mikhail Shivlyakov		59.9
2.	Jacob Bodi		54.11
3.	Bartlomiej Bak		53.48
4.	Lou Costa		51.62
5.	Mateusz Ostaszewski		49.33
6.	Tommy Miller		47.45
7.	John Posen		44.65
8.	Tomasz Ladermann		42.66
9.	Dimitar Savatinov		41.11
10.	Brett Somerville		37.33

2014: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Dates: 1,2 March 2014
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Mateusz Kieliszkowski		62.68
2.	Andrew Clayton		56.35
3.	Ben Ruckstuhl		52.12
4.	Nicholas Lepperd		49.35
5.	Alan Colley		48.76
6.	Casey Garrison		48.18
7.	John Posen		44.76
8.	Michal Kopacki		37.71
9.	Matt Mills		36.97
10.	Tommy Miller		36.24

2015: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Dates: 7,8 March 2015
Columbus, Ohio

Position	Name	Country	Points
1.	Aleksandr Lysenko		50.85
2.	Bryan Benzel		50.35
3.	Konstantine Janashia		48.69
4.	Rob Kearney		44.53
5.	Luke Herrick		39.23
6.	Evgenii Markov		39.12
7.	Markus Mannik		38.77
8.	Michal Kopacki		38.58
9.	Johan Espenkrona		36.45
10.	Vladimir Kalivichenko		33.35

2016: Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships