These are the five strongest men in the world.
Since ancient times, feats of strength have captivated audiences, dating back to the earliest Olympic Games and continuing to this day. Wrestling was once the primary way to measure physical power, but over the years, this evolved into events like Olympic weightlifting and, eventually, the World’s Strongest Man competition.
However, debates persist about whether these events truly determine the strongest man. The definition of “strength” varies across disciplines like weightlifting, powerlifting, and strongman competitions, each emphasizing different aspects of physical prowess. Adding to the complexity is the challenge of comparing athletes from various eras, particularly with the advent of modern training techniques and chemical enhancements in recent decades.
Despite these debates, we’ve endeavored to create a list that captures the essence of extraordinary strength. Featuring both historical legends and modern titans, this list highlights athletes who have left an indelible mark on the world of strength sports. Without further ado, here are our picks for the top five strongest men of all time, presented in no particular order.
Louis Cyr
| Full Name: Cyprien-Noe Cyr (Louis Cyr) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| 280-340 lbs (127-154 kg) | 5’8” (1.74 m) | 10/10/1863 (Died at 49) |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Strongman | 1863-1912 | Canadian |
We’re starting our list with someone often overlooked for his feats of strength. Louis Cyr is a French Canadian who, from 1886 to his death in 1912, exhibited insane feats of strength. These include back lifts of several thousand pounds, wrestling a giant, and holding back horses heading in different directions.
Cyr competed in his first strongman competition at the age of 18 and won the event. His career spanned two decades, and he toured Canada, the United States, and England, challenging and defeating other strongmen. He is also famous for records in the one-handed snatch, one-handed press, and two-handed lift.
What is incredible about Louis Cyr’s strength is that it was achieved before the era of steroids, modern gyms, or advanced diets. Lifting 16 men lying across a platform on his back and completing a back lift of over 4,000 lbs without his body giving out is unheard of. Cyr is also responsible for the Cyr dumbbell, a thick-grip dumbbell usually weighing around 300 pounds, which strongmen still struggle to lift today.
Mark Henry
| Full Name: Mark Jerrold Henry | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| 360-412 lb (163-186 kg) | 6’4” (193 cm) | 06/12/1971 |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Powerlifter, Olympic Weightlifter, Strongman, and Wrestler | 1990s-2010s | American |
Mark Henry is famous for being in the WWE. However, he once held both the powerlifting and the US weightlifting heavyweight titles. At 19, Mark Henry came second to six-time world powerlifting champion Kirk Karwoski in the USPF Senior National Powerlifting Championships.
Only a few lifters have been successful in both powerlifting and weightlifting. While powerlifting is about strength, weightlifting (especially in the Olympics) requires more finesse, technique, agility, flexibility, and timing. However, after only eight months of training, Mark Henry broke four national records in the second sport.
Mark Henry still holds the WDFPF world records in the deadlift, squat, and total. As if these accolades are not enough, he won the inaugural Arnold Strongman Classic in 2002. Many believe Henry would have performed more feats of strength if he had not chosen to go into professional wrestling.
Hafthor Bjornsson
| Full Name: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| 397-463 lbs (180-210 kg) | 6’9” (206 cm) | 11/26/1988 |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Strongman/Powerlifter/Actor | 2010s- Till Date | Icelander |
Also famous as “The Mountain” in Game of Thrones, Hafthor Bjornsson is one of those who undoubtedly belong on this list. He was the World’s Strongest Man in 2018. Bjornsson also won the Arnold Strongman Classic from 2018 to 2020 and the Iceland’s Strongest Man competition 9 times from 2011 to 2019.
Hafthor Bjornsson also won Europe’s Strongest Man five times. He has a cultural background that values strength and possesses a massive physique, which contributes to his ability to perform feats of strength. Halfthor Bjornsson is also the only person to have won Europe’s Strongest Man, Arnold Strongman Classic, and the World’s Strongest Man in the same calendar year.
Bjornsson holds the world record for the world’s heaviest deadlift at 505 kg (1,113 lb). An increase from Eddie Hall’s 500 kg (1,102 lb) deadlift record, which he held for nine years. Hafthor Bjornsson plans to beat this new record and is training for it.
Bill Kazmaier
| Full Name: Bill Kazmaier | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| 326-330 lbs (147.8 – 149.6 kg) | 6’2” (191 cm) | 12/30/1953 |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Strongman, powerlifter, wrestler. | 1970s – 1990s | American |
Bill Kazmaier is the second strongman, powerlifter, and wrestler on this list. Many consider him the strongest man of the new era because he was the first to lift all five McGlashen stones, which weigh between 200 and 350 lbs (90-160 kg). Kazmaier won the World’s Strongest Man from 1980 to 1982 and was barred from the event by organizers to give others a chance to win.
Kaz, as many call him, held a 661 lbs bench press world record for years. His raw powerlifting record of 2,425 pounds, set in 1981, lasted 23 years and remains relevant in powerlifting today. He was a two-time World Champion in powerlifting.
Bill Kazmaier is also the first man to lift the Thomas Inch dumbbell successfully. In total, he set over 40 powerlifting and strongman records. With many considering him the greatest strength athlete, it is easy to see why he is also considered one of the strongest men ever.
Zydrunas Savickas
| Full Name: Zydrunas Savickas | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| 375 – 412 lbs (170 – 187 kg) | 6’3” (191 cm) | 07/15/1975 |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Powerlifter and Strongman | 1990s – 2010s | Lithuanian |
Zydrunas Savickas, popularly known as “Big Z,” had a strongman career that spanned over two decades, a feat not many can accomplish. He won eight Arnold Strongman Classic titles and four World Strongest Man records. He also broke three Strongman world records in 2005.
In 2014, Zydrunas Savickas set a new world record by lifting a 500-pound log, a record that stood for over 15 years. This particular record is still regarded as one of the greatest press events in strongman history.
Savickas’ impressive power in overhead pressing and deadlifts shows strength and athleticism. With it, he achieved the level of consistency and dominance to put himself on this list. Zydrunas Savickas at one point won virtually all the major strongman competitions in his career.
Follow Generation Iron on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for everything strength sports, bodybuilding, and fitness!
