An Interview with   SVEND KARLSEN  January 4, 2000  Svend Karlsen Viking Power Project  Hølleveien 171  4640 Søgne  Norway  Telephone: +47 91107541

Svend:  No problem. 

WSL:  First, would you care to introduce yourself to your fans? 

Svend:  My name is Svend Karlsen.  I was born on the 6th of October 1967 in Drammen Norway.  I grew up there and had a very happy childhood doing all kinds of outdoor things.  I wanted to be strong and big for as long as I can remember, but there was no gym in my hometown until I was 14 years old. When I started to lift weights at the age of 14, I was 182 cm (6 ') at a bodyweight of 75 kg (165 lbs).  After one week of training, I tried to see how much I could lift and I did 100 kg (220 lbs.) in bench press, 150 kg (330 lbs.) in deadlift and the same in squat.  At the age of 18, I did 230 kg (507 lbs.) bench press, 345 kg (760 lbs.) in deadlift and 340 kg squat (750).  My best ever are : 270 kg (595 lbs.) bench press.  Now I can do 250 kg (551 lbs.) because of a partial pec tear.   I have done a 412,5 kg (910 lbs.) deadlift, but I think I can do more now.  I have done a 400 kg (882 lbs.) squat.  I did that now with no equipment (just belt) just a few weeks ago. 

Some other results in the gym include: 

Biceps curl:  6 reps with 150 kg 

Seated row: 12 reps with 270 kg (strict) 

My current bodyweight is 152 kg (335 lbs) and I'm 188 cm (6,2") tall.  I will drop my bodyweight down to about 143 kg for Helsinki GP to be more fit.  My arms are are about 58 cm (23").  My educational background is in economics.  I was married, but are now divorced.  And am engaged with the most beautiful girl in the world, Eun Lene Ekrem. We are expecting or first child to arrive on the 1st of May.  We are not sure what sex it is, but the doctors think it's a boy.  We live in Kristiansand in the southern part of Norway. 

Svend:  Yes, I'm going to compete in Helsinki GP. Last year I had a lot of personal problems and in the Helsinki GP I got sick. I don't know if it was because of all my problems at that time or because my body was worn out trying to train hard at the same time. But I can promise all the other competitors a fight for the first place there this year, and in all the other shows I will enter. 

WSL:  When did you start lifting and competing? 

Svend:  Well as I said I started to lift weights at the age of 14, and to compete first in powerlifting at 15. I have broken a lot of records there, nationals and also world record in deadlift  (350kg / 772lbs) 
    I did bodybuilding from 1990 to 1995 and my best as a amateur was 2nd in the World Games in 1993 and that gave me a Pro card in the IFBB. 
    My first strongman event was WSM 1996 without any strongman training. 
    But I've been very seriously with my training ever after. 
    I didn't compete in any other sports before I started Powerlifting, but I did train swimming. 

WSL:   Who were your heroes/idols when you were growing up? Did they change when you were competing? Who do you admire today? 

Svend:  My heroes when I was growing up was anyone who was big and strong.  When I started lifting weights it was Arnold.  And other idols I had was people that I knew here in Norway at my gym etc. etc. And they change as I started to compete.  Today, I admire people in different fields. Like people that sacrifice them self for others.  Working for the starving people of the world etc. etc. I think #1 must be Jesus. In strongman I admire Ahola for his fighting spirit and his great sportsmanship. He doesn't talk BS ! And Magnus Ver, Magnus S.,  Jon Pall, Jamie and many others. 

WSL:  Could you name some lifting-related accomplishments or any odd lifts that you have done? 

Svend:  Well I have moved cars that were parked wrong to get a parking space. 

WSL:  What is your favorite event? 

Svend:  I don't have any that I could call favorite, but I like the action events. 

WSL:  What is your least favorite event? 

Svend:  Crucifix. 

WSL:  Could you briefly explain to us your training? 

Svend:  Well, I train 5 days a week in the off-season. 4 days with weights, and 1 with events. Before shows I train 6 days a week. 4 days with weights, and also 4 days with events.  But I concentrate on the event training. 

WSL:  In the 1996 WSM, you made your debut.  Could you tell us about that contest and the 1997 WSM? 

Svend:  In 1996 WSM  that was my debut, but I was in 97 for the first time I really prepared for the show.  I had been training harder than ever for that event and my main goal was to get to final and place top 3. But when I beat 4-time WSM Magnus Ver in my heat I really thought I could win the final. And after 4 events I was only 1 point behind the leader Flemming Rasmussen with my best events to come: squat, loading, deadlift and medley.  I was sure I was going to win. But I learned a lesson, it's not over before it's over. I got injured warming up for the squat. 

WSL:  What happened to you in 1998? 

Svend:  I was home and sick !!! 

WSL:  This year your turned in your best performance to date.  Could you tell us about it? 

Svend:  I was really happy. I thought I could win, but I was sick in the heat and lost a lot of bodyweight.  And it was my first event in over a year (well except from loading in Helsinki GP).  I had only been in hard training from July. So, to be in the top 3 in WSM is really a good performance I think, don't you??? 

WSL:  Of all the competitions you have done which one was your favorite and why? 

Svend:  The WSM 99 because it was a comeback for me and I did very well when everybody thought I was gone. Thinking about all my problems with the divorce and people I thought were my friends, but turned the back against me when I was down. 

WSL:  What do you think of the strongman today and the politics? 

Svend:  I love the strongmansport, but I leave the politics over to others. I just want to compete !!!!! 

WSL:  Do you have any funny stories that you could share with us--ones that fans have not heard yet? 

Svend:  When I was competing in Australia in 97 Heinz, Magnus S., Ilkka Kinunnen and I was going to eat at a hospital in Sidney. It was a cafe for the workers there, but we went in anyway. When we were eating somebody came over to our table and ask who we were and I answered:  "Well this is brain-surgeon Heinz Ollesch, nerve specialist Ilkka Kinnunen, heart-surgeon Magnus Samuelsson and I'm  professor Svend Karlsen.  We are exchange doctors from Europe."  Well, the person just looked strange at us and walked away. I guess he never had seen 4 doctors with a total bodyweight of 600 kg. 

WSL:  Is there any special message that you would like to send out to your many, many fans? 

Svend:  I want to thank all the people that has been sharing and supporting me. Without the fans it would not been any strongman Svend "Vikingpower" Karlsen. I hope I can please them by winning the first WSM in this new millennium.