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WSM ALL TIME RANKINGS 2000 | ||||||||
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World's Strongest Man competition has long been the best known way to find out who's the strongest of strong men. The competitors go trough a variety of events, which all have an equal weight on total competition points. These events are chosen with care to test maximum strength, ability to move and carry objects of different shape and weight, explosive speed, and finally to test endurance in events a normal man can't do for even one second. It is important to note that these events should not have standard equipment nor be the same every time, because they are planned to test general, and not specific strength. Would we use the same method to find out for example who's currently the best track and field athlete in the world, we'd get decathlon with changing events, distances and objects. Being the best in one event, as respectable achievement as it is, does not really make anyone the best on the whole arena. In the strength field however, the competitors are in a way much closer to each other, like shot putters and discus throwers in T&F, which makes this competition much more meaningful and a bit easier to arrange. As there have been so many men to claim this title, "World's Strongest Man", with just one or two record lifts under their belt, I must ask: What would be the one lift, or two, three lifts, which could grant you the title (well, other than deadlifting 1 ton...)? And did we just forget grip strength and "crucifix"-type of holding events? You answer this question - if you can, and then WSM will have only this event or these events.By far, there hasn't been a guy in history who has mastered more than just some maximum lifts, or even kept records in those for at least - say three years. But there have been 12 competitors since 1977, World's Strongest Men, who have had the best overall strength at their time. They have at least some right to call themselves the strongest. Or... at least they have won the WSM competition.
All time rankings? When it's quite impossible to even say who's the strongest now?! Criteria? I admit that because we don't have a solid criteria for even deciding the strongest today, "all time rankings" are more or less just for fun. Actually strongman competitions can't be that serious either - nor give a final answer. But even though WSM is just a show for somebody, it's also the only place to prove you're the best! Naturally because WSM isn't the best paid competition there is and only few guys make money with it, many great strength athletes choose other sports. Note Jan 2000: The recent development in the sport makes me want to add, that in every sport strength is just a tool. Those who can utilize it best and have also other qualities, carry home the prices. WSM after all is just one competition. If one thinks he doesn't need strong legs to win WSM, then he will train for something else. Competitions (strongman/powerlifting/weightlifting/shot put) are never about the pure strength really, but winning competitions! Why do we need this ranking then, for fun only? Even many of the competitors today don't really know the history and
great men of this sport. Hope this ranking helps a bit to make it more
clear who won, when, and how much.
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