Žydrūnas Savickas
Žydrūnas Savickas (Lithuanian pronunciation: [ʑiːˈdrûːnɐs sɐˈvʲɪtskɐs]; born July 15, 1975) is a Lithuanian powerlifter and professional strongman.
![]() Savickas in June 2010 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Biržai, Lithuania | July 15, 1975
Occupation | Strongman, powerlifter |
Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[1] |
Weight | 170 kg (375 lb)[1] – 182 kg (401 lb)[2] |
Spouse(s) | Jurgita Savickienė (m. 2010) |
Website | Official website |
Achievements and titles | |
World finals | 4-time World's Strongest Man 2-time IFSA Strongman World Champion 8-time Arnold Strongman Classic winner 3-time Europe's Strongest Man 1-time IFSA Europe's Strongest Man 2-time Strongman Champion League winner 1-time Giants Live Champion 2-time Ultimate Strongman Masters World Champion 1-Time Official Strongman Games Masters World Champion 1-time Fortissimus winner 5-time World Log Lift Champion |
National finals | 16-time Lithuania's Strongest Man |
![](../I/Zydrunas_Savickas_lifting_weight.jpg.webp)
Career
Žydrūnas Savickas first became interested in strength sports after watching a Lithuanian strongman contest on TV in 1989.[2][4] Three years later, he took part in that same strongman contest, and defeated a number of older and more experienced competitors. At age 17, Savickas began to train in powerlifting. In his second powerlifting contest, he broke all the Lithuanian records.[5]
In 1998, Žydrūnas Savickas won his first Lithuania's Strongest Man contest.[5] He would later go on to win this contest a total of 16 times. Savickas then competed in the 1998 and 2000 World's Strongest Man contests, but failed to qualify for the finals both times. He won the silver medal in the World powerlifting championship in Japan with a total of 1,020 kg (2,250 lb),[3][6] just 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) behind Brad Gillingham.[7]
2001–2008
In 2001, a contest in the Faroe Islands dealt Savickas a major setback, as he tore both patellar tendons during the Conan's Wheel event. Many believed that the extent of the injury meant that his career was over.[4] However, nine months later, Savickas won the Lithuanian powerlifting championships and a short time later, he also won the 2002 Lithuania's Strongest Man contest.[5] Savickas would go on to finish in 2nd place at the 2002 World's Strongest Man in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He would finish in 2nd place five more times in 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and 1st place at the 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014 World's Strongest Man contests.
Savickas won the Arnold Strongman Classic six consecutive times from 2003 to 2008.[2] Savickas won the IFSA European Championships in 2005 which qualified him for the IFSA World Championships.[8] In September 2005, he broke three world records and won the IFSA Strongman World Championships in Quebec, Canada.[9] In December 2005, Savickas won the IFSA World Team Championships with Team Europe and won the IFSA World Championships for the 2nd time in 2006 in Reykjavík, Iceland.[9]
On October 24, 2005, Savickas represented Lithuania in a team competition with Vidas Blekaitis, Saulius Brusokas, and Vilius Petrauskas. Team Lithuania placed 5th overall at the IFSA World's Strongest Nation contest in Ukraine.
In September 2007, Savickas finished in 3rd place at the last ever IFSA World Championships behind runner-up Mikhail Koklyaev and champion Vasyl Virastyuk in Geumsan, South Korea.[10]
Savickas won 5 out of the 7 total contests during the inaugural 2008 Strongman Champions League season and won the 2008 overall title 58 points ahead of second-place finisher Ervin Katona.[11]
2009–2010
In June 2009, Savickas won Fortissimus after finishing runner-up in 2008 behind Derek Poundstone.[12] On October 3, 2009, Savickas won the 2009 World's Strongest Man competition ahead of defending champion Mariusz Pudzianowski.
On the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy on April 1, 2010, Savickas set a record of 70 metres (229 ft 7 in) for the longest distance carrying a 300 kg yoke. The record was part of the Italian TV series Lo Show dei Record.[13] In June 2010, Savickas won the Europe's Strongest Man competition.
In September 2010, Savickas and Brian Shaw tied for points at the 2010 World's Strongest Man competition, but Savickas won on countback.[14] He also set a new world record for the Giant Wooden Log Lift by lifting 210 kg (460 lb).[15]
Savickas is the 3-time reigning World Log Lift Championships winner in 2008, 2009 and 2011 (no contest was held in 2010).
2011
In April 2011, Savickas set a new Guinness World Record performing a 20-meter Farmer's Walk in 7.55 seconds with 150 kg (330 lb) implements in each hand. The event was broadcast on the Guinness TV show in Europe.[16]
Savickas won five Strongman Champions League events during the 2011/2012 season, in Finland in March 2011, Germany on April 16, 2011,[17] the SCL Semi-finals in Canada in October 2011, Latvia in November 2011 and the SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Bosnia on February 7, 2012.[18] Ervin Katona won the overall championships, with Savickas as the runner-up.[19] During the SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Savickas set a new world record in the Log Lift with 215 kg (474 lb).[19] This was his 7th consecutive world record in the Log Lift, not including his world record in the Giant Wooden Log Lift set at the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest.[15]
In September 2011, Savickas lost his WSM crown to Brian Shaw at the 2011 World's Strongest Man contest at Wingate University, North Carolina coming in second place for the fourth time.
2012
Savickas won the 2012 Europe's Strongest Man contest on June 23, 2012, his second ESM title after winning in 2010.[20] Savickas also set a new world record in the Log Lift with a lift of 216 kg (476 lb). This was his 8th consecutive Log Lift world record.[20]
Savickas won 11 of the 14 Strongman Champions League contests in the 2012 season and won the overall championships title.[21] During the SCL Holland event, Savickas set another world record in the Log Lift with a lift of 217.5 kg (480 lb).[22] This was Savickas' third Log Lift world record in 2012 and 9th consecutive Log Lift world record.
On October 1, 2012, Savickas regained the WSM crown by winning the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest in Los Angeles, California.[23] This was Savickas' third WSM title and he is the fifth competitor in WSM history to win three or more WSM titles. Savickas also set a new Log Lift world record in the finals with a lift of 220 kg (490 lb).[24][25]
On October 7, 2012, Savickas won the 2012 World Log Lift Championships[26] which was held at the same venue as the SCL Savickas Classic event.[27] This was his fourth consecutive World Log Lift Championships title.
2013
Savickas won his inaugural 2013 contest, the Strongman Champions League Holland event held in Kalkar, Germany on June 22, 2013.[28][29] Savickas also attempted a new Log Lift world record of 221 kg (487 lb), but just barely failed to lockout the weight overhead.[29] Savickas won seven SCL contests in the 2013 season and came second in the overall championships behind Krzysztof Radzikowski.[30]
On June 29, 2013, Savickas won his third Europe's Strongest Man title.[31] He also set a new Log Lift world record with a lift of 221 kg (487 lb).[31]
In August 2013, Savickas finished second in the 2013 World's Strongest Man contest behind Brian Shaw.
2014
At Giants Live Poland, Savickas set a new world record on the Log Lift for 227 kg (500 lb). In the 2014 World's Strongest Man, he managed to win his fourth title with just half a point difference over the second placed Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson. Zydrunas set a new world record in the giant barbell squat event by squatting 329 kg (725 lb) for 15 repetitions.
Personal life
Savickas married his longtime girlfriend Jurgita Savickienė on July 24, 2010 in Lithuania.[32]
At the end of September 2010, a biography entitled Žydrūnas Savickas – žmogus iš geležies (Žydrūnas Savickas – A Man Of Iron) was published in Lithuania.[33]
![](../I/Zydrunas_Savickas_SUV_Deadlift.JPG.webp)
Zydrunas Savickas has a YouTube channel where he talks on strongman related topics such as recovery, diet, and training habits.
Personal records
Powerlifting
Done in official powerlifting competitions under IPF rules (single-ply equipment)
- Squat – 410 kg (900 lb)[3][6] (Lithuanian record)
- Bench press – 250 kg (550 lb)[3][6] (Lithuanian record)
- Deadlift – 360 kg (790 lb)[3][6] (Lithuanian record)
- Total – 1,020 kg (2,250 lb) (410|250|360)[3][6] (2000, Lithuanian record)
Done in the gym (personal records as of 2013 according to Savickas himself)
- Squat – 440 kg (970 lb) for 2 reps;[34] 400 kg (880 lb) for 5 reps[35] Raw with knee wraps
- Bench press – 286 kg (631 lb) for 1 rep;[36] 250 kg (550 lb) for 3 reps[37]
- Deadlift – 447.5 kg (987 lb) for 1 rep[38]
- Standing Overhead Press – 200 kg (440 lb) for 5 reps[37] without leg drive
- Standing Overhead Press – 260 kg (570 lb) for 1 rep
- 18-inch Deadlift – 525 kg (1,157 lb) for 1 rep Raw[39]
- Front Squat – 320 kg (710 lb) for 5 reps[35] Raw with knee wraps
Strongman
- Log lift for Max Weight – 228 kg (503 lb) (World record, 2015 Arnold Classic Brazil Strongman Pro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Giant Barbell Squat for Reps – 329 kg (725 lb) × 15 Raw with knee wraps (World record, 2014 World's Strongest Man, Los Angeles, California)
- Strongman Deadlift (with straps) – 442 kg (974 lb) with straps (World Strongman Record, 2011)
- Apollon's Axle Press for Max Weight – 215 kg (474 lb) (2010 Giants Live, Istanbul, Turkey)[40]
- Apollon's Axle Press for Reps – 166 kg (366 lb) × 8 clean and press each rep (World record, 2006 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
- Giant Wooden Log lift for Max Weight – 210 kg (460 lb) (World Record, 2010 World's Strongest Man, Sun City, South Africa)[15]
- Apollon's Wheels Overhead for Reps – 155 kg (342 lb) × 8 reps
- Giant Barbell Deadlift for Reps – 320 kg (710 lb) × 10 (World record, 2006 IFSA World Championships, Reykjavík, Iceland)
- 22 kg (49 lb) Medicine ball for Height – 17 ft (5.18 m) (World record, 2004 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
- Atlas Stones (heavy set) – 25.65 seconds (World record, 2006 IFSA World Championships, Reykjavík, Iceland)
- Metal Block press – 150 kg (330 lb) (World record, 2011 World's Strongest Man, Wingate, North Carolina)
- Hummer Tire Deadlift for Max Weight – 524 kg (1,155 lb) (2014 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)[41]
- Heavy Super Yoke 640 kg (1,410 lb) – 3.87 seconds (World record, 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic, Columbus, Ohio)
Notable contests
- World's Strongest Man – 1st place four times: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014
- World's Strongest Man – 2nd place six times: 2002–2004, 2011, 2013, 2015
- IFSA Strongman World Championships – 1st place two times: 2005, 2006
- Arnold Strongman Classic – 1st place eight times: 2003–2008, 2014, 2016
- Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe – 1st place: 2012
- Europe's Strongest Man – 1st place three times: 2010, 2012, 2013
- Strongman Super Series – 1st place 2004
- Strongman Super Series – 2nd place 2003
- Strongman Champions League – 1st place two times: 2012, 2008
- Lithuania's Strongest Man – 1st place sixteen times: 1998–2000, 2002, 2004–2009, 2012–2015, 2017, 2020
Achievements
Professional Competitive Record – [1st (79),2nd (29),3rd (13) – Out of Total(128)]
Performance Metric – .949 [Lithuanian – .964 International – .924]
Professional | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | INJ | DNQ | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lithuanian | 46 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 65 | |||||
International | 36 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 75 | |||||
Combined | 82 | 29 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 140 |
See also
References
- "Zydrunas Savickas". World's Strongest Man. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Žydrūnas Savickas". Rogue Fitness. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- "Savickas Žydrūnas". AllPowerlifting. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Legends of WSM: Žydrūnas Savickas". Strongman.org. January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Zydrunas Savickas, LIT – Strongman & Powerlifter". Irish Strength Association. February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Žydrūnas Savickas". Open Powerlifting. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- Boly, Jake (May 31, 2018). "Throwback To Zydrunas Savickas' Epic Powerlifting Performance". BarBend. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (July 17, 2005). "Zydrunas Savickas: Unstoppable at the IFSA European Championships Today". IronMind. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Previous News – 2006". IFSA Strongman. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (September 15, 2007). "Vasyl Virastyuk Wins IFSA World Championships". IronMind. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Results and Rankings 2008". Strongman Champions League. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (June 29, 2009). "Fortissimus 2009: Bigger and Better". IronMind. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- "Longest distance carrying a 300 kg yoke". Guinness World Records. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "World's Strongest Man Archive". World's Strongest Man. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
See 2010 Final – Sun City – South Africa
- Strossen, Randall J. (September 21, 2010). "Zydrunas Savickas Breaks Log Lift World Record at the World's Strongest Man Contest". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (April 15, 2011). "Zydrunas Savickas Sets New Guinness World Record". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (April 18, 2011). "Zydrunas Savickas Wins SCL GERMANY (FIBO POWER)". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Results and Rankings 2011". Strongman Champions League. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (February 8, 2012). "Ervin Katona Wins SCL World Championships". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (June 23, 2012). "Zydrunas Savickas Wins Europe's Strongest Man". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Results and Rankings 2012". Strongman Champions League. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (July 2, 2012). "SCL Holland: World Record, Dutch Record in the Log Lift". IronMind. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (October 1, 2012). "Zydrunas Savickas: World's Strongest Man Winner". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (September 30, 2012). "WSM Finals: Zydrunas Savickas Breaks Log Lift World Record". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Heaviest log press". Guinness World Records. September 30, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (October 8, 2012). "Zydrunas Savickas Double Victory in Lithuania". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (October 3, 2012). "SCL Gets Ready for the Savickas Strongman Classic". IronMind. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (June 18, 2013). ""Killer Lineup" for SCL Holland". IronMind. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J. (June 25, 2013). "SCL–Holland: Zydrunas Savickas Gets First Win in 2013 and "Thor" Gets a World Record". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Results and Rankings 2013". Strongman Champions League. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- "Savickas wins Europe's Strongest Man 2013". Giants Live. Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- Strossen, Randall J. (July 26, 2010). "Zydrunas Savickas Ties the Knot: World's Strongest Man Gets Married". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Guginis, Andrius (January 1, 2010). Žydrūnas Savickas – žmogus iš geležies [Žydrūnas Savickas – A Man Of Iron] (in Lithuanian). Metafora. ISBN 978-609-408-104-0.
- "[ENG/PL SUB] Real Power odc. 1 Zydrunas Savickas x Krzysztof Radzikowski". YouTube. December 17, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
See from 5:58
- "Big Z and Martins Licis Talk Squat PRs [400kg x 5 REPS]". YouTube. November 6, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Records". Zydrunas Savickas. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- "Zydrunas Savickas interview - Physical Advancement". Marunde Muscle. December 31, 2006. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- "Ett samtal med Zydrunas Savickas". MAXstyrka. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- "Big Z deadlift training in garage". YouTube. April 13, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Strossen, Randall J (October 31, 2010). "Zydrunas Savickas: 215-kg Axle and Watch for More". IronMind. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- Guinness World Records 2016. Guinness World Records. September 10, 2015. p. 208. ISBN 9781910561034. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
External links
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