Žydrūnas Savickas

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]

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

• 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)