Terry Hollands

Terry Hollands was born in 1979 in Dartford, Kent[3] having a birth weight of 12 lbs 14oz.[4] He was a keen sportsman in his childhood and teens, playing judo and rugby.[3] However, despite sport being a big part of his life, he did not start serious gym training until he was 22 in order to help his rugby, and he typically focused on endurance training.

In 2004, he contracted a leg infection[5] and on his return to the gym, he focused on strongman training. His training schedule has been described as "ferociously unforgiving" and he has espoused the benefits of visualisation techniques saying "you can't get by without it."[5]

In 2017, Terry began his weight loss transformation going from 203 kg at his heaviest to 165 kg. By January 2018, he was 147 kg and placed 3rd at Britain's Strongest Man - the lightest he had ever been throughout his entire strongman career. In February 2018, he measured at 12% bodyfat on a DEXA scan in the USA. He then took this even further by taking part in a bodybuilding competition in 2019 where he stepped on stage at 135 kg and 5% bodyfat.

Hollands' career as a strongman began in 2005, coming second at the 2005 England's Strongest Man and first at the 2005 UK's Strongest Man contests. Hollands also qualified for the 2005 World's Strongest Man competition, but he did not qualify for the finals.

In 2006, Hollands lost his UK's Strongest Man title to Glenn Ross but turned his attention to the Britain's Strongest Man competition. Hollands also took part in the 2006 World's Strongest Man competition and qualified for the finals. He placed seventh in the overall competition.

In 2007, Hollands took the title of Britain's Strongest Man and went on to finish third at the 2007 World's Strongest Man, becoming the first British competitor to achieve a podium finish since Gary Taylor in 1993.

The 2008 Britain's Strongest Man saw Hollands conceding his title to Jimmy Marku, coming second overall. However, in the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest, he qualified for the final, coming second in his qualifying heat. In the final, he placed last out of the ten finalists.[6]

In 2009, Hollands improved on this finish in the 2009 World's Strongest Man coming sixth overall.

In 2010, Hollands had series of podium finishes in the Strongman Champions League, including a win in Ireland (tied w/Zydrunas Savickas). In June 2010, Hollands competed at the Europe's Strongest Man contest. However, he had to withdraw after tearing his bicep.[7] In September 2010, Hollands recovered from his bicep injury and was able to compete at the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest where he made the final for the fifth consecutive year, and finished in 8th place.[8] In December 2010, Hollands was crowned the 2010 SCL overall winner.[9]

In 2011, he achieved a podium finish in the World's Strongest Man competition for the second time, placing 3rd, but in 2012, another biceps injury saw him withdraw from the final.

In the 2014 World's Strongest Man competition, Hollands became the first man to have qualified for the final for nine consecutive years. He placed fifth in the overall competition.

On 4 September 2015, he played rugby for England against the Rest of the World in a charity fundraising match.

In October 2018, Hollands appeared in a series of YouTube videos with four-time WSM Brian Shaw where he and Shaw purchased food from Costco, cooked it, and engaged in conversation in Shaw's gym.[10]

In September 2019, Hollands competed at the Giants Live World Tour Finals shortly after competing in his first bodybuilding show.[11] In November 2019, Hollands won the 2019 World's Strongest Man Masters competition held at the Official Strongman Games in Daytona, Florida.[12]

In 2019, Hollands declined his invite to the World's Strongest Man 2019 contest and focused on bodybuilding. He competed in his first bodybuilding contest in August 2019 placing 1st in the Beginners category, 2nd in the Masters category, and 2nd in the Open Super Heavyweight category. This qualified him for the 2brospro British Finals, but did not participate due to other commitments.

He stepped on stage at 135 kg (297 lbs) at approximately 5–6% body fat - measured at 1 week out by a sports scientist using both callipers and bodpod technology at Canterbury University.

Done in official Strongman competition:

• Strongman Deadlift (with straps) – 435 kg (959 lb) (World's Strongest Man 2011)
• Log Lift – 185 kg (408 lb)

Done in training:

• Deadlift (with straps) – 450 kg (990 lb)
• Log Lift – 192.5 kg (424 lb)
• Front Squat – 300 kg (660 lb)
• Bench Press – 255 kg (562 lb)

• Interview in The Guardian