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Zydrunas SavickasLithuanian powerlifter and professional strongman
Country:
 Lithuania |
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Biography of Žydrūnas Savickas
Žydrūnas Savickas, also known as 'Big Z', is a Lithuanian powerlifter and professional strongman. He is considered the 'strongest man of all time' as he has won all major strongman competitions. Savickas has set over 20 world records in strength sports and powerlifting. He stands at a height of 1.91 meters and weighs 155 kg. He was born on July 15, 1975, in Biržai, Lithuania.
Early Life and Career
Savickas first became interested in strength sports after watching a Lithuanian strongman competition in 1989. Just three years later, at the age of 17, he competed in the same competition and surpassed more experienced competitors. He began training in powerlifting at the age of 17 and set national records in his second Lithuanian strongman competition.
In 1998, Savickas won his first 'Strongest Man' competition in Lithuania. He went on to win the competition a total of 11 times. He participated in the 'World's Strongest Man' competition in 1998 and 2000 but did not reach the qualifying finals. Savickas won a silver medal at the World Powerlifting Championships in Japan in 2000.
In 2001, Savickas suffered a serious injury to both patellar tendons during the 'Conan's Wheel' event in the competition in the Faroe Islands. Many believed that this injury would end his career, but he returned to win the Lithuanian Powerlifting Championship just nine months later. He continued to compete and achieved second place in the 'World's Strongest Man' competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2002.
Strongman Achievements
Savickas has had numerous achievements in strongman competitions. He won the 'World's Strongest Man' competition in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014. He earned silver medals in 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013, and 2015. From 2003 to 2008, Savickas dominated the 'Arnold Strongman Classic' competition. He won the European Championship of the International Federation of Strength Athletes (IFSA) in 2005 and went on to win the IFSA International Championship the same year.
In 2006, Savickas became the first champion of the IFSA International Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland. He finished third in the IFSA International Championship in South Korea in 2007. Savickas has also represented Lithuania in the 'World's Strongest Nation' competition in Ukraine in 2005, where the Lithuanian team finished fifth.
World Records
Savickas has set several world records in strength sports. In April 2011, he set a Guinness World Record by completing a 20-meter 'Farmers Walk' with 150 kg in each hand in just 7.55 seconds. He also set a world record in the log lift with a weight of 215 kg in the finals of the Champions League of Strength Athletes in Sarajevo. He improved this record to 216 kg in 2012 and 217.5 kg in 2012.
In 2014, Savickas set another world record in the log lift, lifting 227 kg at the Giants Live Poland competition. He won his fourth 'World's Strongest Man' title in the same year, narrowly beating the silver medalist Hafthor Julius Bjornsson. Savickas also set a world record in the squat with 340 kg for 15 repetitions.
Personal Life
Žydrūnas Savickas married his longtime girlfriend Jurgita Savickienė on July 24, 2010. In September 2010, his biography titled 'Žydrūnas Savickas - A Man Of Iron' was published.
