Žydrūnas Savickas

Žydrūnas Savickas (born July 15, 1975 in Biržai, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian strongman. He stands 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) and competes at 155 kg (342 lb). [cite web |url=http://ifsastrongman.com/athletes/pro/06/ |title=Žydrūnas Savickas |publisher=IFSA Strongman |accessdate=2008-02-18]

As a child Savickas decided to compete in sports, and he became interested in becoming a strongman after watching a Lithuanian strongman contest on TV in 1989. Three years later he took part in the strongman contest, and defeated a number of older and more experienced opponents. He then was 17 and set the aim to become the strongest of all. He began to train in powerlifting, and in his second powerlifting contest he broke all the Lithuanian records. He is the only Lithuanian to squat over 400 kg. Savickas won the 1998 Lithuanian strongman championship, and then competed in the World's Strongest Man contest in Morocco. He won the silver medal in the World powerlifting championship in Japan with a total of 1020 kg.

A contest in the Faroe Islands dealt Savickas a serious setback, as he suffered serious injury to both knees. Many believed that the extent of the injury meant that his career was over. However, nine months later Savickas won the Lithuanian powerlifting championship, and a short time later he also won the Lithuanian strongman championship.

Savickas has won the Arnold Strongman Classic six times in a row. In September 2005, he broke three world records and won the IFSA Strongman World Championship competition in Quebec, Canada. Savickas also won the IFSA World Championship for a 2nd time in 2006 in Reykjavík, Iceland.

On October 24, 2005, Savickas represented Lithuania in a team competition with Vidas Blekaitis, Saulius Brusokas, and Vilius Petrauskas. This Lithuanian team won the IFSA World's Strongest Nation contest in Ukraine.

Personal records

Powerlifting (IPF):
* Squat 425.5 kg (Lithuanian record)
* Bench press 285.5 kg
* Deadlift 400 kg (Lithuanian record)
* Total 1090 kg (Lithuanian record)

Strongman (IFSA) and (Arnold Strongman Classic):
* Axle Press 200 kg (440 lb) (World Record, 2007, Geumson, South Korea)
* Apollon's Axle 166 kg x 8 clean and press each rep (366 lb) (World record, 2006, 2007, Columbus, Ohio)
* Log lift 207.5 kg (457.5 lb) (World record, 2008, Netherlands)
* Wheels Overhead for Reps 155 kg x 8 reps (341 lb)
* Giant Barbell Deadlift for Reps 320 kg x 10 (705 lb) (World record, 2006, Reykjavík, Iceland)
* 22kg (48 lb) Medicine Ball for Height 17 feet (World record, Columbus, Ohio)
* Ring of Stones (heavy set) 25.65 seconds (World record, 2006, Reykjavík, Iceland)
* Block Lift 140 kg (308 lb)
* Hammer Tire Deadlift 462 kg (1016 lb) (World record, 2007, Columbus, Ohio)
* Heavy Yoke 500 kg (1100 lb) 7.50 seconds (World record, 2006, Columbus, Ohio)

Achievements

*FORTISSIMUS:Louis Cyr world strength challenge (2008) 2nd place
*IFSA Strongman World Championship (2007) – 3rd place
*"Arnold Classic" Strongman winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
*IFSA Strongman World Championship winner (2005, 2006)
*Lithuanian Team Champion (2006)
*IFSA European Champion (2005)
*World Team Champion (2005)
*World's Strongest Man (2002, 2003, 2004) – 2nd place
*Lithuanian Strongest Man (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)
*World Powerlifting Vice Champion (2000)
*Lithuanian Powerlifting Champion (1995–1997, 1999–2005) – 10 times
*Winner of the Lithuanian Powerlifting Cup (1994–2000) – 7 times
*European Powerlifting Vicechampion (1999–2001) – 3 times
*Olympic Strongest Team, 2001, 2nd.
*World Strong Man Super-Series, 2003-2004, 2nd.

References

External links

* [http://www.savickas.lt/index.php?news Official Žydrūnas Savickas web site]
* [http://www.ifsastrongman.com Official IFSA Strongman web site]