Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait of Jón Páll Sigmarsson in 1988 | |
| Born | 28 April 1960 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland |
| Died | 16 January 1993 (aged 32) Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Nationality |  Icelandic |
| Other names | The Viking |
| Occupation(s) | Strongman, powerlifter, bodybuilder |
| Years active | 1979–1993 |
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Title |
|
| Children | Sigmar Freyr Jónsson |
Jón Páll Sigmarsson[a] (28 April 1960 – 16 January 1993) was an Icelandic strongman, powerlifter and bodybuilder who was the first man to win the World's Strongest Man four times[3] and the first and only man to win the World Muscle Power Classic five times. Jón Páll is widely regarded as one of the greatest strength athletes all time,[4] and is credited with developing Iceland's strength identity.[5] He was named Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1981,[5] and was posthumously inducted into the World's Strongest Man Hall of Fame in 2012.
Early life
[edit]Jón Páll was born in Hafnarfjörður on 28 April 1960, weighing 4 kg (9 lb) and measuring 52 centimetres (20 in). He was the first child of Dóra Jónsdóttir and Sigmar Jónsson.[6][7] He was raised by his mother and foster father Sveinn Guðmundsson.[8] The family moved to Stykkishólmur when he was two. He remained there until the age of nine, when the family relocated to Reykjavík.[9]
Growing up, he spent his summers on Skáleyjar and was active as a farmhand. He worked from dawn until dusk, carrying pails of water and assisting his foster father on seal hunts.[10] He took up Glima, a traditional Icelandic form of wrestling, at the age of five and later played football and handball, as well as competing in swimming, middle-distance running,[11] and karate.[7]
Career
[edit]Jón Páll was introduced to weight lifting in 1976, and began training at the 'Jakaból' gym in 1978.[7] In 1984 he won the Icelandic bodybuilding title in the +90 kg. class. His was also showing great numbers in powerlifting, including Icelandic national records in the bench press (with 192.5 kg (424 lb), 195 kg (430 lb), 210 kg (463 lb) and 222.5 kg (491 lb)) and the squat (with 320.5 kg (707 lb), 330 kg (728 lb), 342.5 kg (755 lb) and 357.5 kg (788 lb)), but his best performances were usually in the deadlift event, in which he set the European record many times (with 350 kg (772 lb), 352.5 kg (777 lb), 360 kg (794 lb), 362.5 kg (799 lb) and 370 kg (816 lb)) and multiple world records in strongman deadlift variations, such as the rectangular handled wheel and one handed deadlift.[12] The Icelandic phrase 'Þetta er ekkert mál fyrir Jón Páll!' was often yelled by him during deadlifting.[13]
1983-1985
[edit]Jón Páll was invited to the World's Strongest Man for the first time in 1983, in which he emerged runner-up to Geoff Capes by one and a half points. He showcased him immense strength by performing a 525 kg (1,157 lb) silver dollar deadlift. He also emerged third at the Europe's Strongest Man. The following year, at age 24, he defeated Capes by 6 points and won 1984 World's Strongest Man in Mora, Sweden, becoming the youngest person to ever win the World's Strongest Man; a record which he holds to-date. Soon after the final armwrestling event, Jón Páll famously shouted "The King has lost his crown!" He won three events (truck pull, caber toss and rock press) and came second in four events in the process.
In 1985 Jón Páll lost the title to Capes, again by only one and a half points. During the deadlift event, a spectator in the audience yelled 'Eskimo' to Jón Páll, and he famously yelled back: "I am not an Eskimo, I'm a Viking!" and successfully lifted the 495 kg (1,091 lb) cart. In 1985 Jón Páll won Europe's Strongest Man and also won both the inaugural World Muscle Power Classic and inaugural Iceland's Strongest Man. During one of the events in Iceland's Strongest Man, he famously danced while carrying the 186 kg (410 lb) Húsafell Stone.[14]
1986-1987
[edit]In 1986 World's Strongest Man in Nice, France, Jón Páll won his second title, beating Capes by 4 points. He won four events (carry & drag, McGlashen stones, deadlift and the loading race) and came second in three events in the process. Also in 1986, Jón Páll won World Muscle Power Classic, Europe's Strongest Man and Commonwealth Highland Games. In the same year, he wrestled English author and Guinness World Record holder Brian Sterling-Vete in an exhibition match for the TV news and print media held at Finnur Karlsson's gymnasium in Reykjavík, Iceland.
In 1987, began Jón Páll's rivalry with Bill Kazmaier who returned to strength sports following his ban from World's Strongest Man after 1982. Kazmaier boasted some of the heaviest powerlifting lifts of that time and had made his reputation in the 1980s as "the strongest man who ever lived" by breaking numerous strongman world records. In 1987, World's Strongest Man was not held for the first and only time in its history. However, 3x times champion Kazmaier, 2x times champion Capes and then 2x times champion Jón Páll met at 1987 Pure Strength, a vintage competition held in the grounds of Huntly Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland to determine who is the strongest man on Earth.[15] Jón Páll who turned in at his all-time heaviest bodyweight dominated the competition, winning 8 out of 10 events while breaking multiple world records in the process.[3] A legendary quote, "There is no reason to be alive, if you can't do deadlift!" was shouted by Jón Páll at the top of the 455 kg (1,003 lb) rectangular-handled cartwheel deadlift during the competition. He won the event with a world record lift of 523 kg (1,153 lb). He also managed to break the log lift world record with 163.5 kg (360 lb).
1988-1990
[edit]In 1988 Capes retired, and at the 1988 World's Strongest Man Jón Páll and Kazmaier clashed again. Kazmaier won the deadlift, log lift and sack race but Jón Páll won the Weight over bar with a five point lead and McGlashen Stones in the end to secure the overall victory, equaling Kazmaier's record for three World's Strongest Man titles. After his victory Jón Páll said: "I may be the fastest strongman in the world, but I think Bill is the strongest on his feet".
In 1989 Jón Páll won the World Muscle Power Classic but placed third both at the 1989 World's Strongest Man and Europe's Strongest Man.
In 1990, Jón Páll came to the 1990 World's Strongest Man injured, but after a valiant fight, won the title for a record breaking fourth time. The American O.D. Wilson who was leading the competition with a comfortable five and a half points leading upto the last event (a 200 m race with a 100 kg weight on the back) lacked the endurance to complete the course quickly enough, giving up six points to Jón Páll, earning him the win at the final event. He also won World Muscle Power Classic and Iceland's Strongest Man.
1991-1992
[edit]In 1991 Jón Páll won his fifth World Muscle Power Classic and in 1992, his fifth Iceland's Strongest Man.
Rivalry with Kazmaier
[edit]Jón Páll was often challenged by Kazmaier in static feats of strength because he believed the events were biased in Jón Páll's favour. However, despite battling with the injuries from 1988 to 1990, Jón Páll's mobility reduced but it progressively translated into improved brute strength. In 1981 when Kazmaier traveled to Nigeria for a Highland games style strength exhibition with Douglas Edmunds, he attempted to break his own deadlift world record by pulling 415 kg (915 lb) with straps. He was successful, however it was not considered an official record since it was a slightly elevated deadlift. During his preparation for the 1987 Pure Strength, Jón Páll replicated the same setup used by Kazmaier and pulled 427.5 kg (942 lb) in his gym 'Gym 80' in front of many Icelandic spectators.[16]
Personal life and death
[edit]Although he was known for his energetic and boastful personality when competing, Jón Páll was a soft-spoken and bookish man in his personal life.[10] He had one son, Sigmar Freyr (born 1983).[8]
On 16 January 1993, Jón Páll died of an aortic rupture while deadlifting in his gym 'Gym 80' in Reykjavík.[17][18] This was likely the result of a congenital heart defect that affected other members of his family also,[18] which may have been exacerbated by his use of anabolic steroids.[19] He had sought medical treatment in the United States in 1992 due to heart problems. In Sölvi Tryggvason's 2013 biography of Jón Páll, he stated he suspected Jón Páll knew he was close to death.[20]
Legacy
[edit]Jón Páll was described in his life documentary "Larger than Life" by Geoff Capes as "a new kind of guy on the block" and by David P. Webster equally in describing him as a man who boasted pure static strength as well as versatile athletic strength in all its forms, a combination that lead to his supreme performances. World's Strongest Man Director Colin Bryce called Jón Páll the greatest strongman of all time for not only his titles but also showmanship, stating "Strongman is entertainment. None of us would be here without Jón Páll".[21]
Jón Páll's lifelong friend and training partner Hjalti Árnason created the Jón Páll Sigmarsson Classic international strongman contest in 2010 in honor of Jón Páll.[22] The event was held annually for three consecutive years during the Icelandic fitness & health expo in Reykjavík. The inaugural winner was America's Brian Shaw[22] and the final winner was Iceland's own Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.[23] Hafþór also has a tattoo of Jón Páll lifting a natural stone in one of his calves.
Personal records
[edit]Powerlifting competition records:
done in official powerlifting meets[1]
- Squat - 365 kg (805 lb) raw in 1984[12]
- Equipped bench press - 247.5 kg (546 lb)[1] in early prototype bench shirt
- Raw bench press - 235 kg (518 lb)[12] raw in 1984
- Deadlift - 370 kg (816 lb)[12] raw in 1984
- Total - 970 kg (2,138 lb)[12]
* former European deadlift record in 1984
Strongman records:
- Rectangular-handled wheel deadlift - 523 kg (1,153 lb) - Pure Strength 1987, a strongman world record in 1987.[24]
- Ox-cart deadlift - 515 kg (1,135 lb) - World's Strongest Man 1985[24]
- Silver dollar deadlift (18 inches with wrist straps) - 525 kg (1,157 lb) - World's Strongest Man 1983[24]
- Single hand deadlift (Raw without wrist straps) - 250 kg (551 lb)[24]
- Log press - 165 kg (364 lb) - Iceland's Strongest Man 1987, a strongman world record in 1987.[24]
- Rock press - 125 kg (276 lb)[24]
- Wheel-barrow push - 1,360 kg (2,998 lb) for 3.06 m[25]
- Weight over bar – 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 5.26 metres (17 ft 3 in) (1987 Pure Strength) (Former Joint-World Record)
He also achieved world records in the Claymore Lift, McGlashen Stones and the Cannon Pull during Pure Strength 1987.[25] He was also the first man ever to load a 150 kg (331 lb) McGlashen stone and got into the Guinness Book of Records for lifting the world's largest whiskey bottle.[12]
Training bests:
- Bench press - 250 kg (551 lb) raw.
- Deadlift - 400 kg (882 lb) raw as an exhibition lift in 1986.
- Deadlift - 427.5 kg (942 lb) with wrist straps as an exhibition lift.
- Squat - 390 kg (860 lb) raw.
Competition history
[edit]Strongman
[edit]- World's Strongest Man
- 1983 - 2nd
- 1984 - 1st
- 1985 - 2nd
- 1986 - 1st
- 1988 - 1st
- 1989 - 3rd
- 1990 - 1st
- World Muscle Power Championship
- 1985 - 1st
- 1986 - 1st
- 1987 - 2nd
- 1988 - 3rd
- 1989 - 1st
- 1990 - 1st
- 1991 - 1st
- Europe's Strongest Man
- 1983 - 3rd
- 1985 - 1st
- 1986 - 1st
- 1987 - 3rd
- 1988 - 2nd
- 1989 - 3rd
- 1990 - 4th
- 1992 - 4th
- Other contests
- 1982 Scandinavian Strongest Man - 1st
- 1985 Le Defi Mark Ten (Canada) - 3rd
- 1986 Le Defi Mark Ten (Canada) - 2nd
- 1987 Le Defi Mark Ten (Canada) - 5th
- 1987 Japan Grand Prix - 2nd
- 1987 Pure Strength - 1st
- 1989 Corby Great Eccleston (England) - 1st
- 1989 Iceland's Kraftur Contest - 1st
- 1990 Nissan Power Cup - 1st
- 1990 European Muscle Power Championship
- 1991 European Hercules - 2nd
- 1992 European Hercules - 6th
- Iceland's Strongest Man winner - 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992
- Finland's Strongest Man winner - 1989
- Finnish nationals winner - 1992
Powerlifting
[edit]- 1980 European Powerlifting Championships - 2nd
- 1981 European Powerlifting Championships - 2nd
- 1981 World Powerlifting Championships - 3rd
- 1983 European Powerlifting Championships - 1st
Olympic weightlifting
[edit]- 1980 Icelandic Olympic weightlifting Championships - 1st
Highland games
[edit]- 1986 Carmunnock Highland Games (Scotland) - 7th
- 1986 Commonwealth Highland Games (Scotland) - 1st
Notes
[edit]- ^ Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjouːn ˈpʰautl̥ ˈsɪɣmar̥sɔn].
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Sigmarsson Jón Páll". allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ a b "Sigmarsson Jón Páll". allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ a b David Horne (7 May 2010). "David Horne's World of Grip". David Horne. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "The Top Ten World's Strongest Men of All-Time". World's Strongest Man. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011.
- ^ a b Símon Birgisson (7 December 2013). "Heldur rýr Jón Páll". Vísir (in Icelandic).
- ^ Staff writer(s) (26 January 1993). "Jón Páll Sigmarsson - viðbót Hann fæddist á Sólvangi í Hafnarfirði hinn 28". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic).
- ^ a b c Kári Elíson (27 January 1993). "Jón Páll Sigmarsson - viðbót Harmur berst um hyggjusvið. Sorg og tómleiki". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic).
- ^ a b Staff writer(s) (19 January 1993). "Jón Páll Sigmarsson látinn". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Jón Páll Sigmarsson".
- ^ a b Odegard, Alana (30 January 2014). "A Tribute to Iceland's Gentle Giant: Larger than Life". Iceland Review. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
- ^ Jon Pall Sigmarsson, ICE – Strongman
- ^ a b c d e f "Jon-Pall Sigmarsson Tribute Page". earthlink.net. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ Youtube, Doug (14 January 2008). "This is no Haul for Jon Pall". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Lee (5 March 2014). "Jón Páll Sigmarsson Dances with the Húsafell Stone". Godsogn Pictures. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "1987 Pure Strength Contest". billhenderson.org. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ "Jakabol: Magnus Ver Magnusson Launches New Gym". ironmind.com. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ Revealed: Secrets of the World's Third Strongest Man
- ^ a b "The Giants of Iceland | Strength Beyond Measure".
- ^ Steraæði á Íslandi
- ^ "Jón Páll vissi hann væri að deyja".
- ^ Phil Blechman (17 November 2020). "World's Strongest Man Athletes Reveal Their Strongman GOAT Picks". Barbend.com. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Brian Shaw Wins the Inaugural Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic Strongman Contest". ironmind.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ Randall J. Strossen (7 November 2012). "Jón Páll Sigmarsson Classic III". ironmind.com. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "WSM Records". billhenderson.org. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ a b "World's Strongest Man - Season 11, Episode 1: Pure Strength 1987 - TV.com". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
External links
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| International | |
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| National | |
