Finals for WSM 2008

[ASGARDIAN]

Five Americans Go Through to the 2008 WSM Finals by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind


With the qualifying round of the 2008 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man contest completed, five Americans have made it through to the finals.

Setting the stage for the upcoming battle, head referee Colin Bryce, who has been directly involved with the World’s Strongest Man contest since 1996, said, “It’s the best field ever. We have seven events coming up that should split the field. We have good tests of all types of strength.”

Mariusz Pudzianowski led the field on the Axle Press this morning, winning “easily,” further reinforcing feelings that he will be a major force to be reckoned with in the WSM finals. 2006 WSM winner Phil Pfister is also getting nods as the favorite to win, in part because of his impressive performance throughout the qualifiers and in part because the events in the finals are well-suited to the hometown hero. Derek Poundstone and Travis Ortmayer continued to be mentioned as podium favorites, and just to keep Mariusz from being the only one sporting a damaged limb, Derek Poundstone reportedly tweaked his foot/ankle today. Taking a bigger hit today, Mark Felix tore a biceps on the stones, although he continued and finished the event.

Finally, what better way to end the qualifiers than with the stones, and to add an accent mark, to have a stellar performance on them.

Arild Haugen did the honors, with a performance that was in another league - blowing through the series several seconds faster that the second-fastest finisher. As one wag put it, “Someone else might be King of the Stones, but this makes Arild Haugen the Emperor.”

Here are the finalists for what promises to be the best World’s Strongest Man contest ever: Derek Poundstone, Jason Bergmann, Phil Pfister, Sebastian Wenta, Tarmo Mitt, Terry Hollands, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Arild Haugen, Travis Ortmayer, and Dave Ostlund

[GTLifter]

I can't wait until this is televised. I'm actually considering driving up there from ATL for the events on sunday.

[Luca Brasi]

Cant wait for the broadcast either ... i just wish they would get it together and start producing dvd's already for those with limited tv coverage . I hope Wenta can do it .

[RagingBull666]

What happened to Kevin Nee??

[IliekFude]

Badass....
Thats rough to hear about Mark tho. That guy just doesnt quit. He's about mid 40's now isnt? Id be happy to be anywhere in the same galaxy as him when im his age.

[TedKoppelspegleg]

What happened to Kevin Nee??:taz:

[Shakes]

What happened to Kevin Nee??

He was in a tough qualifying group and was not able to earn a spot this time.

Not sure if he is 100% yet since his bicep injury a few months back.

[RagingBull666]

I told him it was to early to compete anyways. The damn thing wasn't healed all the way yet but he's a stubborn kid. He comes up and squat with us every now and then when he get his ass out of bed early enough!!

[dronga]

After the first event today:
wsm2008
Finals Prelims


.
Finalists Power Stairs
.



.
Mariusz Pudzianowski 12 sec faster than 2nd 10
.
Derek Poundstone Finished 9
.
Dave Ostlund Finished 8
.
Phil Pfister 14 steps 6.5
.
Tarmo Mitt 14 steps 6.5
.
Sebastian Wenta 4
.
Arild Haugen 4
.
Travis Ortmayer 4
.
Jason Bergmann 2
.
Terry Hollands 1

Mariusz is in the lead only by a point, and Conn.'s own Strongman is nipping at his heels. Heres the rest on the schedule:
Fingal Fingers Car Walk Car Deadlift Overhead Lift Plane Pull Atlas Stones
.

[IliekFude]

mariusz will annihilate with that line up of events. Sparing possibly the fingers and the plane pull.
10 fake bucks on the line - any takers?

[dronga]

mariusz will annihilate with that line up of events. Sparing possibly the fingers and the plane pull.
10 fake bucks on the line - any takers?

10 fake bucks it is! I'm pulling for Poundstone or Travis.

[dronga]

Friday September 12, 2008 - 12:27 PM
American's Walking Away with it?
Event two at WSM, the Car Walk, saw the American contingent taking the top 4 spots with home town hero Phil Pfister claiming top position and Super Dave Ostlund turning on the gas for position number two. With Pfister and Ostlund's best event coming up next (Fingals Fingers), the American duo will be trying to put a gimpy Mariusz Pudzianowski in the review mirror before his 330lbs of supercharged Polish fury hit the afterburners in days two and three.

Athlete Power Stairs Car Walk Overall
Poundstone 9 8 17
Ostlund 8 9 17
Pfister 6.5 10 16.5 Pudzianowski 10 6 16
Ortmayer 4 7 11
Wenta 4 5 9
Mitt 6.5 2 8.5
Bergmann 2 4 6
Haugen 4 1 5 Hollands 1 3 4

4 guys in the top five are from the US of A! Woo hoo!!

[Nick]

I remember watching Poundstone at the WSM in Mohegan Sun take it, despite falling behind Mariusz early due to a DQ.

If anyone can do it, he can.

[IliekFude]

Poundstone is a beast for sure and id be happy to look like that mofo but im just sayn... JUST SAYIN.. ;)
the lineup favors mariusz...

[getjacked]

poundstone can pull with marius.. the other americans are just as good if not better at stones than marius.. poundstone is just a good of a presser as marius.. not sure why he would annihilate. the speed events are just about done forl. not that marius isn't buck strong, but he isn't much stronger than the other guys, and weaker than some

btw poundstone beat marius in overhead..

at this point all poundstone needs to do is take 2nd in the pull and 2nd in stones to win.

the thing is though, is that this is THE most stacked WSM in the history of WSM just about. never has there been so many guys that can easily take 1st.. so it can definitely all change in a couple events. poundstone needing to finish 2nd in stones is very hard to do when you have travis ortmayer, dave ostuland, even pfister, and marius doing stones with him.. its a lot easier said than done.

[saiyanjin]

im pulling for my boy mariusz! :D

[getjacked]

it has come down to stones, poundstone is ahead by one point. whoever wins stones wins the comp. poundstone and marius are guaranteed 1st and 2nd

from his gf:

"Hey Everyone.

Wow what a day. The plane pull was amazing to watch, especially the last pulls. Mariusz went all out and was actually screaming in the middle of the pull. Pfister looked strong and determined to get a good time. Derek was last to go. He needed to get around 36 seconds to beat Mariusz. This is one of Derek's weaker events, he doesn't train much on pulling events. He started out with his steps short and quick which is what I think slowed him down. Derek looked very strong in the middle and end of the pull, but those quick steps should have been a little spread out and used more push/leg drive. Anyway it was a great event to watch and I am happy Derek is going into finals still #1.

Derek and Mariusz chatted a bit about the stones tonight as we were unloading off the bus. They exchaged a few words and Maruisz said who knows maybe 1st maybe 2nd. Derek replied well right now I'm in 1st and you are in 2nd so well see. They were both respectful with each other and from what I got they will respect who ever goes the fastest tonight.

Derek and Mariusz have 1st and 2nd place locked, there is no way anyone else can finish in the top two.

Right now Derek is taking a nap, (like most of the athletes) I will wake him up around 6 and get on the bus around 7. Stones are supposed to start around 7:30 but that could change and they might not start until 8 or so.

Derek's ankle is holding up. It hasn't gotten any better or any worse. He taped it lightly today for the plane pull but we think it's best that he tapes it nice and tight for stones. I can tell you one thing Derek is absolutely sick of icing the dam thing, and I am not his favorite person when I am sitting there watching the time telling him when he can take it out of the ice bin! Mariusz's calf is still getting iced, rubbed and taped. I haven't seen him having any trouble with it since I have been here.

I know the stone carry is a little longer distance than the qualifiers. It will be a dam good show and I am hoping with all my heart that Derek wins the title. Not only because he is my boyfriend and I see him first hand working hard every day, but because he is an american. I would love the title to belong here in the USA.

Well, I'm off to watch some football and then I have to go get my man ready for one of the most important nights of his life......."

[kook]

mariusz will annihilate with that line up of events. Sparing possibly the fingers and the plane pull.
10 fake bucks on the line - any takers?

not sure about annihilate, but,

5x Worlds Strongest Man: Mariusz Pudzianowski

[getjacked]

Marius took it..

IMO marius is simply the greatest strength athlete to ever live. 5x worlds strongest man.. that is absolutely unbelievable.

the only person that can be mentioned in his realm is kaz, because i think kaz could've won way more than 3 if he wasn't told he couldn't compete anymore.

[Iron Island]

Do you think Marius is better then Zydrunas Savickas? Doesnt he always beat Marius when they go head to head at the Arnold?

[getjacked]

well, when zavickas did WSM he lost to marius but that was ages ago. WSM is more suited for marius, although marius has put on a lot of size now.. previously he never faired well at the arnold.. the arnold is essentially a powerlifting 1rm contest with SM implements.. its very heavy and very static and doesn't have all that much moving. this allows the big brute force guys to shine. zavickas can move surprisingly well though

regardless, if savickas entered WSM it'd just be another guy that could easily take it. with this years lineup, it was almost anybodys ball game at the finals. it was easily the best WSM lineup to ever exist.

still, winning 5 WSM's can easily earn you the title of greatest strength athlete to ever live. that is a feat that will not be broken for a long, long time.

[getjacked]

YouTube - Mariusz World Strongest Man 2008 Finals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMhsKkpvVLI)

that honestly must be pretty fucking heart breaking if you're poundstone.

but this is why SM is such a great strength sport and has so many viewers.. its exciting as hell! awesome finish to what seems like a great event, cant wait to watch it on TV

[Polski Byk]

Wow!!! I think hes gonna retire now.

[getjacked]

Wow!!! I think hes gonna retire now.

Just when WSM starts to actually get super competitive, right in time ;)

[IliekFude]

YouTube - Mariusz World Strongest Man 2008 Finals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMhsKkpvVLI)

that honestly must be pretty fucking heart breaking if you're poundstone.

but this is why SM is such a great strength sport and has so many viewers.. its exciting as hell! awesome finish to what seems like a great event, cant wait to watch it on TV

wow man.. pudz looked bigger than poundstone. i watched 99% of that vid thinking mariusz was in the red shirt making a comeback and let his hair grow a bit.
lmao- duno whats in his vitamin water but i want it.

[TedKoppelspegleg]

Oh man that vid was brutal because the Viper had the win.... :(

[getjacked]

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m293/DamianWojo/mariuszplane_lg.jpg

bad fucking ass!!!!!!!

Met-Rx World's Strongest Man 2008 (http://media.cnpapers.com/strongestman/)

some other event pics. whole lotta fucking yoked in there