Žydrūnas Savickas

Žydrūnas Savickas (born July 15, 1975) is a Lithuanian powerlifter and professional strongman. Due to his 84 international wins in major international strongman competitions including four World's Strongest Man championships, eight Arnold Strongman Classic championships, two IFSA Strongman World Championships, and over 70 world records, he is widely regarded as the greatest strength athlete of all time.

Career
Žydrūnas Savickas first became interested in strength sports after watching a Lithuanian strongman contest on TV in 1989. Three years later, he took part in that same strongman contest and defeated a number of older and more experienced competitors. At age 17, Savickas began to train in powerlifting. In his second powerlifting contest, he broke all the Lithuanian records. In 1998, Savickas won his first Lithuania's Strongest Man contest. He would later go on to win this contest a total of 17 times, with the latest coming in 2022. Savickas then competed in the 1998 and 2000 World's Strongest Man contests, but failed to qualify for the finals both times. He won the silver medal in the World powerlifting championship in Japan with a total of 1020 kg, just 2.5 kg behind Brad Gillingham.

2001–2008
In 2001, a contest in the Faroe Islands dealt Savickas a major setback, as he tore both patellar tendons during the Conan's Wheel event. Many believed that the extent of the injury meant that his career was over. However, nine months later, Savickas won the Lithuanian powerlifting championships and a short time later, he also won the 2002 Lithuania's Strongest Man contest. Savickas would go on to finish in 2nd place at the 2002 World's Strongest Man in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He would finish in 2nd place five more times in 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and 1st place at the 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014 World's Strongest Man contests. Savickas won the Arnold Strongman Classic six consecutive times from 2003 to 2008. Savickas won the IFSA European Championships in 2005 which qualified him for the IFSA World Championships. In September 2005, he broke three world records and won the IFSA Strongman World Championships in Quebec, Canada. In December 2005, Savickas won the IFSA World Team Championships with Team Europe and won the IFSA World Championships for the 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. Team Lithuania placed 5th overall at the IFSA World's Strongest Nation contest in Ukraine. In September 2007, Savickas finished in 3rd place at the last ever IFSA World Championships behind runner-up Mikhail Koklyaev and champion Vasyl Virastyuk in Geumsan, South Korea. Savickas won 5 out of the 7 total contests during the inaugural 2008 Strongman Champions League season and won the 2008 overall title 58 points ahead of second-place finisher Ervin Katona.

2009–2010
In June 2009, Savickas won Fortissimus after finishing runner-up in 2008 behind Derek Poundstone. On October 3, 2009, Savickas won the 2009 World's Strongest Man competition ahead of defending champion and five-time winner Mariusz Pudzianowski. He had not competed at WSM since 2004. On the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy on April 1, 2010, Savickas set a record of 70 metres (229 ft 7 in) for the longest distance carrying a 300 kg yoke. The record was part of the Italian TV series Lo Show dei Record. In June 2010, Savickas won the Europe's Strongest Man competition. In September 2010, Savickas and Brian Shaw tied for points at the 2010 World's Strongest Man competition, but Savickas won the championship on countback. He also set a new world record for the Giant Wooden Log Lift by lifting 210 kg. Savickas also won the World Log Lift Championships in 2008, 2009, and 2011 (no contest was held in 2010).

2011
In April 2011, Savickas set a new Guinness World Record performing a 20-meter Farmer's Walk in 7.55 seconds with 150 kg implements in each hand. The event was broadcast on the Guinness TV show in Europe. Savickas won five Strongman Champions League events during the 2011/2012 season, in Finland in March 2011, Germany on April 16, 2011, the SCL Semi-finals in Canada in October 2011, Latvia in November 2011 and the SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Bosnia on February 7, 2012. Ervin Katona won the overall championships, with Savickas as the runner-up. During the SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Savickas set a new world record in the Log Lift with 215 kg. This was his 7th consecutive world record in the Log Lift, not including his world record in the Giant Wooden Log Lift set at the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest. In September 2011, Savickas lost his WSM crown to Brian Shaw at the 2011 World's Strongest Man contest at Wingate University, North Carolina, coming in second place for the fourth time.

2012
Savickas won the 2012 Europe's Strongest Man contest on June 23, 2012, his second ESM title after winning in 2010. Savickas also set a new world record in the Log Lift with a lift of 216 kg. This was his 8th consecutive Log Lift world record. Savickas won 11 of the 14 Strongman Champions League contests in the 2012 season and won the overall championships title. During the SCL Holland event, Savickas set another world record in the Log Lift with a lift of 217.5 kg. This was Savickas' third Log Lift world record in 2012 and 9th consecutive Log Lift world record. On October 1, 2012, Savickas regained the WSM crown by winning the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest in Los Angeles, California. This was Savickas' third WSM title, and became the fifth competitor in WSM history to win three or more WSM titles. Savickas also set a new Log Lift world record in the finals with a lift of 220 kg (484 lb). On October 7, 2012, Savickas won the 2012 World Log Lift Championships which was held at the same venue as the SCL Savickas Classic event. This was his fourth consecutive World Log Lift Championships title.

2013
Savickas won his inaugural 2013 contest, the Strongman Champions League Holland event held in Kalkar, Germany on June 22, 2013. Savickas also attempted a new Log Lift world record of 221 kg, but failed to lockout the weight overhead. Savickas won seven SCL contests in the 2013 season and came second in the overall championships behind Krzysztof Radzikowski. On June 29, 2013, Savickas won his third Europe's Strongest Man title. He also set a new Log Lift world record with a lift of 221 kg. In August 2013, Savickas finished second in the 2013 World's Strongest Man contest behind Brian Shaw.

2014
At Giants Live Poland, Savickas set a new world record on the Log Lift for 227 kg. In the 2014 World's Strongest Man, he managed to win his fourth title with just half a point difference over the second placed Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson. He became the oldest WSM winner in history, at 38 years and 258 days. Zydrunas also set a new world record in the giant barbell squat event by squatting 329 kg for 15 repetitions.

Savickas also won the 2014 Arnold Strongman Classic, edging out perennial rival Brian Shaw.

2015
Savickas placed 2nd in both the 2015 Arnold Strongman Classic and the 2015 World's Strongest Man competitions, this year losing to Brian Shaw. He also won the 2015 World Log Lift Championship.

2016
Savickas again won the 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic, a record 8th time. However, Savickas would miss the 2016 World's Strongest Man competition because of a back injury.

2017
In 2017, Savickas returned to the World's Strongest Man competition. While he made the finals, he was hampered by past injuries, and finished in 9th place. This was the first time he placed lower than 2nd at WSM since the year 2000.

2018
Savickas placed 4th in the 2018 Europe's Strongest Man and 10th overall in the 2018 World's Strongest Man.

Powerlifting
''Done in official powerlifting competitions under IPF rules (single-ply equipment).
 * Squat – 425.5 kg (2005 Lithuanian National Championships) (Lithuanian record)
 * Bench press – 265.5 kg (2004 Lithuanian National Championships) (Lithuanian record)
 * Deadlift – 400 kg (2004 Lithuanian National Championships) (Lithuanian record)
 * Total – 1090.5 kg (425|265.5|400) (2004 Lithuanian National Championships) (Lithuanian record)

Strongman

 * Log press – 228 kg (former world record) (2015 Arnold Classic Brazil) Savickas has broken this world record a total of 16 times ever since he did it first with 188 kg in 2004
 * Giant Wooden Log press – 210 kg (World Record on the implement and one of the above 16) (2010 World's Strongest Man)
 * Log press/ Austrian Oak (for reps) – 204 kg for 4 reps (World Record) (2015 & 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic's)
 * Apollon's Axle press – 215 kg (former world record) (2010 Giants Live Istanbul) Savickas has broken this world record a total of 6 times (4 times in his own & 2 times shared) irrespective of IFSA and Giants Live discrediting each others verifications
 * Apollon's Axle press (for reps) – 208 kg × 2 cleans and presses (World Record) (2010 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Apollon's Axle press (for reps) – 188 kg × 5 cleans and presses (World Record) (2011 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Apollon's Axle press (for reps) – 166 kg × 8 cleans and presses (joint-world record) (2006 Arnold Strongman Classic) Savickas has broken this world record a total of 4 times ever since he did it first with 4 reps in 2003
 * Apollon's wheels press (for reps) – 155 kg × 8 reps (2005 IFSA Strongman World Championships)
 * Metal Block press – 150 kg (former world record) (2011 World's Strongest Man)
 * Giant Barbell Squat (for reps) – 329 kg × 15 reps (single-ply suit w/ wraps) (World Record) (2014 World's Strongest Man)
 * IronMind S-Cubed bar Deadlift (at 1-inch deficit with straps) – 442 kg (former world record) (2011 World's Strongest Man)
 * Rogue Elephant bar Deadlift (raw with straps) – 404 kg (2016 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Giant Barbell Deadlift (for reps) – 320 kg × 10 (former joint-world record) (2006 IFSA World Championships)
 * Hummer Tire Deadlift (15 inches from the floor) – 524 kg (former world record) (2014 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Cart wheel Deadlift (for reps) (18 inches from the floor) – 363 kg for 14 reps (2008 Fortissimus)
 * Bavarian Stonelift – 275 kg for 85cm (2012 SCL FIBO)
 * Medicine ball toss – 22 kg for 17 ft (World Record) (2004 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Highland games one arm weight over bar – 25.5 kg over 5.6 m (2013 SCL Russia)
 * Fingal's Fingers – 200-320 kg 5 fingers in 28.69 seconds (World Record) (2009 World's Strongest Man)
 * Power Stairs (3 x 225 kg (496 lb) Duck walks / total of 15 steps) – 31.60 seconds (former world record) (2014 Guinness World Records, Italy), and 33.97 seconds (2015 World's Strongest Man)
 * Power Stairs (204 kg (450 lb), 227 kg (500 lb) & 238 kg (525 lb) Duck walks / total of 15 steps) – 42.07 seconds (2009 Fortissimus)
 * Manhood Stone (Max Atlas Stone) – 243 kg over 4 ft bar (2011 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Manhood Stone (Max Atlas Stone) for reps – 238 kg x 3 reps over 4 ft bar (2008 Arnold Strongman Classic)
 * Atlas Stones (110–180 kg set) – 22.31 seconds (World Record) (2007 IFSA Lithuania Grand Prix)
 * Atlas Stones (140–180 kg set) – 25.65 seconds (former world record) (2006 IFSA World Championships)
 * Super Yoke – 640 kg for 4 meters in 3.87 seconds (World Record) (2014 Arnold Strongman Classic)

During training:
 * Squat – 440 kg for 2 reps; 425 kg for 3 reps; 400 kg for 5 reps Raw with knee wraps
 * Bench press – 286 kg for 1 rep; 250 kg for 3 reps
 * Deadlift – 435 kg raw with straps on stiff Power bar
 * Deadlift – 400 kg for 5 reps in preparation for Arnold Strongman Classic 2014 raw with straps on stiff Power bar
 * Standing Overhead Press – 200 kg for 5 reps without leg drive
 * Standing Overhead Press – 260 kg for 1 rep
 * Log Lift – 205 kg for 5 reps in preparation for Arnold Strongman Classic 2015 on steel IFSA log
 * Front Squat – 320 kg for 5 reps Raw with knee wraps
 * Front Squat – 340 kg for 3 reps Raw with knee wraps
 * 18 inch deadlift – 525 kg for 1 rep in preparation for Arnold Strongman Classic 2014 Raw with straps on stiff Power bar 

Legacy
In his career which spanned 25 years facing 3 generations of strongmen, Žydrūnas has competed in more competitions than anyone else (153) and has won more international competitions than anyone else (84) as well. His winning percentage of 55% is seconded only to Mariusz Pudzianowski. However, the winning streak and number of victories of Žydrūnas Savickas, as evidenced by nearly 250 trophies and 200 medals, may never be matched. During an interview with strongman analyst Laurence Shahlaei in 2020, Žydrūnas said that Mariusz Pudzianowski, Svend Karlsen, Derek Poundstone, Brian Shaw and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson are the 5 greatest strongmen he has competed against. In brief, Žydrūnas has dominated the following competitions:
 * World's Strongest Man – 1st place four times: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014
 * World's Strongest Man – 2nd place six times: 2002–2004, 2011, 2013, 2015
 * IFSA Strongman World Championships – 1st place two times: 2005, 2006
 * Arnold Strongman Classic – 1st place eight times: 2003–2008, 2014, 2016
 * Arnold Strongman Classic-Europe – 1st place: 2012
 * Europe's Strongest Man – 1st place three times: 2010, 2012, 2013
 * Strongman Super Series – 1st place 2004
 * Strongman Super Series – 2nd place 2003
 * Strongman Champions League – 1st place two times: 2012, 2008
 * Lithuania's Strongest Man - 1st place seventeen times from 1998 to 2022.

Achievements
International & National Competitive Record – [1st (130),2nd (32),3rd (22) – Out of Total(218)] International wins: 84 from 153 competitions, National wins: 46 from 65 competitions

Political career
Savickas entered politics as a member of the Liberal and Centre Union and expressed interest to run for office since 2008. In 2012, he explained that participating in politics was a "pastime", as he saw his sporting career as his free time and didn't understand what sportsmen are "supposed to do all day".

In 2011, he joined the nonpartisan team of former Mayor of Vilnius, Artūras Zuokas, and won a seat in the Vilnius municipal council in the 2011 local elections. He stated that he does not have large political ambitions and will be an "observer". During his time in office, he led a councillor group on promoting culture and combating alcoholism.

He ran with Zuokas's political party YES in the Biržai-Kupiškis constituency in the 2012 parliamentary election, however, he did not get to the second round. After it merged with the Liberal and Centre Union to form the Lithuanian Freedom Union, he joined the Liberal Movement instead. He ran as their candidate in the Naujoji Vilnia constituency in the 2016 parliamentary election. Describing his political views as a candidate to the Seimas, he identified as a businessman as well as a sportsman, and expressed his desire to lower taxes and reduce the bureaucratic apparatus.

From 2020 onwards, he has been accused of spreading misinformation about George Soros, Antifa, and the COVID-19 vaccine. In 2020, it was reported that he was a moderator of a Lithuanian QAnon conspiracy theory group on Facebook. He was one of the leaders of an anti-restriction protest during the commemmoration of the January Events in 2022 and described the pandemic controls of the Šimonytė Cabinet as a "dictatorship" and "anti-constitutional", which got members of the municipal council in his home town Biržai to propose revoking his honorary citizenship.

He switched to the Lithuanian Regions Party and was elected to the council of Molėtai District Municipality on their list in 2023.

Personal life
Savickas married his longtime girlfriend Jurgita Savickienė on July 24, 2010, in Lithuania.

At the end of September 2010, a biography entitled Žydrūnas Savickas – žmogus iš geležies (Žydrūnas Savickas – A Man Of Iron) was published in Lithuania.

Zydrunas Savickas has a YouTube channel where he talks on strongman related topics such as recovery, diet, and training habits. In June 2021, Žydrūnas and his wife Jurgita got divorced.

He got married for a second time on October 12, 2022, in Molėtai taking Brigita Lacytė to be his spouse.