Aivars Šmaukstelis

Aivars Šmaukstelis (born 20 September 1987) is a Latvian strongman. Having competed in 73 International strongman competitions, he has won 26 of them, making him the fifth most decorated strongman in history behind Žydrūnas Savickas, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and Brian Shaw.

Career
Šmaukstelis began his career at the age of 16 as a powerlifter. After training for a couple of years, he achieved a personal best of 800 kg (1,764 lb) total (equipped/ multi ply category) at the age of 18. Following advice from his coach, he tried strongman and progressively excelled, winning Latvia's Strongest Man and entering the Strongman Champions League hailing from its IFSA roots. It gave Šmaukstelis the opportunity for international exposure, competing against the best strongmen in the world.

Having competed prolifically in the Strongman Champions League since 2014 throughout many Grand Prix competitions in Latvia, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Serbia, Russia, Poland, Romania, Gibraltar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and England, Šmaukstelis won 15 international titles, 11 silver and 4 bronze medals. His other international titles include World Strongman Championships, Marijampolė International, Pasaulio Taurė, Savickas Classic and Dainis Zageris Cup. He is also a World's Strongest Man 8th-place and 10th-place winner (2020 & 2024), two time World's Ultimate Strongman bronze medalist (2020 & 2021), Europe's Strongest Man silver (2024) and bronze medalist (2023) and Giants Live strongman classic silver medalist (2022).

Šmaukstelis is a well rounded strongman with several strong events. With 14 career stone event wins out of 29, he is the seventh greatest stone lifter in history. Together with a noteworthy grip strength, he is also noted for his prowess in distance and endurance based events. He also holds the Guinness World Records for the fastest 10 x kegs keg toss (18–25 kg) over a 15-foot bar in 21.02 seconds and fastest 15 steps Power Stairs with 225 kg (496 lb).

Personal records

 * Hummer tyre Deadlift (from 15" height) - 408 kg
 * Axle Deadlift (from 10" height) - 400 kg x 4 reps
 * Squat - 317.5 kg x 10 reps
 * Log press - 181 kg
 * Log press (for reps) - 140 kg x 9 reps
 * Viking press - 160 kg x 15 reps
 * Circus Dumbbell press - 125 kg
 * Circus Dumbbell press (for reps) - 95 kg x 10 reps
 * Atlas Stones - 5 Stones weighing 110–180 kg (242–397 lb) in 17.10 secs
 * Natural stone lift to platform – 5 Rocks ranging from 160 to 210 kilograms (353–463 lb) in 28.94 seconds
 * Keg toss – 10 kegs (18–25 kg (40–55 lb)) over 4.57 metres (15 ft 0 in) in 21.02 seconds (World Record)
 * Power Stairs (3 x 225 kg (496 lb) Duck walks / total of 15 steps) – 31.16 seconds (2024 Guinness World Records, Italy) (World Record)
 * Power Stairs (200 kg (441 lb), 225 kg (496 lb) & 250 kg (551 lb) Duck walks / total of 15 steps) - 41.67 seconds
 * Super Yoke – 425 kg (25 meter course) in 10.75 seconds
 * Basque circle (Conan's wheel) - 300 kg (661 lb) for 860° rotation