Brian Shaw (strongman)
Encyclopedia
Brian Shaw (born February 26, 1982, Fort Lupton, Colorado
) is a professional strongman
competitor and winner of the 2011 World's Strongest Man
competition.
At Fort Lupton High School Shaw excelled in Basketball. Four years later after graduating, he was up to 240 pounds, 20 above his high school weight, he then attended Otero Junior College
in La Junta, Colorado
. There he was able to form an incredible inside combination with current Northwestern State
Assistant Coach Bob Austin. Shaw was one of the team leaders for the Rattlers his sophomore campaign. At Otero he also was able to grow under the watchful eye of Mr. Brad Franz (Otero Athletic Director, Residence Hall Director, and Vice-President) Following Otero and looking to wind down his basketball career at Black Hills State University
where he was on a full basketball scholarship and from whom he received a degree in wellness management. During his basketball career he was "hooked on the weights," and Shaw freely admits that the weight room is his sanctuary. In addition to huge hands and size-16 feet he was also a naturally very powerful person. In his own words "I've always been able to do this. The biggest tire, the heaviest stone . . . I've always been able to walk up and lift it. Odd strength is what it is, not weight-room strength. It's brute strength, brute power."
In 2009 he entered Fortissimus
, otherwise known as the Strongest Man on Earth competition, in Canada where he came third and was the only man to lift six Atlas stones — weighing from 300 to 425 pounds. He then competed in Romania in the World Strongman Super Series. In September he travelled to his second World's Strongest Man
contest in Valetta. There he was grouped in what was termed the "group of death" not least because of his presence in it. Alongside him in this group was Zydrunas Savickas
who went on to win the title. Although Savickas won the group he and Shaw were separated by just two points. In the final Shaw went on to attain a podium finish, something Randell Strossen of Ironmind
has predicted would happen when he said "he has to be considered a favorite for a podium position. If he can stay healthy, there's no end to what he could do. He's got these gifts. He's the total package."
Brian qualified for the finals at the 2010 World's Strongest Man
in Sun City
, South Africa
in Sept. 2010. Brian was tied for the lead at the end of the finals with Zydrunas Savickas
. Brian lost to Savickas by countback, a system of scoring based on how the athletes placed in each event throughout the finals. Savickas had higher overall placings (3 first places out of 6 events) than Shaw (2 first places out of 6 events) and won the 2010 title.
Shaw competed against Savickas again in October 2010 at the Giants Live
Istanbul contest. Shaw again finished second behind Savickas.
Shaw won the inaugural Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic
on Nov. 21, 2010.
Shaw won the Strongman Super Series
Swedish Grand Prix and became the 2010 overall Super Series champion on Dec. 18, 2010. This was Shaw's second consecutive overall Super Series championship.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
) is a professional strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
competitor and winner of the 2011 World's Strongest Man
2011 World's Strongest Man
The 2011 World's Strongest Man was the 34th edition of World's Strongest Man and was held on the campus grounds of Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina, USA. The event was sponsored by MET-Rx. The qualifying heats were scheduled for September 15th-18th, and the finals on Sept...
competition.
Early life
Brian Shaw was born to Jay and Bonnie Shaw. He was predisposed to be a big man. Both parents were taller than average, his father, standing at 6 feet (1.83 m) and his mother is 5 in 11 in (1.8 m). However, it has been noted that he did have uncles of exceptional stature.At Fort Lupton High School Shaw excelled in Basketball. Four years later after graduating, he was up to 240 pounds, 20 above his high school weight, he then attended Otero Junior College
Otero Junior College
Otero Junior College is a community college located in La Junta, Colorado, USA.Founded in 1941, Otero Junior College is located on an attractive 40-acre campus on the southern edge of La Junta, Colorado....
in La Junta, Colorado
La Junta, Colorado
The City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During...
. There he was able to form an incredible inside combination with current Northwestern State
Northwestern State Demons
The Northwestern State University athletic teams go by the Demons, with women's athletic teams generally called the Lady Demons, and its mascot is Vic the Demon. Once a member of the celebrated SIAA conference, the school now competes in the Southland Conference....
Assistant Coach Bob Austin. Shaw was one of the team leaders for the Rattlers his sophomore campaign. At Otero he also was able to grow under the watchful eye of Mr. Brad Franz (Otero Athletic Director, Residence Hall Director, and Vice-President) Following Otero and looking to wind down his basketball career at Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University, South Dakota's third largest comprehensive public university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Close to 5,000 students attend classes at the Spearfish campus, at sites in Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton,...
where he was on a full basketball scholarship and from whom he received a degree in wellness management. During his basketball career he was "hooked on the weights," and Shaw freely admits that the weight room is his sanctuary. In addition to huge hands and size-16 feet he was also a naturally very powerful person. In his own words "I've always been able to do this. The biggest tire, the heaviest stone . . . I've always been able to walk up and lift it. Odd strength is what it is, not weight-room strength. It's brute strength, brute power."
Career
Shaw began his career as a strongman with a win when he entered the Denver Strongest Man contest in October 2005. He had entered with no formal training. Within a very short time, just seven months later in June 2006 he joined the professional ranks and his successes continued.In 2009 he entered Fortissimus
Fortissimus
The Fortissimus is a well recognised event in strength athletics. The name means "the mightiest" and is a multi-event challenge at the end of which the winner is crowned as the "Strongest Man on Earth"...
, otherwise known as the Strongest Man on Earth competition, in Canada where he came third and was the only man to lift six Atlas stones — weighing from 300 to 425 pounds. He then competed in Romania in the World Strongman Super Series. In September he travelled to his second World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
contest in Valetta. There he was grouped in what was termed the "group of death" not least because of his presence in it. Alongside him in this group was Zydrunas Savickas
Žydrunas Savickas
Žydrūnas Savickas is a professional strongman and is widely considered one of the all-time greatest athletes in the history of the sport...
who went on to win the title. Although Savickas won the group he and Shaw were separated by just two points. In the final Shaw went on to attain a podium finish, something Randell Strossen of Ironmind
IronMind
IronMind Enterprises, Inc. is a niche market business based in Nevada City, California, that specializes in “tools of the trade for serious strength athletes.” Though many of its products include strength-training equipment and accessories, IronMind also publishes books, DVDs and the quarterly...
has predicted would happen when he said "he has to be considered a favorite for a podium position. If he can stay healthy, there's no end to what he could do. He's got these gifts. He's the total package."
Brian qualified for the finals at the 2010 World's Strongest Man
2010 World's Strongest Man
The 2010 World's Strongest Man was the 33rd edition of World's Strongest Man and was held at Sun City, South Africa from Sept. 15–22. 2009 champion Zydrunas Savickas won his second consecutive title, Brian Shaw placed second moving up a spot from 3rd the previous year, and Mikhail Koklyaev placed...
in Sun City
Sun City
-South Africa:* Sun City, North West, a luxury casino resort, situated in the North West Province-United States:* The Sun City is a nickname or moniker for El Paso, TX because of the fact that sun shines for more than 302 days on average in the city....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in Sept. 2010. Brian was tied for the lead at the end of the finals with Zydrunas Savickas
Žydrunas Savickas
Žydrūnas Savickas is a professional strongman and is widely considered one of the all-time greatest athletes in the history of the sport...
. Brian lost to Savickas by countback, a system of scoring based on how the athletes placed in each event throughout the finals. Savickas had higher overall placings (3 first places out of 6 events) than Shaw (2 first places out of 6 events) and won the 2010 title.
Shaw competed against Savickas again in October 2010 at the Giants Live
Giants Live
Giants Live or The Giants Live Grand Prix Competition Series was created in 2009 as the official World’s Strongest Man Qualifying Tour taking over from the Strongman Super Series...
Istanbul contest. Shaw again finished second behind Savickas.
Shaw won the inaugural Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic
Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic
Jón Páll Sigmarsson Classic is an annual strongman competition consisting of international athletes from various countries. The event was established in 2010 by contest organizer Hjalti Árnason, who was a childhood friend of the late Jón Páll Sigmarsson. The event takes place annually during the...
on Nov. 21, 2010.
Shaw won the Strongman Super Series
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
Swedish Grand Prix and became the 2010 overall Super Series champion on Dec. 18, 2010. This was Shaw's second consecutive overall Super Series championship.