Fortissimus
Encyclopedia
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". It was set up to bring together the strongest competitors on the planet independent of the organisations to which they were signed, and also as a tribute to the nineteenth century Canadian strongman Louis Cyr
, which gave it many similarities to Le Defi Mark Ten International
which last took place in Canada in the early 1990s. After its first airing in 2008, the strength athletics magazine Milo described it as the ultimate strongman competition ever held. Despite a successful edition in 2009, a reported lack of a major sponsor for 2010 resulted in the competition being suspended, although a 2011 revival has been mooted.
("WSM"), which is produced by TWI and thus neither the WSM and its associated WSM Super Series nor the IFSA circuit can claim to have a comprehensive field of the top athletes. Some events did exist that bridged the divide between the major organisations, such as the Arnold Strongman Classic
. Fortissimus was to be another such bridge but with a difference. The driving force behind the event, Paul Ohl, is one of the world's leading authorities on the great Louis Cyr, the nineteenth century strongman and want to create a competition to honour this man, said to have been the strongest man in the world. Fortissimus was set up to be the all-inclusive strength and power package to demonstrate "the essence of the sport of strongman is the multi-disciplinary array of tests of global strength, resulting from a combination of static (brute) strength, overall explosive power and power grip, strength athletics mastery, endurance and stamina". The concept was to link with the tradition of strongman and to honor the memory and deeds of the great Louis Cyr. Ten events, called the Classical Events, were incorporated into the programme.
The night before Day 1 of the 2008 event the athletes were honoured at a banquet hosted by Paul Ohl and was attended by the townspeople of Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire
, where the event was being held, and the mayor of that town. Mayor Carl Dubé welcomed the athletes to Notre Dame du Rosaire in June 2008 and thousands of spectators flocked to see many of the world’s top strongmen perform, including Zydrunas Savickas
, Derek Poundstone
, Andrus Murumets
, Travis Ortmayer
and Mikhail Koklyaev
. The event was lauded across the strongman world, with the likes of Ironmind and Milo magazine praising it. So popular was it that a three-year deal with the Regional Community of Montmagny
, Québec
was soon struck with the newly formed Fortissimus World Strength board. Derek Poundstone won the event in spectacular fashion. With the final event left, the Natural Stones of Strength, Zydrunas Savickas
was 5 points clear of Poundstone. The three huge stone in the event were the 350 lb Bill Kazmaier stone, the 400 lb Paul Anderson stone and the giant 517 lb Louis Cyr stone. The winner would be the best time or most stones loaded. Some of the athletes lifted one stone, others the second. When it came to the third, the Cyr stone that only Louis Cyr had previously lifted over a century before, most athletes passed on it. Some touched it but did not attempt to lift it. Zydrunas Savickas
, having lifted the first two in an astonishing 8.8 seconds, tried the Cyr stone but managed to lift it just one inch before deciding it was too much. Poundstone took 11 seconds over the first two stones, significantly quicker than all others except Savickas. Savickas is reported to have raised his hands in victory at seeing this time. However, his celebration was to have been premature. To the astonishment of the athletes, the crowd and even the organisers, Poundstone managed to move the stone. Screams of amazement were said to have come from the crowd. Inch by inch he raised the stone and eventually placed it on the platform. Later, Paul Ohl was to say to Derek Poundstone "You know, you weren't supposed to lift that stone. I put it in the competition as a tribute to Louis Cyr. Whoever is able to lift that stone would be considered an heir to Louis Cyr." Having lifted the fabled Cyr stone, Poundstone had the honour of having his name added to the stone, being the only man other than Cyr to lift the giant weight.
One of Paul Ohl's key strengths is his ability to involve the local community, including the regional press, to increase the presence of the event. The 2009 competition saw Marcel Catellier, the chief commissioner of the Regional Community of Montmagny, as chairman of the board, in charge of the general administration of the new corporation and Paul Ohl as president of the event.
Zydrunas Savickas
reversed the results of 2008, where he came second, to clinch the title in 2009, with Poundstone coming second. Prior to the event, to further enhance the events standing a pre-tournament competition was held, the World Championship Rolling Thunder on June 26, an event which determined which athlete has the greatest grip strength in the world. Mark Felix
successfully defended his title in this event.
The 2010 edition was suspended. Canada World Strength noted in a formal statement: "Since the precondition for the holding of a third edition resided mainly in the arrival of a major sponsor by early December and that this condition has not been reached, the organizers have no choice but to [suspend] the 2010 edition." However, the door was held open for 2011 with the statement continuing: "“The Board, however, does not abandon the idea of holding a third edition in 2011.".
was one of three organisations that had made an agreement with Fortissimus in order to unite the world strength community, the others being the American Strongman Corporation, and the Aussiepower organization. Within the agreement, Fortissimus, the competition that confers the title of "Strongest Man on the Planet", guaranteed that the winner of the America's Strongest Man
title would be granted a slot in Fortissimus from 2009, as would the winner of the Australia's Strongest Man
title. The agreement with the Strongman Champions League went further, stating that the top three athletes would have guaranteed places and in return the top Canadian athletes would have guaranteed selected participation in the Champions League. This later went further, guaranteeing the SCL its top five athletes would have places. The agreement was reemphasised in a joint statement from Marcel Mostert and Paul Ohl in early 2009.
. It was crafted by renowned Canadian sculptor Michel Binette with the original displayed at the Inverness Bronze Museum, in Inverness, Quebec
, Canada.
Source for the above:
Source for the above:
Strength athletics
Strength athletics, more generally known as strongman competitions, is a sport which tests competitors' strength in a variety of different ways. Some of the disciplines are similar to those in powerlifting and some powerlifters have also successfully competed in strongman competitions...
. 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". It was set up to bring together the strongest competitors on the planet independent of the organisations to which they were signed, and also as a tribute to the nineteenth century Canadian strongman Louis Cyr
Louis Cyr
Louis Cyr was a famous Canadian strongman with a career spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His recorded feats, including lifting 500 pounds with one finger and carrying 4,337 pounds on his back, show Cyr to be, according to former International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness...
, which gave it many similarities to Le Defi Mark Ten International
Le Defi Mark Ten International
Le Defi Mark Ten International was one of the most prestigious strongman contest in the world in th 1980s and early 1990s. Staged in Quebec, Canada, it was begun as a tribute to Louis Cyr and was notable for the quality of the strength athletes it attracted, which included a number of winners of...
which last took place in Canada in the early 1990s. After its first airing in 2008, the strength athletics magazine Milo described it as the ultimate strongman competition ever held. Despite a successful edition in 2009, a reported lack of a major sponsor for 2010 resulted in the competition being suspended, although a 2011 revival has been mooted.
History
The world of strength athletics in 2008 was fragmented, with a number of individuals being able to lay claim to be the strongest in the world by virtue of having won mutually exclusive events. Athletes affiliated to IFSA Strongman were not allowed to compete in the World's Strongest ManWorld'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...
("WSM"), which is produced by TWI and thus neither the WSM and its associated WSM Super Series nor the IFSA circuit can claim to have a comprehensive field of the top athletes. Some events did exist that bridged the divide between the major organisations, such as the Arnold Strongman Classic
Arnold Strongman Classic
The Arnold Strongman Classic is one of the highest profile events featuring strength athletes in the world. Created by Dr. Terry Todd, it is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio, USA.-History:...
. Fortissimus was to be another such bridge but with a difference. The driving force behind the event, Paul Ohl, is one of the world's leading authorities on the great Louis Cyr, the nineteenth century strongman and want to create a competition to honour this man, said to have been the strongest man in the world. Fortissimus was set up to be the all-inclusive strength and power package to demonstrate "the essence of the sport of strongman is the multi-disciplinary array of tests of global strength, resulting from a combination of static (brute) strength, overall explosive power and power grip, strength athletics mastery, endurance and stamina". The concept was to link with the tradition of strongman and to honor the memory and deeds of the great Louis Cyr. Ten events, called the Classical Events, were incorporated into the programme.
The night before Day 1 of the 2008 event the athletes were honoured at a banquet hosted by Paul Ohl and was attended by the townspeople of Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire
Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, Quebec
Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire is a small village of 400 people in the Montmagny Regional County Municipality within the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec. It is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, 20km south of Montmagny on Route 283....
, where the event was being held, and the mayor of that town. Mayor Carl Dubé welcomed the athletes to Notre Dame du Rosaire in June 2008 and thousands of spectators flocked to see many of the world’s top strongmen perform, including 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...
, Derek Poundstone
Derek Poundstone
Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone (born on September 28, 1981, 6'1" (1,85m), 341 lb is an American professional strongman athlete from Waterbury, Connecticut....
, Andrus Murumets
Andrus Murumets
Andrus Murumets is an Estonian strongman and entrant to the World's Strongest Man contest. He reached 5th in the World Rankings according to the IFSA rankings in 2008. Andrus competed in the IFSA World Championships in 2005 finishing 4th, 5th in 2006 and 5th in 2007...
, Travis Ortmayer
Travis Ortmayer
Travis Ortmayer is an American Professional Strongman athlete from Cypress, Texas. Travis is the owner of Athletic Nation gym...
and Mikhail Koklyaev
Mikhail Koklyaev
Mikhail Koklyaev is a six-time Russian National Weightlifting champion, strongman competitor and powerlifter.He was born in 1978 in Chelyabinsk, Russia...
. The event was lauded across the strongman world, with the likes of Ironmind and Milo magazine praising it. So popular was it that a three-year deal with the Regional Community of Montmagny
Montmagny
Montmagny may refer to:* Montmagny, Quebec, Canada* Montmagny Regional County Municipality, Quebec* Montmagny now part of Montmagny-L'Islet* Montmagny, Val-d'Oise, a commune in France* Montmagny, Switzerland, a commune...
, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
was soon struck with the newly formed Fortissimus World Strength board. Derek Poundstone won the event in spectacular fashion. With the final event left, the Natural Stones of Strength, 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...
was 5 points clear of Poundstone. The three huge stone in the event were the 350 lb Bill Kazmaier stone, the 400 lb Paul Anderson stone and the giant 517 lb Louis Cyr stone. The winner would be the best time or most stones loaded. Some of the athletes lifted one stone, others the second. When it came to the third, the Cyr stone that only Louis Cyr had previously lifted over a century before, most athletes passed on it. Some touched it but did not attempt to lift it. 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...
, having lifted the first two in an astonishing 8.8 seconds, tried the Cyr stone but managed to lift it just one inch before deciding it was too much. Poundstone took 11 seconds over the first two stones, significantly quicker than all others except Savickas. Savickas is reported to have raised his hands in victory at seeing this time. However, his celebration was to have been premature. To the astonishment of the athletes, the crowd and even the organisers, Poundstone managed to move the stone. Screams of amazement were said to have come from the crowd. Inch by inch he raised the stone and eventually placed it on the platform. Later, Paul Ohl was to say to Derek Poundstone "You know, you weren't supposed to lift that stone. I put it in the competition as a tribute to Louis Cyr. Whoever is able to lift that stone would be considered an heir to Louis Cyr." Having lifted the fabled Cyr stone, Poundstone had the honour of having his name added to the stone, being the only man other than Cyr to lift the giant weight.
One of Paul Ohl's key strengths is his ability to involve the local community, including the regional press, to increase the presence of the event. The 2009 competition saw Marcel Catellier, the chief commissioner of the Regional Community of Montmagny, as chairman of the board, in charge of the general administration of the new corporation and Paul Ohl as president of the event.
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...
reversed the results of 2008, where he came second, to clinch the title in 2009, with Poundstone coming second. Prior to the event, to further enhance the events standing a pre-tournament competition was held, the World Championship Rolling Thunder on June 26, an event which determined which athlete has the greatest grip strength in the world. Mark Felix
Mark Felix
Mark Felix is a strongman competitor and regular entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition...
successfully defended his title in this event.
The 2010 edition was suspended. Canada World Strength noted in a formal statement: "Since the precondition for the holding of a third edition resided mainly in the arrival of a major sponsor by early December and that this condition has not been reached, the organizers have no choice but to [suspend] the 2010 edition." However, the door was held open for 2011 with the statement continuing: "“The Board, however, does not abandon the idea of holding a third edition in 2011.".
Strongman Champions League Cooperation
In 2008 Paul Ohl stated that the Strongman Champions LeagueStrongman Champions League
The Strongman Champions League is a strongman competition circuit, bestowing the Champions League Winner title to the overall winner, and is competed for by a pool of strength athletes containing some of the most notable in the sport, including Žydrūnas Savickas, Travis Ortmayer, Mikhail Koklyaev,...
was one of three organisations that had made an agreement with Fortissimus in order to unite the world strength community, the others being the American Strongman Corporation, and the Aussiepower organization. Within the agreement, Fortissimus, the competition that confers the title of "Strongest Man on the Planet", guaranteed that the winner of the America's Strongest Man
America's Strongest Man
America's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in the USA and featuring only American athletes. The contest was established in 1997, with Mark Philippi winning the inaugural contest...
title would be granted a slot in Fortissimus from 2009, as would the winner of the Australia's Strongest Man
Australia's Strongest Man
Australia's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in the Australia and featuring predominantly Australian athletes, although notably 12 time winner Derek Boyer is originally from Fiji. The contest was established in 1993, with Bill Lyndon winning the inaugural contest.-Official...
title. The agreement with the Strongman Champions League went further, stating that the top three athletes would have guaranteed places and in return the top Canadian athletes would have guaranteed selected participation in the Champions League. This later went further, guaranteeing the SCL its top five athletes would have places. The agreement was reemphasised in a joint statement from Marcel Mostert and Paul Ohl in early 2009.
Events
Fortissimus regards the ten events that are incorporated in its programme as the Classical Events of strength athletics.- The LOG LIFT
- The DEADLIFT (modified version from Powerlifting)
- The YOKE
- The FARMER (FERGUS) POWER WALK
- The ATLAS (McGLASHEN) STONES LIFT
- The NATURAL STONES OF STRENGTH LIFT
- The HUSAFELL STONE CARRY (and related)
- The APOLLON AXLE LIFT
- The ONE-ARM DUMBBELL LIFT (Louis Cyr style)
- The PYRAMID WEIGHT LIFT (Power stairs)
- The BACK LIFT
Trophy
From 2009 Fortissimus established that the title of the champion wold be "The Strongest Man on Earth". The winner’s trophy is a bronze statuette of Louis Cyr hoisting the huge 273 ¼ lbs dumbbell that brought him fame on the evening of January 19, 1892, at London’s Royal AquariumRoyal Aquarium
The Royal Aquarium and Winter Garden was a Westminster, London place of amusement opened in 1876. The building was demolished in 1903. It was located immediately to the west of Westminster Abbey on Tothill Street. The building was designed by Alfred Bedborough in a highly ornamental style faced...
. It was crafted by renowned Canadian sculptor Michel Binette with the original displayed at the Inverness Bronze Museum, in Inverness, Quebec
Inverness, Quebec
Inverness is a municipality in the Centre-du-Québec region of the province of Quebec in Canada....
, Canada.
2008
| Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone (born on September 28, 1981, 6'1" (1,85m), 341 lb is an American professional strongman athlete from Waterbury, Connecticut.... |
 |
119 |
| 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... |
 |
118 |
| Sebastian Wenta Sebastian Wenta Sebastian Wenta is a shot putter, strongman and Highland Games competitor from Poland. Wenta's athletic career started with volleyball, and he eventually moved onto the shot put and discus throw. He began competing in strongman in 2005 and has quickly risen through the ranks... |
 |
84.25 |
| Louis-Philippe Jean Louis-Philippe Jean Louis-Phillipe Jean is a Canadian strongman competitor and entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition on multiple occasions.-Strongman career:... |
 |
83.5 |
| Travis Ortmayer Travis Ortmayer Travis Ortmayer is an American Professional Strongman athlete from Cypress, Texas. Travis is the owner of Athletic Nation gym... |
|
76.5 |
| Mikhaïl Koklyaev Mikhail Koklyaev Mikhail Koklyaev is a six-time Russian National Weightlifting champion, strongman competitor and powerlifter.He was born in 1978 in Chelyabinsk, Russia... |
 |
76.5 |
| Mark Felix Mark Felix Mark Felix is a strongman competitor and regular entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition... |
 |
67.5 |
| Stefan Solvi Petursson Stefán Sölvi Pétursson Stefán Sölvi Pétursson is a leading strongman competitor and entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition.-Career:... |
 |
63.75 |
| Andrus Murumets Andrus Murumets Andrus Murumets is an Estonian strongman and entrant to the World's Strongest Man contest. He reached 5th in the World Rankings according to the IFSA rankings in 2008. Andrus competed in the IFSA World Championships in 2005 finishing 4th, 5th in 2006 and 5th in 2007... |
 |
62 |
| Christian Savoie Christian Savoie Christian Savoie is a leading Canadian strongman competitor and entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition on multiple occasions.-Biography:... |
|
42.5 |
| Arild Haugen Arild Haugen Arild "Hulk" Haugen is a strongman and professional boxer from Sirdal, Norway. He currently lives in Sandnes, Rogaland.Haugen stands tall and weighs approximately . He is capable of squatting , a deadlift of , and a bench press of... |
 |
40.5 |
| Ervin Katona Ervin Katona Ervin Katona, is a leading Serbian strongman competitor and regular entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition.- Biography :... |
36.5 | |
| Dominic Filiou Dominic Filiou Dominic Filiou is a Canadian strongman. Filiou is best known for competing in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 World's Strongest Man competitions. In 2005 he finished third in the finals, a career best. In 2006 and 2007 he was eliminated during the qualifying heats... |
|
25.5 |
Source for the above:
2009
| Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 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... |
|
124.5 |
| Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone Derek Poundstone (born on September 28, 1981, 6'1" (1,85m), 341 lb is an American professional strongman athlete from Waterbury, Connecticut.... |
|
118 |
| Brian Shaw Brian Shaw (strongman) Brian Shaw is a professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 World's Strongest Man competition.-Early life:... |
|
106.5 |
| Travis Ortmayer Travis Ortmayer Travis Ortmayer is an American Professional Strongman athlete from Cypress, Texas. Travis is the owner of Athletic Nation gym... |
|
94 |
| Mikhaïl Koklyaev Mikhail Koklyaev Mikhail Koklyaev is a six-time Russian National Weightlifting champion, strongman competitor and powerlifter.He was born in 1978 in Chelyabinsk, Russia... |
|
84 |
| Phil Pfister Phil Pfister Phil Pfister , is a leading American strongman competitor, winning the 2006 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man competition and its $41,000 grand prize on September 23, 2006 in Sanya, China. He is the first American to win since Bill Kazmaier in 1982... |
|
82 |
| Andrus Murumets Andrus Murumets Andrus Murumets is an Estonian strongman and entrant to the World's Strongest Man contest. He reached 5th in the World Rankings according to the IFSA rankings in 2008. Andrus competed in the IFSA World Championships in 2005 finishing 4th, 5th in 2006 and 5th in 2007... |
|
74 |
| Louis-Philippe Jean Louis-Philippe Jean Louis-Phillipe Jean is a Canadian strongman competitor and entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition on multiple occasions.-Strongman career:... |
|
73.5 |
| Terry Hollands Terry Hollands Terry Hollands , is one of the world's leading strongman competitors and was Britain's Strongest Man .-Early life:... |
|
55.5 |
| Mark Felix Mark Felix Mark Felix is a strongman competitor and regular entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition... |
|
54 |
| Christian Savoie Christian Savoie Christian Savoie is a leading Canadian strongman competitor and entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition on multiple occasions.-Biography:... |
|
49 |
| Agris Kazelniks Agris Kazelniks !Agris Kazelniks is a strongman competitor from Ogre, Latvia. Agris is a 3 time Latvia's Strongest Man and frequent competitor in the Strongman Champions League. Agris finished 3rd overall in the 2008 season of Strongman Champions League, and 2nd place overall in the 2009 season.-References:... |
 |
47 |
| Jimmy Marku Jimmy Marku Jimmy Marku is an Albanian-born British strongman competitor.-Early life:Jimmy Marku was born 27 August 1974 in Albania... |
|
32 |
| Derek Boyer Derek Boyer Derek Boyer is a Fijian-Australian actor, powerlifter, and strongman competitor.-Strongman/Powerlifting:... |
 / |
24 |
Source for the above: