Jamie Reeves
Encyclopedia
Jamie Reeves (born 3 May 1962) is a former coal miner, strongman
and professional wrestler. As a strongman, he won the 1989 World's Strongest Man
, was World Muscle Power champion, and also had numerous other titles including Europe's Strongest Man
and Britain's Strongest Man
. Following retirement from competitive sport he continued to be involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter and coach.
, Yorkshire
. He grew up in the city and went to the City School
. At school he had been a swimmer at county level, a centre-forward for his football team and had also played as Number 8 in the rugby union
side that won the under-15 Yorkshire Cup. He went on to become a colliery blacksmith's welder before his success as a strongman led him to give up that profession.
win his third World's Strongest Man
title in 1982, on BBC television, he decided that would be his aim, and took up weights. By 1986 he had become the Yorkshire and North East powerlifting champion in the superheavy class. In addition to powerlifting he had become actively involved in strength athletics and in 1986 won the National Truck Pulling Championships (sponsored by ASA/Bristol Street Motors) and came second to Peter Tregloan
in 1986 in the Midland's Strongest Man competition. In 1987 he improved on his second place finish by winning the Midland's Strongest Man (the first of three consecutive wins). That year he also won the first of three consecutive Yorkshire's Strongest Man competitions and won the England's Strongest Man competition also. In 1988 he took the title of East Britain's Strongest Man and entered John Smith's Trial of Strength, a competition organised by Geoff Capes
and in order to find the successor to the retired Capes. He won the title, the equivalent that year of Britain's Strongest Man. Underlining his calibre, he then broke Tom Topham's 274 year-old record by harness lifting three beer barrels weighing a total of 845 kg.
This performances culminated in an invitation to the 1988 World's Strongest Man
where he finished third on his first attempt, to Jon Pall Sigmarsson
and Bill Kazmaier
. The following year he won the competition in San Sebastián
again excelling in gripping events, seen as his speciality. He was injured for the next two competitions and on his return in 1992 came second equal with Magnús Ver Magnússon
. Domestically, he won the British Muscle Power Championships and Britain's Strongest Man on numerous occasions and in total was nine times England's Strongest Man.
powerlifting competition are:
judge, and ran his own gym.
Strength athlete
A strength athlete is a person who trains for or competes in events in which muscular strength and power play a primary role. Such events include weightlifting and powerlifting, strength athletics and strongman competitions, and arm wrestling, as well as the "heavy throws" of track and field:...
and professional wrestler. As a strongman, he won the 1989 World's Strongest Man
1989 World's Strongest Man
The 1989 World's Strongest Man was the 12th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Jamie Reeves from the United Kingdom. It was his first and only title after finishing third the previous year. Ab Wolders from the Netherlands finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and...
, was World Muscle Power champion, and also had numerous other titles including Europe's Strongest Man
Europe's Strongest Man
Europe's Strongest Man is an annual strength athletics competition which began in 1980. The event is held in various locations throughout Europe, and features exclusively European strongman competitors. Mariusz Pudzianowski currently holds the record for most wins with 6 titles...
and Britain's Strongest Man
Britain's Strongest Man
Britain's Strongest Man is an annual strongman event held in the United Kingdom. Competitors qualify for the final through regional heats and the winner is awarded the title of "Britain's Strongest Man"...
. Following retirement from competitive sport he continued to be involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter and coach.
Early life
Reeves was born in 1962 in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. He grew up in the city and went to the City School
The City School (Sheffield)
The City School, Stradbroke Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, was formerly known as City Grammar School...
. At school he had been a swimmer at county level, a centre-forward for his football team and had also played as Number 8 in the rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
side that won the under-15 Yorkshire Cup. He went on to become a colliery blacksmith's welder before his success as a strongman led him to give up that profession.
Strongman
When Reeves saw Bill KazmaierBill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier is a former powerlifter, strongman and professional wrestler from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions...
win his third 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...
title in 1982, on BBC television, he decided that would be his aim, and took up weights. By 1986 he had become the Yorkshire and North East powerlifting champion in the superheavy class. In addition to powerlifting he had become actively involved in strength athletics and in 1986 won the National Truck Pulling Championships (sponsored by ASA/Bristol Street Motors) and came second to Peter Tregloan
Peter Tregloan
Peter Tregloan is a former strongman and Powerlifter from Jersey. He has won a number of titles including nine world championships in powerlifting and is the current world record holder in Squat, Deadlift and Total weight for the Masters age class.-Early life:Peter Tregloan was born in 1957 in...
in 1986 in the Midland's Strongest Man competition. In 1987 he improved on his second place finish by winning the Midland's Strongest Man (the first of three consecutive wins). That year he also won the first of three consecutive Yorkshire's Strongest Man competitions and won the England's Strongest Man competition also. In 1988 he took the title of East Britain's Strongest Man and entered John Smith's Trial of Strength, a competition organised by Geoff Capes
Geoff Capes
Geoffrey Lewis Capes is a former athlete, strongman and professional Highland Games competitor...
and in order to find the successor to the retired Capes. He won the title, the equivalent that year of Britain's Strongest Man. Underlining his calibre, he then broke Tom Topham's 274 year-old record by harness lifting three beer barrels weighing a total of 845 kg.
This performances culminated in an invitation to the 1988 World's Strongest Man
1988 World's Strongest Man
The 1988 World's Strongest Man was the 11th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Jon Pall Sigmarsson from Iceland. It was his third title. 1980, 1981 and 1982 winner Bill Kazmaier from the USA finished second, and Jamie Reeves from the United Kingdom finished third. The contest was held...
where he finished third on his first attempt, to Jon Pall Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Jón Páll Sigmarsson was a strongman, a powerlifter , and a bodybuilder from Iceland who won the World's Strongest Man Competition four times . In 1984 Jón won the Icelandic bodybuilding title in the +90 kg. class...
and Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier is a former powerlifter, strongman and professional wrestler from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions...
. The following year he won the competition in San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
again excelling in gripping events, seen as his speciality. He was injured for the next two competitions and on his return in 1992 came second equal with Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon
Magnús Ver Magnússon is a former powerlifter and strongman competitor from Egilsstaðir, Iceland. Magnus won the title of World's Strongest Man four times ....
. Domestically, he won the British Muscle Power Championships and Britain's Strongest Man on numerous occasions and in total was nine times England's Strongest Man.
Powerlifting
Jamie's best results in IPFPowerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
powerlifting competition are:
- SquatSquat (exercise)In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
- 362.5 kilograms (799.2 lb) - Bench pressBench pressThe bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
- 272.5 kilograms (600.8 lb) - DeadliftDeadliftThe deadlift is a weight training exercise where a loaded barbell is lifted off the ground from a stabilized, bent over position. It is one of the three canonical powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press.-Overview:...
- 367.5 kilograms (810.2 lb) - All lifts performed "raw"(only weight belt)
Retirement
After retiring from strength sports, Jamie became an International Federation of Strength AthletesInternational Federation of Strength Athletes
The International Federation of Strength Athletes was an international governing body for strongman competition...
judge, and ran his own gym.
Statistics
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (190.5 cm)
- Weight: 322 lb (146 kg).
- BMIBody mass indexThe body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
: 40.2 - Chest: 60 inches
- Biceps: 22 inches