O.D. Wilson
Encyclopedia
O.D. Wilson (September 12, 1954 – October 29, 1991) was a powerlifter and professional strongman
competitor.
to win the 1990 World's Strongest Man
title, losing by just half a point to Jon Pall Sigmarsson
. Wilson vowed to win the 1991 World's Strongest Man
title, but a back injury sustained just before the competition, a prolapsed disc, forced him to withdraw and he finished in fifth place. Wilson was known by the nickname "Nightmare", but was known for his genial character and big heart. Wilson spent 12 years in the military, 8 of those years spent overseas in Germany
, Japan
, and Korea
. Prior to putting on weight, Wilson was a 200 m track athlete, all-American basketball
player, boxed for 2 years in the Army, and was an avid racketball player. Wilson was a very successful powerlifter, rising to fame in the 1980s. He was a five time U.S. Services champion, and a five time U.S Army title holder. Wilson won the 1988 USPF National Super Heavyweight Powerlifting title, and was the 1988 IPF World Powerlifting Champion
. Some of Wilson's training partners were also noted World's Strongest Man competitors including Rick "Grizzly" Brown
, and James Perry, who competed in the 1992 World's Strongest Man
in honor of O.D. Wilson.
competition, Wilson complained of chest pains and went outside for some fresh air. Within moments he collapsed and died of cardiac arrest
, he was just 37 years old.
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.
Strongman/Powerlifting
O.D. Wilson came very close to being the first American since 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...
to win the 1990 World's Strongest Man
1990 World's Strongest Man
The 1990 World's Strongest Man was the 13th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Jon Pall Sigmarsson from Iceland. It was his fourth title after finishing third the previous year. O.D. Wilson from the USA finished second, and Ilkka Nummisto from Finland finished third after finishing...
title, losing by just half a point 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...
. Wilson vowed to win the 1991 World's Strongest Man
1991 World's Strongest Man
The 1991 World's Strongest Man was the 14th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. It was his first title. Henning Thorsen from Denmark finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and Gary Taylor from the United Kingdom finished third. The...
title, but a back injury sustained just before the competition, a prolapsed disc, forced him to withdraw and he finished in fifth place. Wilson was known by the nickname "Nightmare", but was known for his genial character and big heart. Wilson spent 12 years in the military, 8 of those years spent overseas in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Prior to putting on weight, Wilson was a 200 m track athlete, all-American basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, boxed for 2 years in the Army, and was an avid racketball player. Wilson was a very successful powerlifter, rising to fame in the 1980s. He was a five time U.S. Services champion, and a five time U.S Army title holder. Wilson won the 1988 USPF National Super Heavyweight Powerlifting title, and was the 1988 IPF World Powerlifting Champion
Powerlifting
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...
. Some of Wilson's training partners were also noted World's Strongest Man competitors including Rick "Grizzly" Brown
Rick "Grizzly" Brown
Rick "Grizzly" Brown is a former professional Strongman competitor from Berkeley, California. Brown is best known for competing in the 1985 and 1986 World's Strongest Man competitions. Rick competed in amateur wrestling and powerlifting at age 15, and after winning a national wrestling title in...
, and James Perry, who competed in the 1992 World's Strongest Man
1992 World's Strongest Man
The 1992 World's Strongest Man was the 15th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Ted van der Parre from the Netherlands after finishing fourth the previous year. It was his first title. 1991 winner Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland finished second equal with 1989 winner Jamie Reeves from...
in honor of O.D. Wilson.
Death
On October 29, 1991, while being interviewed on a radio program just a few weeks after the 1991 World's Strongest Man1991 World's Strongest Man
The 1991 World's Strongest Man was the 14th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. It was his first title. Henning Thorsen from Denmark finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and Gary Taylor from the United Kingdom finished third. The...
competition, Wilson complained of chest pains and went outside for some fresh air. Within moments he collapsed and died of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
, he was just 37 years old.
Personal Records
Powerlifting- 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...
462 kilograms (1,018.5 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...
257 kilograms (566.6 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:...
406 kilograms (895.1 lb) - Total 1102.5 kilograms (2,430.6 lb)