Phil Pfister
Encyclopedia
Phil Pfister (born May 15, 1971 in Charleston, West Virginia
), 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. Pfister stands and weighs 375 pounds (170.1 kg).
Prior to 2006, Pfister's previous best finishes in the World's Strongest Man were fourth place in 1998 in Tangier
, and fourth place again in 2001 in Victoria Falls
. He placed fourth at the 2007 and 2008 WSM contests, and seventh in 2009.
While qualifying for his 4th place finish in Victoria Falls
, during an event known as the Hercules Hold, Pfister made a verbal promise that he would be the man responsible for bringing the World's Strongest Man
title back to the United States
. He went on to set two qualifier records in the Hercules Hold and in the Atlas Stones, but was unable to contend in the finals against the Scandinavian competitors who took the podium finishes that year, Magnus Samuelsson
from Sweden
, Janne Virtanen
from Finland
, and Svend Karlsen
from Norway
, respectively. Pfister has also achieved a podium finish at the Arnold Strongman Classic
when he came third in 2002.
Retiring after the 2009 Competition, Pfister currently comments for the World's Strongest Man competition on ESPN2 along with Bill Kazmaier
and Todd Harris
.
and currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia
with his son Wyatt. He appeared in the 2005 movie The Protector
starring Tony Jaa
, as one of the Fortune Teller's henchmen. He also made an appearance on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? on April 17, 2008 and won $25,000.
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
), is a leading American 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, winning the 2006 Met-Rx
Met-Rx
MET-Rx is a brand name of nutritional supplements, originally produced by Met-Rx, Inc., a California company started by A. Scott Connelly, and sold several times since....
World's Strongest Man
2006 World's Strongest Man
The 2006 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man was the 29th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Phil Pfister, the first American to win the competition since Bill Kazmaier in 1982. The contest took place between the 14th and 23rd of September 2006, in Sanya, China.The 25 competitors in the...
competition and its $41,000 grand prize on September 23, 2006 in Sanya
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He is the first American to win since 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...
in 1982. Pfister stands and weighs 375 pounds (170.1 kg).
Prior to 2006, Pfister's previous best finishes in the World's Strongest Man were fourth place in 1998 in Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
, and fourth place again in 2001 in Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
. He placed fourth at the 2007 and 2008 WSM contests, and seventh in 2009.
While qualifying for his 4th place finish in Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
, during an event known as the Hercules Hold, Pfister made a verbal promise that he would be the man responsible for bringing the 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 back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He went on to set two qualifier records in the Hercules Hold and in the Atlas Stones, but was unable to contend in the finals against the Scandinavian competitors who took the podium finishes that year, Magnus Samuelsson
Magnus Samuelsson
Magnus Samuelsson , is a Swedish strongman and winner of the 1998 World's Strongest Man contest in Morocco...
from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Janne Virtanen
Janne Virtanen
Janne Virtanen is a strongman from Espoo, Finland. Janne earns his living as a carpenter in Finland....
from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and Svend Karlsen
Svend Karlsen
Svend Karlsen is a former Norwegian strongman, powerlifter, and IFBB professional bodybuilder.-Powerlifting/Bodybuilding:...
from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, respectively. Pfister has also achieved a podium finish at 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:...
when he came third in 2002.
Retiring after the 2009 Competition, Pfister currently comments for the World's Strongest Man competition on ESPN2 along with 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...
and Todd Harris
Todd Harris
Todd Harris is a play-by-play announcer for ESPNU college football coverage and Ultimate Fighting Championship airing on Versus.Prior to those duties, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series...
.
Personal life
Pfister works as a firefighterFirefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
with his son Wyatt. He appeared in the 2005 movie The Protector
Tom-Yum-Goong
Tom-Yum-Goong Tom-Yum-Goong Tom-Yum-Goong (Thai: ต้มยำกุ้ง, is a 2005 Thai Martial arts Action film starring Tony Jaa. The film was directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who also directed Jaa's prior breakout film Ong-Bak. As with Ong-Bak, the fights were choreographed by Jaa and his mentor, Panna Rittikrai...
starring Tony Jaa
Tony Jaa
Tatchakorn Yeerum , formerly Panom Yeerum , better known in the West as Tony Jaa, in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial artist, actor, choreographer, stuntman, director, and monk...
, as one of the Fortune Teller's henchmen. He also made an appearance on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? on April 17, 2008 and won $25,000.