Terry Hollands
Encyclopedia
Terry Hollands (born on June 6, 1979 Dartford, Kent, England
), is one of the world's leading strongman
competitors and was Britain's Strongest Man (2007)
.
, Kent
having a birthweight of 12 lbs 14oz. He was a keen sportsman in his childhood and teens, playing Judo
and Rugby Union
. However, despite sport being a big part of his life, he did not start serious gym training until he was 22 in order to help his rugby, and he typically focused on endurance training.
In 2004 he contracted a leg infection and on his return to the gym he focused on strongman training. His training schedule has been described as "ferociously unforgiving" and he has espoused the benefits of visualisation techniques saying "you can't get by without it."
In 2006 he lost his UK title to the experienced and established Glenn Ross
but turned his attention to the Britain's Strongest Man
competition.
In 2006 Terry qualified for the 2006 World's Strongest Man
competition, although he did not qualify for the finals. In 2007 he took the title of Britain's Strongest Man
and went on to finish third at the 2007 World's Strongest Man
, the first time a British competitor had achieved a top 3 place in over 10 years.
The 2008 Britain's Strongest Man
saw Hollands conceding his title to Jimmy Marku
, coming second overall. However, in the 2008 World's Strongest Man
contest he still made the final coming second in his qualifing heat. In the final he placed last out of the ten finalists.
Hollands improved on this finish in the 2009 World's Strongest Man
coming sixth overall. 2010 was a mixed year for Hollands. A series of strong performances and podium finishes in the Strongman Champions League
, including a win in Ireland
(tied w/Zydrunas Savickas
), was derailed by serious injury, when he tore his biceps in the Europe's Strongest Man
contest in June. So strong had the early season been that Terry was still crowned the 2010 SCL overall champion on December 18, 2010. His return from the biceps injury was rapid and Hollands was able to compete at the 2010 World's Strongest Man
contest where he made the final for the fifth consecutive year, and finished in 8th place.
In 2011, Hollands began the year with a strong performance by winning the 2011 All-American Strongman Challenge
on January 30th, in Los Angeles. This win gained him an invitation to the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic
, which would mark his first appearance in the contest.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), is one of the world's leading 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...
competitors and was Britain's Strongest Man (2007)
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"...
.
Early life
Terry Hollands was born in 1979 in DartfordDartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
having a birthweight of 12 lbs 14oz. He was a keen sportsman in his childhood and teens, playing Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and 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...
. However, despite sport being a big part of his life, he did not start serious gym training until he was 22 in order to help his rugby, and he typically focused on endurance training.
In 2004 he contracted a leg infection and on his return to the gym he focused on strongman training. His training schedule has been described as "ferociously unforgiving" and he has espoused the benefits of visualisation techniques saying "you can't get by without it."
Strongman career
Hollands career as a strongman began in 2005, coming second at the 2005 England's Strongest Man and first at the 2005 UK's Strongest Man contests.In 2006 he lost his UK title to the experienced and established Glenn Ross
Glenn Ross
Glenn Ross known by his nickname "Big Daddy", is a Northern Irish International Strongman and Powerlifter who has represented Ireland and the UK in several World's Strongest Man competitions and various World Grand Prix and European Team competitions...
but turned his attention to the 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"...
competition.
In 2006 Terry qualified for the 2006 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, although he did not qualify for the finals. In 2007 he took the title of 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"...
and went on to finish third at the 2007 World's Strongest Man
2007 World's Strongest Man
The 2007 World's Strongest Man was the 30th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. It was his fourth title. Sebastian Wenta also from the Poland finished second after finishing sixth the previous year, and Terry Hollands from the United Kingdom finished...
, the first time a British competitor had achieved a top 3 place in over 10 years.
The 2008 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"...
saw Hollands conceding his title to Jimmy Marku
Jimmy Marku
Jimmy Marku is an Albanian-born British strongman competitor.-Early life:Jimmy Marku was born 27 August 1974 in Albania...
, coming second overall. However, in the 2008 World's Strongest Man
2008 World's Strongest Man
The 2008 World's Strongest Man was the 31st edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. It was his fifth title. Derek Poundstone from the USA finished second, and Dave Ostlund also from the USA finished third after finishing sixth the previous year...
contest he still made the final coming second in his qualifing heat. In the final he placed last out of the ten finalists.
Hollands improved on this finish in the 2009 World's Strongest Man
2009 World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man 2009 was the 32nd edition of World's Strongest Man and took place in Valletta, Malta from the 26th September to 3rd October 2009. It was sponsored by PartyPoker.com...
coming sixth overall. 2010 was a mixed year for Hollands. A series of strong performances and podium finishes in the Strongman Champions League
Strongman 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,...
, including a win in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(tied w/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 derailed by serious injury, when he tore his biceps in the 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...
contest in June. So strong had the early season been that Terry was still crowned the 2010 SCL overall champion on December 18, 2010. His return from the biceps injury was rapid and Hollands was able to compete 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...
contest where he made the final for the fifth consecutive year, and finished in 8th place.
In 2011, Hollands began the year with a strong performance by winning the 2011 All-American Strongman Challenge
All-American Strongman Challenge
The All-American Strongman Challenge is a leading competition in strength athletics that takes place within the annual Californian FitExpo. Although North America has a number of prestigious strongman events determining the "Strongest Man in America", the "Strongest Man in Canada" and the...
on January 30th, in Los Angeles. This win gained him an invitation to the 2011 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:...
, which would mark his first appearance in the contest.