1997 World's Strongest Man
Encyclopedia
The 1997 World's Strongest Man was the 20th edition of World's Strongest Man
and was won by Jouko Ahola
from Finland
. It was his first title. Flemming Rasmussen
from Denmark
finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and Magnus Samuelsson
from Sweden
finished third. The contest was held in Primm Valley Resort
, Nevada
.
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...
and was won by Jouko Ahola
Jouko Ahola
Jouko Ahola is a Finnish strongman and actor. He won the 1997 and 1999 World's Strongest Man, and finished second in 1998. Ahola won the Europe's Strongest Man contest twice in 1998 and 1999, and finished fourth in 1996. Jouko won the World's Strongest Team in 1997 and 1999, and was second in 1998...
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...
. It was his first title. Flemming Rasmussen
Flemming Rasmussen (strongman)
Flemming Rasmussen is a former strongman competitor and powerlifter from Denmark. He competed in the World's Strongest Man contest several times, finishing in 5th place in 1995, 4th in 1996, and 2nd in 1997...
from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and 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....
finished third. The contest was held in Primm Valley Resort
Primm Valley Resort
Terrible's Primm Valley Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in Primm, an unincorporated area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It includes the Primm Valley Golf Club across the border in California.The hotel offers 624 rooms and suites...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Group 1
| Position | Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Svend Karlsen Svend Karlsen Svend Karlsen is a former Norwegian strongman, powerlifter, and IFBB professional bodybuilder.-Powerlifting/Bodybuilding:... |
 Norway |
21 |
| 2. | Torfi Ólafsson Torfi Ólafsson Torfi Olafsson is a former Icelandic strongman competitor and junior world champion powerlifter. He was one of the biggest competitors from Iceland to compete at the World's Strongest Man, standing 6'7 and weighing 418lbs.-Biography:Torfi's was born in 1965... |
 Iceland |
16 |
| 3. | 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 .... |
Iceland |
15 |
| 4. | Regin Vagadal Regin Vagadal Regin Vagadal is a strongman from the Faroe Islands. He was seven times Faroe Islands Strongest Man from 1994 to 2000. And participated in the World's Strongest Man finals of 1996 and 2000.- Biography :... |
 Faroe Islands |
13,5 |
| 5. | Joe Onosai Joe Onosai Joe Onosai is a former strongman competitor and Professional football player. Onosai is a Samoan tribal prince and a former member of the Dallas Cowboys. During his time with the Dallas Cowboys, Joe badly injured his neck and was paralyzed from the waist up... |
 Samoa |
11 |
| 6. | Brian Bell |  Scotland |
7,5 |
Group 2
| Position | Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Raimonds Bergmanis Raimonds Bergmanis Raimonds Bergmanis is a fomer Olympic weightlifting champion and retired strongman competitor from Latvia.... |
 Latvia |
18,5 |
| 2. | Derek Boyer Derek Boyer Derek Boyer is a Fijian-Australian actor, powerlifter, and strongman competitor.-Strongman/Powerlifting:... |
 Fiji |
17,5 |
| 3. | Riku Kiri Riku Kiri Riku Kiri is a Finnish sportsman, best known for competing in the World's Strongest Man competition, narrowly missing out on capturing the title on more than one occasion... |
 Finland |
17,5 |
| 4. | Russ Bradley |  England |
16 |
| 5. | Jewgienij Popow |  Bulgaria |
10,5 |
| 6. | Jean-Luc Moalli |  France |
4 |
Group 3
| Position | Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Magnus Samuelsson Magnus Samuelsson Magnus Samuelsson , is a Swedish strongman and winner of the 1998 World's Strongest Man contest in Morocco... |
 Sweden |
20 |
| 2. | Heinz Ollesch Heinz Ollesch Heinz Ollesch is a strongman from Germany. He won Germany's Strongest Man 12 times, and he participated in the World's Strongest Man Finals in 1995 and 1997.- Biography :... |
 Germany |
19 |
| 3. | Gerrit Badenhorst Gerrit Badenhorst Gerrit Badenhorst is a world champion powerlifter and professional strongman competitor from South Africa. Gerrit was 8 times South Africa's Strongest Man... |
 South Africa |
16 |
| 4. | Berend Veneberg Berend Veneberg Berend Veneberg is a former strongman from the Netherlands. He finished 5th at the World's Strongest Man games in 1993, 9th in 1998, 6th in 1999, 1st at Europe's Strongest Man in 2000 and won Holland's Strongest Man 7 times.- Biography :Veneberg was born in Den Ham, Overijssel... |
 Netherlands |
10 (injured) |
| 4. | Paul Lepik |  Estonia |
10 |
| 6. | Ginaud Dupuis |  Canada |
8 |
Group 4
| Position | Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Flemming Rasmussen Flemming Rasmussen (strongman) Flemming Rasmussen is a former strongman competitor and powerlifter from Denmark. He competed in the World's Strongest Man contest several times, finishing in 5th place in 1995, 4th in 1996, and 2nd in 1997... |
 Denmark |
20 |
| 2. | Jouko Ahola Jouko Ahola Jouko Ahola is a Finnish strongman and actor. He won the 1997 and 1999 World's Strongest Man, and finished second in 1998. Ahola won the Europe's Strongest Man contest twice in 1998 and 1999, and finished fourth in 1996. Jouko won the World's Strongest Team in 1997 and 1999, and was second in 1998... |
Finland |
18 |
| 3. | Robert Weir Robert Weir (athlete) Robert Weir is a retired English discus thrower, who is a twelve-time national champion. Weir attended Handsworth Grammar School in Birmingham.... |
England |
16 |
| 4. | Bill Lyndon Bill Lyndon Bill Lyndon is a former Australian strongman competitor. Lyndon is a 5 time winner of Australia's Strongest Man, and a 4 time entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition.-Early years:... |
 Australia |
15 |
| 5. | Michael Abdullah |  Japan |
9 |
| 6. | Bernard Rolle |  The Bahamas |
6 |
Group USA
| Position | Name | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mark Philippi Mark Philippi Mark Philippi – is a former leading strongman competitor, multiple entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition, and former holder of the America's Strongest Man title.-Biography:... |
 United States |
108 |
| 2. | Harold "Iron Bear" Collins Harold Collins Harold "Iron Bear" Collins is a former strongman, Powerlifter and also a Philanthropist. Harold is a full-blooded American Indian and calls himself the "World's Strongest Native American". He is a member of the Lumbee-Cheraw tribe in North Carolina... |
United States |
85,5 |
| 3. | Tommy Ingalsbe | United States |
83,5 |
| 4. | Ken Brown | United States |
79,5 |
| 4. | Phil Martin | United States |
79,5 |
| 6. | Kevin Toth | United States |
68 |
| 7. | James Voronin | United States |
64,5 |
| 8. | Gary Mitchell | United States |
46.5 (Injured) |
Final results
| # | Name | Nationality | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jouko Ahola Jouko Ahola Jouko Ahola is a Finnish strongman and actor. He won the 1997 and 1999 World's Strongest Man, and finished second in 1998. Ahola won the Europe's Strongest Man contest twice in 1998 and 1999, and finished fourth in 1996. Jouko won the World's Strongest Team in 1997 and 1999, and was second in 1998... |
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... |
61 |
| 2 | Flemming Rasmussen Flemming Rasmussen (strongman) Flemming Rasmussen is a former strongman competitor and powerlifter from Denmark. He competed in the World's Strongest Man contest several times, finishing in 5th place in 1995, 4th in 1996, and 2nd in 1997... |
Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
57 |
| 3 | Magnus Samuelsson Magnus Samuelsson Magnus Samuelsson , is a Swedish strongman and winner of the 1998 World's Strongest Man contest in Morocco... |
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.... |
52.5 |
| 4 | Torfi Ólafsson Torfi Ólafsson Torfi Olafsson is a former Icelandic strongman competitor and junior world champion powerlifter. He was one of the biggest competitors from Iceland to compete at the World's Strongest Man, standing 6'7 and weighing 418lbs.-Biography:Torfi's was born in 1965... |
Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... |
45.5 |
| 5 | Raimonds Bergmanis Raimonds Bergmanis Raimonds Bergmanis is a fomer Olympic weightlifting champion and retired strongman competitor from Latvia.... |
Latvia Latvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... |
44.5 |
| 6 | Heinz Ollesch Heinz Ollesch Heinz Ollesch is a strongman from Germany. He won Germany's Strongest Man 12 times, and he participated in the World's Strongest Man Finals in 1995 and 1997.- Biography :... |
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... |
43.5 |
| 7 | Mark Philippi Mark Philippi Mark Philippi – is a former leading strongman competitor, multiple entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition, and former holder of the America's Strongest Man title.-Biography:... |
USA |
40.5 |
| 8 | Svend Karlsen Svend Karlsen Svend Karlsen is a former Norwegian strongman, powerlifter, and IFBB professional bodybuilder.-Powerlifting/Bodybuilding:... |
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... |
33 |
| 9 | Derek Boyer Derek Boyer Derek Boyer is a Fijian-Australian actor, powerlifter, and strongman competitor.-Strongman/Powerlifting:... |
Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
28.5 |
| 10 | Harold "Iron Bear" Collins Harold Collins Harold "Iron Bear" Collins is a former strongman, Powerlifter and also a Philanthropist. Harold is a full-blooded American Indian and calls himself the "World's Strongest Native American". He is a member of the Lumbee-Cheraw tribe in North Carolina... |
USA |
28 |