Gerrit Badenhorst
Encyclopedia
Gerrit Badenhorst (born October 10, 1962) is a world champion powerlifter and professional strongman
competitor from South Africa
. Gerrit was 8 times South Africa's Strongest Man
. and participated in the World's Strongest Man
finals of on seven occasions, coming second in 1995.
, South Africa
. As a sportsman he played rugby union
, but excelled in the sports of weightlifting and powerlifting
.
Before Gerrit was able to compete for South Africa internationally on the strongman stage, he did represent his country as a powelifter. Between 1988 and 1990, Gerrit won three world titles in the World Powerlifting Congress
organization. In so doing he broke world records in the squat
at 450 kilograms (992.1 lb), and the deadlift
at 402 kg (886 lb). He also broke the world record in the total (squat, deadlift and bench press
) of 1102.5 kg (2431 lb).
His world titles and world records led to him being acclaimed the greatest ever powerlifter at the time, with his totals having beaten the likes of Lars Noren
, Don Reinhoudt
and Bill Kazmaier
. Having reached the pinnacle of the sport of powerlifting, a lack of financial incentive led him to strongman competitions.
in 1989, 1990 and 1992. At the 1992 World's Strongest Man
as a newcomer he placed fourth. In 1993 he won the highly regarded World Strongman Challenge
and entered the 1993 World's Strongest Man
contest one of the favourites but had to retire due to an injury in the Pole Push.
In 1994
he again came fourth. Determined to improve, and having won South Africa's Strongest Man
once again, he entered the 1995 World's Strongest Man
as one of the favorites. Despite an injury sustained in the Bavarian stone lift he came second overall to Magnus Ver Magnusson
. He competed in a further five World's Strongest Man tournaments, coming 3rd in 1996, and 7th in 2000.
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 from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Gerrit was 8 times South Africa's Strongest Man
South Africa's Strongest Man
South Africa's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in South Africa and features exclusively South African strength athletes. Gerrit Badenhorst has won the title 8 times, and Ettiene Smit has won the title 6 times....
. and participated in 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...
finals of on seven occasions, coming second in 1995.
Powerlifting
Gerrit was born on 10 October 1962 in De Aar, Orange Free StateOrange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. As a sportsman he played 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...
, but excelled in the sports of weightlifting and powerlifting
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...
.
Before Gerrit was able to compete for South Africa internationally on the strongman stage, he did represent his country as a powelifter. Between 1988 and 1990, Gerrit won three world titles in the World Powerlifting Congress
World Powerlifting Congress
The World Powerlifting Congress is a powerlifting federation hosting meets around the world. The federation hosts competitions which allow multi-ply equipment, but hosted a Raw world championship for the first time in 2009....
organization. In so doing he broke world records in the squat
Squat (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...
at 450 kilograms (992.1 lb), and the deadlift
Deadlift
The 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:...
at 402 kg (886 lb). He also broke the world record in the total (squat, deadlift and bench press
Bench press
The 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...
) of 1102.5 kg (2431 lb).
His world titles and world records led to him being acclaimed the greatest ever powerlifter at the time, with his totals having beaten the likes of Lars Noren
Lars Norén
Lars Norén is a Swedish playwright, novelist and poet. He is considered Sweden's most prominent contemporary playwright of today.Born in Stockholm, Norén wrote his first play at age 19...
, Don Reinhoudt
Don Reinhoudt
Don Reinhoudt is a powerlifter and strongman from Brocton, New York. After obtaining a degree in finance, Don worked as an accountant and a youth worker during his professional career.-Athletics:...
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...
. Having reached the pinnacle of the sport of powerlifting, a lack of financial incentive led him to strongman competitions.
Strongman
In strength athletics Gerrit had already made an impact in South Africa having been crowned South Africa's Strongest ManSouth Africa's Strongest Man
South Africa's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in South Africa and features exclusively South African strength athletes. Gerrit Badenhorst has won the title 8 times, and Ettiene Smit has won the title 6 times....
in 1989, 1990 and 1992. At 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...
as a newcomer he placed fourth. In 1993 he won the highly regarded World Strongman Challenge
World Strongman Challenge
The World Strongman Challenge was one of the most enduring annual strongmen competitions, running in various guises for twenty years, with only two years break. In that time it attained the position of one of the most prestigious strongman contest in the world, after the World's Strongest Man and...
and entered the 1993 World's Strongest Man
1993 World's Strongest Man
The 1993 World's Strongest Man was the 16th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Gary Taylor from United Kingdom. It was his first title after finishing fifth the previous year. 1991 winner Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland was runner up for the second year in a row, and Riku Kiri from...
contest one of the favourites but had to retire due to an injury in the Pole Push.
In 1994
1994 World's Strongest Man
The 1994 World's Strongest Man was the 17th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. It was his second title after finishing second the previous 2 years in a row. Manfred Hoeberl from Austria finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and...
he again came fourth. Determined to improve, and having won South Africa's Strongest Man
South Africa's Strongest Man
South Africa's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in South Africa and features exclusively South African strength athletes. Gerrit Badenhorst has won the title 8 times, and Ettiene Smit has won the title 6 times....
once again, he entered the 1995 World's Strongest Man
1995 World's Strongest Man
The 1995 World's Strongest Man was the 18th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. It was his third title. Gerrit Badenhorst from South Africa finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and Marko Varalahti from Finland finished third...
as one of the favorites. Despite an injury sustained in the Bavarian stone lift he came second overall to Magnus Ver Magnusson
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 ....
. He competed in a further five World's Strongest Man tournaments, coming 3rd in 1996, and 7th in 2000.
Honours
- 7 times South Africa’s Strongest Man (1989, 1990, 1992–1995, 1998 and 2001)
- 4th place World's Strongest Man1992 World's Strongest ManThe 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...
(1992) - 8th place World's Strongest Man1993 World's Strongest ManThe 1993 World's Strongest Man was the 16th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Gary Taylor from United Kingdom. It was his first title after finishing fifth the previous year. 1991 winner Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland was runner up for the second year in a row, and Riku Kiri from...
(1993) - 4th place World's Strongest Man1994 World's Strongest ManThe 1994 World's Strongest Man was the 17th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. It was his second title after finishing second the previous 2 years in a row. Manfred Hoeberl from Austria finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and...
(1994) - 2nd place World's Strongest Man1995 World's Strongest ManThe 1995 World's Strongest Man was the 18th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. It was his third title. Gerrit Badenhorst from South Africa finished second after finishing fourth the previous year, and Marko Varalahti from Finland finished third...
(1995) - 3rd place World's Strongest Man1996 World's Strongest ManThe 1996 World's Strongest Man was the 19th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland. This was Magnus' fourth WSM title, tying the record of fellow Icelander Jon Pall Sigmarsson. Riku Kiri from Finland finished second, and Gerrit Badenhorst from South Africa...
(1996) - 7th place World's Strongest Man2000 World's Strongest ManThe 2000 World's Strongest Man was the 23rd edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Janne Virtanen from Finland. It was his first title after finishing second the previous year. Svend Karlsen from Norway finished second after finishing third the previous year, and 1998 winner Magnus...
(2000)