Hugo Girard
Encyclopedia
Hugo Girard (born December 20, 1971 in Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf, Quebec
) is a Canadian strongman
. Girard is a Strongman Super Series
world Champion, a four-time World Muscle Power champion and a six-time Canada's Strongest Man
.
in a popular Quebec City
nightclub
on weekends while attending community college. In the early 1990s, he went to Los Angeles
in order to either pursue a career as a professional bodybuilder
or as an actor
. After a few months, Girard came back to the province of Quebec where he was later hired as a police officer
for the city of Gatineau
.
Girard focused on Strongman
competition, and became a 6-time consecutive finalist in the World's Strongest Man
competition from 1998-2004. Hugo's highest placing was 4th place at the 1999 World's Strongest Man
contest.
In 2002 Girard reached the high point of his career to date, winning the 2002 Strongman Super Series
overall title. Hugo has also won the World Muscle Power Championships 4 times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004.
Girard dominated strongman competition in Canada
for several years. He was the Canada's Strongest Man
champion from 1999 to 2004. He was also the North America's Strongest Man
champion in 2001 and 2002.
Beginning in 2004, injuries began to plague his career including back to back injuries to his achilles tendon
in 2005, the first of which took place at the 2005 Arnold Strongman Classic
forcing him to retire from the contest. These injuries required a long period of rehabilitation
, and nearly a year and a half to fully recover. At one point Hugo was in a cast up to his waist. Hugo's comeback took place at the 2006 Mohegan Sun Super Series
event. After winning the first event, he tore his patellar tendon in the second event, the Conan's Wheel and was forced to retire from the contest. He attempted to compete in the North America's Strongest Man
Competition in 2007, but withdrew due to injury. Hugo was able to bounce back in 2008, winning Quebec's Strongest Man. This win qualified Hugo for the 2008 Canada's Strongest Man
contest. Hugo was leading the contest after the first day, but suffered yet another injury on the second day of competition and tearfully announced his retirement from strongman competition.
Girard broke several records during his career, some of which are still standing today. He has held records in events such as the log press, apollon's axle press, crucifix hold, farmer's walk Atlas stones
, bench press
, truck pull and squat
. He has also pulled an 80-ton Boeing 737
for a short distance.
Due to his strength, Girard is often compared to fellow Quebec native Louis Cyr
, a dominant nineteenth-century strongman who was considered the strongest man in history at the turn of the century. Girard has trained several other strongmen in the Ottawa
and Gatineau
regions, including Travis Lyndon and Jessen Paulin
, who has participated in the World's Strongest Man competition and succeeded Girard as Canadia's Strongest Man in 2005 and 2006.
Girard is currently a member of the organization of the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
that takes place every Labour Day
weekend. He is also the current president of the Canadian Federation of Strength Athletes. In addition to his career as a strongman, Girard served as a police officer for 12 years.
Hugo was the subject of a documentary film called "Strongman: Hugo Girard" in 2002. The film shows Hugo's training for the 2002 North America's Strongest Man
competition, which he eventually won. The film also features his training partners Jessen Paulin
and Travis Lyndon. The film was directed by Alan Black and released by Top of the World Films.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) is a Canadian 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...
. Girard is a Strongman Super Series
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
world Champion, a four-time World Muscle Power champion and a six-time Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in Canada, and features exclusively Canadian athletes. The event first started in 1982, with Tom Magee winning the first 2 titles. Hugo Girard would later go on to win a record 6 titles. After Hugo withdrew due to injuries, fellow...
.
Strength career
Prior to his career as a strongman competitor, Girard worked as a bouncerBouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
in a popular Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
on weekends while attending community college. In the early 1990s, he went to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in order to either pursue a career as a professional bodybuilder
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
or as an actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. After a few months, Girard came back to the province of Quebec where he was later hired as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
for the city of Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
.
Girard focused on Strongman
Strongman
Strongman or Strong Man can mean:* Strongman * Strongman * Strongman * High striker, a physical strength carnival attraction* Strongman , a Marvel Comics character...
competition, and became a 6-time consecutive finalist 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...
competition from 1998-2004. Hugo's highest placing was 4th place at the 1999 World's Strongest Man
1999 World's Strongest Man
The 1999 World's Strongest Man was the 22nd edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Jouko Ahola from Finland. It was his second title after finishing second the previous year. Janne Virtanen also from Finland finished second, and Svend Karlsen from Norway finished third. The contest was...
contest.
In 2002 Girard reached the high point of his career to date, winning the 2002 Strongman Super Series
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
overall title. Hugo has also won the World Muscle Power Championships 4 times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004.
Girard dominated strongman competition in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for several years. He was the Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in Canada, and features exclusively Canadian athletes. The event first started in 1982, with Tom Magee winning the first 2 titles. Hugo Girard would later go on to win a record 6 titles. After Hugo withdrew due to injuries, fellow...
champion from 1999 to 2004. He was also the North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition consisting of athletes from both America and Canada. The event was established in 1993.-Official results - top three places:...
champion in 2001 and 2002.
Beginning in 2004, injuries began to plague his career including back to back injuries to his achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
in 2005, the first of which took place at the 2005 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:...
forcing him to retire from the contest. These injuries required a long period of rehabilitation
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
, and nearly a year and a half to fully recover. At one point Hugo was in a cast up to his waist. Hugo's comeback took place at the 2006 Mohegan Sun Super Series
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
event. After winning the first event, he tore his patellar tendon in the second event, the Conan's Wheel and was forced to retire from the contest. He attempted to compete in the North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition consisting of athletes from both America and Canada. The event was established in 1993.-Official results - top three places:...
Competition in 2007, but withdrew due to injury. Hugo was able to bounce back in 2008, winning Quebec's Strongest Man. This win qualified Hugo for the 2008 Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in Canada, and features exclusively Canadian athletes. The event first started in 1982, with Tom Magee winning the first 2 titles. Hugo Girard would later go on to win a record 6 titles. After Hugo withdrew due to injuries, fellow...
contest. Hugo was leading the contest after the first day, but suffered yet another injury on the second day of competition and tearfully announced his retirement from strongman competition.
Girard broke several records during his career, some of which are still standing today. He has held records in events such as the log press, apollon's axle press, crucifix hold, farmer's walk Atlas stones
Strength athletics
Strength athletics, more generally known as strongman competitions, is a sport which tests competitors' strength in a variety of different ways. Some of the disciplines are similar to those in powerlifting and some powerlifters have also successfully competed in strongman competitions...
, 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...
, truck pull and 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...
. He has also pulled an 80-ton Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
for a short distance.
Due to his strength, Girard is often compared to fellow Quebec native Louis Cyr
Louis Cyr
Louis Cyr was a famous Canadian strongman with a career spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His recorded feats, including lifting 500 pounds with one finger and carrying 4,337 pounds on his back, show Cyr to be, according to former International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness...
, a dominant nineteenth-century strongman who was considered the strongest man in history at the turn of the century. Girard has trained several other strongmen in the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
regions, including Travis Lyndon and Jessen Paulin
Jessen Paulin
Jessen Paulin is a Canadian Strongman. A resident of Gatineau, Quebec, Paulin is known for being a multiple-Quebec's Strongest Man champion and a two-time Canada's Strongest Man in 2005 and 2006 succeeding, multiple-time champion and former World Champion Hugo Girard who was in rehabilitation...
, who has participated in the World's Strongest Man competition and succeeded Girard as Canadia's Strongest Man in 2005 and 2006.
Girard is currently a member of the organization of the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival is a yearly festival, held in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, and organized by a not-for-profit organization, during which hot air balloons of every shape and colour are flown and where 300 shows and performances adding up to over 60 hours’ worth of programming are...
that takes place every Labour Day
Labour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
weekend. He is also the current president of the Canadian Federation of Strength Athletes. In addition to his career as a strongman, Girard served as a police officer for 12 years.
Hugo was the subject of a documentary film called "Strongman: Hugo Girard" in 2002. The film shows Hugo's training for the 2002 North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition consisting of athletes from both America and Canada. The event was established in 1993.-Official results - top three places:...
competition, which he eventually won. The film also features his training partners Jessen Paulin
Jessen Paulin
Jessen Paulin is a Canadian Strongman. A resident of Gatineau, Quebec, Paulin is known for being a multiple-Quebec's Strongest Man champion and a two-time Canada's Strongest Man in 2005 and 2006 succeeding, multiple-time champion and former World Champion Hugo Girard who was in rehabilitation...
and Travis Lyndon. The film was directed by Alan Black and released by Top of the World Films.
Profile
- BicepsBicepsBiceps may refer to:*Biceps brachii muscle, a muscle located on the inside of the upper arm*Biceps femoris muscle, one of the hamstring muscles of the back of each thigh*Biceps , a point in a metrical pattern...
: 55 cm (22 inches) - NeckNeckThe neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
: 53 cm (21 inches) - Calves: 55 cm (22 inches)
- ChestChestThe chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
: 158 cm (62 inches) - QuadricepsQuadriceps muscleThe quadriceps femoris , also called simply the quadriceps, quadriceps extensor, quads, is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh...
: 85 cm (33 inches) - HeightHeightHeight is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
: 189 cm (6 feet 2 inches) - WeightWeightIn science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
: 150 kg (330 pounds)
External links
- Hugo Girard's website
- United Athletes Magazine Interview with Hugo about the importance of determination in sports.
- Official website for STRONGMAN a documentary about Hugo Girard