THE ROUTINE: Mariusz Pudzianowski, world's strongest man
Independent on Sunday, The, Mar 21, 2004
Mariusz Pudzianowski, 26, is over 6ft and just under 21 stone. He was born in Poland, and entered his first strongman competition aged 16, turning professional in 1998. He has won the title of MET-Rx World's Strongest Man for the past two years and has dominated the Polish circuit, winning the national strongman title four years in a row. When not training or competing, he relaxes by following his passion, karate.
When did you first think about becoming the world's strongest man?
Right from my first memory. I wasn't an enormous baby but I grew quick and remember being the strongest kid in school. My dad, who is now my coach, had been the Polish weightlifting champion, and when he saw my size, he began teaching me a few techniques. I used my strength initially as a boxer, fighting for seven years, but even then my passion was to be a strongman. I gave the boxing up to turn professional.
Describe your training regime
train for five hours a day and allow myself only one day off a week. Mornings are spent in the gym. I follow a set circuit of back squats, leg curls and extensions, pull-ups, chin-ups, dead lifts and bench-pressing. I deal in really heavy weights, bench- pressing 180kg for example. My record is 255.5kg. Twice a week, I will break early and swim or run for an hour to let my body recover. Being the best is not all about strength. Each discipline is technically different, so during the afternoons I will practise each event. The only way of improving lifting anvils or throwing boulders is to practise, practise, practise.
Strongmen are renowned for their size as well as their strength. You must require a vast amount of fuel.
I have a 22in neck and a 57in chest, and my training means I have to take in 10,000 calories daily, four times the average intake of a normal person. I eat four meals a day and focus on protein, particularly for breakfast and lunch. I eat loads of red meat and eggs and take in plenty of supplements to keep up my muscle bulk. I have to make sacrifices to keep myself in shape, and don't drink any alcohol.
Are steroids a major problem in strongman events?
Like many other sports, there are strict controls to ensure there is no cheating. The supplements we take are produced by the sponsor of the event, MET-Rx. We are tested for banned substances after every event. It's important to show the sport is clean.
Is there any strongman discipline you particularly dislike?
I'm pretty comfortable with them all, but I need to work hardest at the dead lift. You have to lift 295kg with straight arms and a bent back until your back is locked upright. It puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders and back. Strongman competitions consist of seven events, so generally speaking the last one is the most testing, just because the energy levels are so low.
How do you manage to overcome the pain barrier?
Every part of the body is tested to the limit, and I feel the pain at every event and every day in training. The lactic acid creates a serious burning sensation. It comes down to mind over matter; all of us can achieve more than we think. I try to focus on anything but the pain - nice things, like the beautiful women at the events!
Do you have any plans to retire?
None at the moment. The oldest guy in last year's final was 37, so I know I can keep going for a while. I've met the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone on the circuit and am setting my sights on becoming an actor when all this gets too much. I've just starred in the Polish remake of Conan the Barbarian. I've always followed the ideal of "live short, live well, live quick"; I would rather live an interesting 50 years than a dull 80.
A video chronicling Mariusz's build-up to last year's MET-Rx world event goes on sale in mid-April. More details:
www.pudzian.pl
