Svend Karlsen

Last updated
Svend Karlsen
Svend Karlsen1.JPG
Personal information
Birth nameSvend Ødegård Karlsen
Nickname"The Viking"
Born (1967-10-06) 6 October 1967 (age 56)
Drammen, Norway
Occupation(s) Strongman, Powerlifter, Bodybuilder
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
SpouseEun Lene Ekrem Karlsen 2002-2009 (her death)
Medal record
Strongman
Representing Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
World's Strongest Man
Qualified 1996 World's Strongest Man
8th 1997 World's Strongest Man
3rd 1999 World's Strongest Man
2nd 2000 World's Strongest Man
1st 2001 World's Strongest Man
5th 2002 World's Strongest Man
9th 2003 World's Strongest Man
5th 2004 World's Strongest Man
Arnold Strongman Classic
2nd 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic
2nd 2003 Arnold Strongman Classic
2nd 2004 Arnold Strongman Classic
6th 2005 Arnold Strongman Classic
IFSA Strongman World Championships
Qualified2005
IFSA World Open
2nd2005
IFSA Nordic Championships
1st2005
Strongman Super Series
3rd2001 Holland Grand Prix
2nd2001 Czech Grand Prix
3rd2001 Sweden Grand Prix
3rd2001 Overall
1st2002 Scotland Grand Prix (World Muscle Power Championships)
2nd2002 Sweden Grand Prix
5th2002 Hawaii Grand Prix
2nd2002 Overall
9th2003 Hawaii Grand Prix
4th2003 Holland Grand Prix
3rd2003 Canada Grand Prix
4th2003 Finland Grand Prix
2nd 2004 Arnold Strongman Classic
4th2003/04 Overall
5th2004 Moscow Grand Prix
3rd2004 Sweden Grand Prix
World Strongman Challenge
3rd1997
3rd2000
3rd2001
World Muscle Power Championships
2nd2001
1st2002
Europe's Strongest Man
3rd1998
1st2001
3rd2002
6th2003
Norway's Strongest Man
1st2003
1st2005
1st2006
Powerlifting
Representing Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
IPF Junior World Championships [1]
3rd1989125kg
EPF European Powerlifting Championships [2]
4th1989110kg
EPF Junior European Championships [3]
3rd1986125kg
3rd1989125kg

Svend Viking Karlsen (born 6 October 1967) is a Norwegian strongman, powerlifter, and IFBB professional bodybuilder. Being a winner of the World's Strongest Man, the Europe's Strongest Man, the World Muscle Power Classic and 3 times runner up at the Arnold Strongman Classic, he is regarded as one of the best strongmen in history. He is also well known for shouting his catch phrase "Viking Power!" during competitions.

Contents

Powerlifting and bodybuilding

Karlsen started out as a powerlifter in 1986, winning a number of titles and setting 30 Norwegian records, 3 European records, and 1 world record. Soon after, Karlsen began pursuing a career in bodybuilding. He traveled on the road doing posing exhibitions with some bodybuilding friends to help pay the bills. Karlsen won the Mr. Norway title, and took second place at the World Games. This victory earned him his IFBB pro card and he could now compete as a professional. Karlsen moved to California to focus on his bodybuilding career, and his first pro show was the IFBB Night of Champions. Karlsen suffered a severe muscle tear that forced him to retire from bodybuilding, and in 1996 he quickly moved on to strongman competitions.

Strongman career

Karlsen competed in one of the 1996 World's Strongest Man qualifying heats and narrowly missed qualifying for the finals. In the 1997 World's Strongest Man contest, Karlsen qualified for his first of 7 consecutive finals from 1997, 1999-2004 (did not compete in 1998). After finishing second in the Husafel Stone carry, Karlsen was leading the finals on points, but during the warm-up for the squat event, he tore his hamstring and had to withdraw from the rest of the contest. Karlsen returned in 1999, finishing in third place, and finished in second place in 2000 behind eventual winner Janne Virtanen. Karlsen finally became victorious at the 2001 World's Strongest Man competition in Victoria Falls, Zambia.

Some of Karlsen's other notable strongman titles include Europe's Strongest Man 2001, 3 time runner-up at the Arnold Strongman Classic 2002–04, World Muscle Power Championships 2001 winner, and 3 time Norway's Strongest Man in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Karlsen was the second athlete inducted into the World's Strongest Man Hall of Fame in 2010 as voted by the fans. He has a larger than life personality and, similar to his Nordic strongman predecessor Jón Páll Sigmarsson, is known for his catchphrase "Viking Power". Karlsen was featured in the 2003 Colin Bryce documentary 'The World's Strongest Arms', [4] together with fellow World's Strongest Man champion Magnus Samuelsson.

Among his best lifts in his early years were a 400 kg squat, 260 kg bench press and a 412.5 kg deadlift. In an interview in 1997, he claimed his most notable feat of strength was deadlifting 400 kg for 3 repetitions. [5]

Personal records

Retirement

Karlsen retired from competition in 2006, and began serving as presenter and producer of the Norwegian version of the World's Strongest Man contest and the qualifying tour Giants Live.

After retirement

Karlsen is the event organizer for the Norway's Strongest Man competition, introducing events and commentating. Karlsen was a co-commentator for the final event at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic. Karlsen also ran the Viking Power Challenge event in Norway, which was a part of the Super Series and later Giants Live tour for qualification into the World's Strongest Man competition.

Other competitions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jón Páll Sigmarsson</span> Icelandic strongman (1960–1993)

Jón Páll Sigmarsson was an Icelandic strongman, powerlifter and bodybuilder who was the first man to win the World's Strongest Man four times and the first and only man to win the World Muscle Power Classic five times. Jón Páll is widely regarded as one of the greatest strongmen of all time, and is credited with developing Iceland's national identity. He was named Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1981, and was one of the best-known Icelandic athletes. In 2012, Jón Páll was inducted into the World's Strongest Man Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnús Ver Magnússon</span> Icelandic strongman

Magnús Ver Magnússon is an Icelandic former powerlifter and strongman competitor. He is a four-time World's Strongest Man, having won in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest strongmen of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Žydrūnas Savickas</span> Lithuanian strongman

Žydrūnas Savickas is a Lithuanian powerlifter and professional strongman. Due to his 84 international wins in major international strongman competitions including four World's Strongest Man championships, eight Arnold Strongman Classic championships, two IFSA Strongman World Championships, and over 70 world records, he is widely regarded as the greatest strength athlete of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Kazmaier</span> American strongman

William Kazmaier is an American former world champion powerlifter, world champion strongman and professional wrestler. During the 1970s and 1980s, he set numerous powerlifting and strongman world records, and won two International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Championships and three World's Strongest Man titles. In the 1980s, Kazmaier became famous for his claim to be "the strongest man who ever lived" by equaling and surpassing spectacular and versatile feats of strength of famous strongmen of the 20th century. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions and was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnus Samuelsson</span> Swedish strongman

Magnus Samuelsson, is a Swedish actor, former strongman and winner of the 1998 World's Strongest Man contest in Morocco. He has also made it to the World's Strongest Man podium 5 times and the finals 10 times and is regarded as one of the best strongmen in history. The son of a former Swedish arm wrestling champion, he has also been ranked among the best arm wrestlers in Europe during his active years with a second place in 1993 as his best performance.

Johnnie Otis Jackson is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and powerlifter. Jackson has been said to have one of the best developed upper bodies in professional bodybuilding in the world. He is known for training in Arlington, Texas, with fellow American IFBB pro competitor Branch Warren. Due to his strength, he has sometimes been referred to as the world's strongest bodybuilder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Poundstone</span> American strength athlete and police officer

Derek Anthony Poundstone is an American police officer, former professional strongman and strength coach from Woodbridge, Connecticut. He was the runner-up at the 2008 World's Strongest Man, a two-time Arnold Strongman Classic champion, and a three-time winner of America's Strongest Man. Poundstone is also a high-ranking officer for the Naugatuck, Connecticut Police Department and is the former owner and landlord of an apartment complex and gym.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Ortmayer</span> American strength athlete

Travis Ortmayer is an American professional Strongman athlete from Cypress, Texas. He is nicknamed the Texas Stoneman due to his many world records in the Atlas Stone event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikhail Koklyaev</span> Russian weightlifter (born 1978)

Mikhail Viktorovich Koklyaev is a Russian weightlifter, powerlifter, strongman and boxer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrus Murumets</span> Estonian strongman

Andrus Murumets is an Estonian strongman and entrant to the World's Strongest Man contest. He reached 5th in the World Rankings according to the IFSA rankings in 2008. Andrus competed in the IFSA World Championships in 2005 finishing 4th, 5th in 2006 and 5th in 2007. Andrus has competed in the Arnold Strongman Classic 3 times, his best finish was 3rd in 2007. In 2009 he became the overall champion of the Strongman Champions League. He has been described by Svend Karlsen as having the strongest grip in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Hollands</span> Athlete

Terry Hollands is a British bodybuilder and the winner of the 2bros Pro Luke Sandoe Classic Beginners Class 2019 bodybuilding championships. Hollands is also a retired strongman competitor and a past winner of Britain's Strongest Man, the UK's Strongest Man, and England's Strongest Man competitions. He's also a Europe's Strongest Man silver (2010) & bronze (2017) medalist, a two time World's Strongest Man bronze medalist, a two time Arnold Strongman Classic 8th-place winner, a World's Ultimate Strongman 9th-place winner (2018), and the 5th most prolific strongman contestant in history having competed in more than 90 international competitions, winning 4 of them throughout 17 years. With 12 international event wins, Hollands is noted for his vehicle pulling skills, making him the 7th best vehicle puller in strongman history. He was nicknamed Terry 'The Tank' Hollands or 'Big Tel'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold Strongman Classic</span> International strongman competition

The Arnold Strongman Classic is an annual competition featuring strength athletes from all over the world, determining who is the Strongest Man in the World. Created by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Lorimer and Terry Todd, it is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauty and the Beast (strongman competition)</span>

The Beauty and The Beast Strongman Challenge, also known as the Beauty and The Beast World Strongman Challenge was a short-lived annual strongman competition that was notable for the calibre of the entrants it attracted, as well as for the reputation it attained in a short amount of time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedikt Magnússon</span> Icelandic strongman and powerlifter (born 1983)

Benedikt "Benni" Magnússon is an Icelandic strongman and powerlifter. He has held the raw deadlift world record since 2011 with 460.4 kg (1,015 lb). He also set the world record for the heaviest strongman deadlift in 2014 with 461 kg (1,016 lb), which stood until English strongman Eddie Hall lifted 462 kg (1,019 lb) the next year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Shaw (strongman)</span> American professional strongman (born 1982)

Brian Shaw is an American retired professional strongman who is widely regarded as one of the greatest strength athletes of all-time. He won the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016 World's Strongest Man, making him one of only five men to win the World’s Strongest Man four times or more. In 2011, Shaw became the first man to win the Arnold Strongman Classic and the World's Strongest Man competitions in the same calendar year, a feat he replicated in 2015. With 27 international competition wins, he is the fourth most decorated strongman in history behind Lithuania's Žydrūnas Savickas, Poland's Mariusz Pudzianowski and Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.

Stan "The White Rhino" Efferding is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and a powerlifter competing in the Southern Powerlifting Federation (SPF). He held the all-time raw world powerlifting records in the 275-pound-class in the Total without knee wraps and in the Squat without knee wraps (854 lbs). Due to his enormous physical strength, regularly competing in professional powerlifting contests along his career in professional competitive bodybuilding, Efferding is often referred to as the "world's strongest bodybuilder".

Edward Stephen Hall is an English media personality and retired strongman. He is best known for his world-record setting 500 kg (1,100 lb) deadlift in 2016 which is widely regarded as one of the most important lifts in the history of strongmen. He is also known for winning the 2017 World's Strongest Man competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Skaarup</span>

Luke Skaarup is a professional engineer and also a retired professional strongman from Canada who competed actively in the sport of strongman from 2007 to 2015. During his competitive career, he held many records, most notably the Canadian record for heaviest atlas stone ever lifted in competition, the Ontario record for heaviest deadlift, and the Ontario Record heaviest dumbbell press. He competed in over sixty competitions with his top placings being the 2 x Ontario's Strongest Man Champion, 4th at North America's Strongest Man (2014), and 8th at the World Amateur Strongman Championships (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nataliya Kuznetsova</span> Russian bodybuilder

Nataliya Kuznetsova, also spelt Natalia, is a Russian professional female bodybuilder and powerlifter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odd Haugen</span> Norwegian strongman

Odd Erling Haugen is a Norwegian-born American strongman and a grip strength specialist. He has also competed in bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting.

References

  1. "Karlsen Svend Ødegård". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. "Karlsen Svend Ødegård". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. "Karlsen Svend Ødegård". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  4. World's Strongest Arms. DVD. Colin Bryce production
  5. "Interview with Svend Karlsen". Strongestman.billhenderson.org. Retrieved 7 November 2014.