Athlete Profiles – Group 2

2012 WSM Finals, LA, USA – Athlete Profiles – Group 2

Mike Jenkins

Nationality: American

WSM debut (2011)

Previous WSM appearances: One (2011)

WSM finalist: Once (2011)

Highest placing: Final (2011) *withdrew due to injury

 

 

A bona fide phenomenon, Jenkins has become a dominant force in a remarkably short space of time. Qualifying for WSM via his victory in Giants Live Melbourne, Jenkins also won the 2012 Arnold Classic, following his runner-up spot there in 2011. His WSM debut last year was a stunning one, winning the opening two events in the final, before having to retire through injury with two disciplines remaining. Yet another WSM competitor who has tremendous overhead pressing power, Jenkins is looked at as one of the genuine contenders for the title at Commerce Casino in 2012.

 

Nick Best

Nationality: American

WSM debut: 2010

Previous WSM appearances: Two (2010, 2011)

WSM finalist: Once (2010)

Highest placing: Sixth (2010)

 

 

A finalist in 2010 on his WSM debut, Nick will be hoping to recapture that form and make it to his second WSM final in three years. He is a decorated powerlifting champion, holding both national and world titles in the past. A man with an excellent grip, Best utilises this asset to great effect in events such as the Farmer’s Walk and Frame Carry. Best earned a very early place at WSM 2012 by finishing in second spot at the Giants Live Melbourne qualifier in March.

 

Eddie Hall

Nationality: English

WSM debut: 2012

Previous WSM appearances: None

WSM finalist: n/a

Highest placing: n/a

 

Another British debutant, Hall has risen quickly through the British strength ranks. A double winner of England’s Strongest Man (in 2010 and 2011), the Staffordshire man also took the UKSM title in 2011. This helped to earn him a spot in his first Giants Live contest in Melbourne in March, where he finished fourth.  Hall went on to retain his UKSM title in August of this year. Hall is quickly becoming one of strongman’s most recognisable faces, with a distinctive look and demeanour which is backed up by his actions in competition. Fiercely ambitious, he will believe that he can take a spot in the final ten at his first attempt.

 

Sebastian Kurek

Nationality : Polish

WSM debut : 2012

Previous WSM appearances: none

WSM finalist: n/a

Highest placing: n/a

 

One of three Polish competitors at WSM 2012, Kurek took third place at Giants Live Poland behind his compatriots Radzikowski and Baron. In August, Kurek was in action again in his home country, where he took fifth place in the SCL Poland. Something of an unknown quantity in comparison to his countrymen, Kurek is nonetheless a fiercely determined competitor, with very high ambitions in spite of this being his first outing at WSM.

 

Thor Bjornsson

Nationality: Icelandic

WSM debut: 2011

Previous WSM appearances: One

WSM finalist: Once (2011)

Highest placing: Sixth [tied] (2011)

 

 

Another of the current WSM ‘giants’, Bjornsson is the sole Icelandic representative this year, with compatriot Stefan Solvi Petursson an absentee due to injury,  for the first time since 2008. Thor retained his national title in commanding fashion back in June, winning each of the seven events in the contest. Also in June, the Icelander cracked the 400kg deadlift in training for the first time. Later that month, Bjornsson took a creditable fifth place in Europe’s Strongest Man, winning the Shield Carry in imperious fashion. Following his sixth place at WSM in 2011, Thor will hope that another year of experience will see him improve on his WSM debut performance and break into the top five.

 

Akos Nagy

Nationality: Hungarian

WSM debut: 2012

Previous WSM appearances: None

WSM finalist: n/a

Highest placing: n/a

 

 

 

Runner up in Hungary’s Strongest Man in 2011, Nagy was a deserving winner in the Hungarian leg of Giants Live this year and will be making his debut at WSM as a consequence of that finish. A junior world gold medallist in weightlifting in 1997 and holder of the European under-16 snatch record, the Hungarian uses his explosive power to great effect. If Nagy was to make the final, he would be only the second ever Hungarian to manage this feat, following Laszlo Fekete (1988-90 and 1999). He is also the first Hungarian participant at WSM since Tibor Meszaros ten years ago in Kuala Lumpur.