VILNIUS - Lithuania's Zydrunas Savickas was named the planet's second-strongest man on July 11 as he managed to outmuscle the competition in a series of grueling tests of strength.
Savickas took the title at the Grand Prix competition that took place at Moscow's Luzhniki Olympic Complex July 10-11. Grand Prix is one of several events that make up the Strongman Super Series, the muscleman tour sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of Strength Athletes.
Savickas got off to a quick start, leading the show on the first day. Unfortunately for the Lithuanian, however, on the second day Polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski wrestled the lead away from him, meaning Savickas had to settle for the silver.
Ukrainian musclehead Vasyl Virastiuk took third place, while Raimonds "Power-Boy" Bergmanis of Latvia made a respectable fourth-place showing.
The two-day contest featured seven eye-popping acts of strength, including log lifting, tire flipping, a relay of heavy objects, and even a truck pull.
While the majority of the competitors hailed from Eastern Europe, the event itself gained global exposure, with the likes of the American megabroadcaster Fox Sports Net, Eurosport, and even the Dubai Sports Channel beaming images of the brawny men around the world.
The athletes-Savickas and Bergmanis included-made a cannonball-style splash in the host city of Moscow as well. Luzhniki was packed with spectators both days, and even the mayor paid a visit to watch the event. Competitors reported never having enjoyed such a high level of enthusiasm.
Savickas, who was born in the northern town of Birzai in 1975, has plumped his beef behind the reputation of his hometown all his life.
As a child, Savickas, who now weighs over 300 pounds, was always stronger and taller than his friends. He put this competitive advantage to use in 1989, when he saw a domestic strongman competition on television and decided to begin training for such events as the dead-car lift and boulder tossing.
After years of hard work, Savickas burst onto the strongman scene with an unforgettable performance at the Arnold's Strongest Man Super Series Final in 2003, where he won three of the five events and set a new world record in the "Apollon's wheel," an event that requires participants to dead lift almost 400 pounds of weight.
Savickas' next show of strength will take place at the Canada Grand Prix, to be held in early August.
