The High Cost Of A Dream: World's Strongest Man

**marx** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Hmmmm, okee doke Officer-

Quote:

Some kids grew up idolizing Reggie Jackson, Dr. J or Joe Montana.

Gerard Benderoth's idols were Magnus Ver Magnusson, Riku Kiri and Bill Kazmeier.

If those names are foreign to you, you somehow haven't watched ESPN's late night classic "World's Strongest Man," where insanely ripped behemoths keep you awake by pulling buses and throwing 50-pound weights over towering walls.

Unlike me and the thousands of kids who grew up marveling at this contest, Benderoth actually has a chance to compete for the title. On Sunday, he'll be at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to take his chance at qualifying for the 2009 version of the competition.

If the contest was for the "World's Most Diverse Man," Benderoth would win hands down. This man who stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 370 pounds, is a police officer who tailors his own uniforms, enjoys painting and dance movies.

He also loves lifting the seemingly impossible, which is a costly endeavor. If he does qualify and somehow goes on to win the competition, he says he'll probably break even on the investment.

Benderoth has free memberships to gyms in his area, and is sponsored by a vitamin shop and a dietary supplement company called Genetic Breakthrough Science, but what he really needs is a supermarket deal.

"It's at least $350 a week in food and my wife and five-year-old aren't eating much of that," Benderoth told us. "I go through a box of oatmeal every two days, I eat at least a dozen eggs every day, drink a gallon of milk, eat a steak and some chicken too."

And if that's not enough protein, he'll have even more by going through a big jug of whey -what most people will finish in a month - in just five days.

Benderoth, who can bench press 625 pounds and squat 800 pounds, says his costs don't include steroids, which he says he doesn't think about taking because of his day job. (The competition doesn't ban any performance enhancers.)

Benderoth's nickname? The White Rhino.

"I was competing in the Scottish Games and this guy comes up to me and says, 'You look like a mutant rhino," Benderoth recalled. "And I thought, 'Well, I do have big arms, a big belly and a big head,' so it's not that far off."

**XTREME** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Quote:

Benderoth, who can bench press 625 pounds and squat 800 pounds, says his costs don't include steroids, which he says he doesn't think about taking because of his day job. (The competition doesn't ban any performance enhancers.)

LMAO

Magnuss Ver Magnsson has always been my favorite WSM Competitor.

Gerard Benderoth is a monster bro, thanks for posting the article.

**Lizard King** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Great article but ummm, who is believing he isn't on anything because of his day job. That's like saying Coleman isn't in anything because of his day job.
He is one big dude! Poundstone put on a great performance last year and barely lost the title, it literally slipped out of his hands!

Is that this weekend in Connecticut??

Steve · #4 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizard King

Great article but ummm, who is believing he isn't on anything because of his day job. That's like saying Coleman isn't in anything because of his day job.

I totally agree with you.

**Lacy** · #5 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Never heard of him.Big guy though

**Lacy** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009 Derek Poundstone Levels the Field at the Mohegan Sun by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind

Coming into the debut of the Giants Live tour, Derek Poundstone told IronMind that he thought he could win every event at the Mohegan Sun - in the end, only Travis Ortmayer stopped that prediction from coming true.

Using a reverse grip to continental the unwieldy weight, Poundstone then pressed this 414 pounds for a new world record on the IronMind® Apollon’s Axle. Presenter Colin Bryce called it the highlight of the contest and said that he wished there had been a decibel meter to measure the crowd’s response as they roared for Poundstone as he made this lift. Randall J. Strossen photo.

Poundstone is developing a history of making bold predictions about his performances at the Mohegan Sun and then backing them up. Last year, he said that he was the man to beat Mariusz Pudzianowski, and that’s just what he did. This year, coming in heavier, stronger and in better condition, Poundstone was something of a runaway train - rolling through the events and looking like nothing in his path could slow him down.

In the end, though, on the last stone on the last event, it was Travis Ortmayer who did not one, but two things that nobody else had done: Ortmayer loaded all five Atlas stones and he beat Poundstone on an event, leaving him with a five-for-six day.

Here are the top eight and their final points:

1. Derek Poundstone 59 points
2. Travis Ortmayer 51.5
3. Brian Shaw 39
4. Louis-Philippe Jean 39
5. Johannes Arsjo 32
6. Mikhail Koklyaev 28
7. Mark Felix 25.5
8. Terry Hollands 22.5

Poundstone, Ortmayer and Shaw qualified for the 2009 World’s Strongest Man contest by virtue of their top three finishing positions. previous news

IronMind: Tools of the Trade for Serious Strength Athletes . . . home of Captains of Crush Grippers, MILO, SUPER SQUATS, Just Protein, the Rolling Thunder, Mastery of Hand Strength . . .

Check out our Resource Pages for more information on grip training; Olympic-style weightlifting and weight training; and strongman and World's Strongest Man.

**Lacy** · #7 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Here is a list of competitors:

Johannes Arsjo
Gerard Benderoth
Mark Felix
Boris Haraldsson
Terry Hollands
Jean Louise-Philippe
Mikhail Koklyaev
Jimmy Marku
Travis Ortmayer
Derek Poundstone
Brian Shaw
Sebastian Wenta

It just goes to show you just because your muscle bound doesnt mean you are gonna swoop away a title from serious expierienced competitors.I'm sorry I find it very arrogant for someone who hasnt gotten alot of expierience to think he is gonna whoop on the likes of Derek or Travis.

These guys make this stuff LOOK easy!

**Lacy** · #8 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

LOL and one more thing Derek is an officer too!

**Lizard King** · #9 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Yes, I know he is, I have a friends in CT that are cops, that's how i first heard about him. I wish I knew the event was in Mohegan Sun, I was actually going there last weekend too but couldn't get someone to cover for me.
Some new names on that list this year should be a good one.

**Lacy** · #10 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

it already happened Derek won LOl We are gonna have a good show for wsm again and if I'm not mistaken it is in NY

**Lizard King** · #11 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacy

it already happened Derek won LOl We are gonna have a good show for wsm again and if I'm not mistaken it is in NY

I know that silly, LOL I was supposed to go to Mohegan Sun this weekend, didn't even know it was there or I would have made it a point to be there.
Do you know when and where the finals are?