When it comes to sports, athletes from all over the world compete to be the best. But who are the athletes that stand above the rest in terms of strength and endurance? What sport is the champion when it comes to the world’s strongest athletes?

Seeking out the strongest athletes across many different sports isn’t an easy task. There are dozens of events within the Olympics and Paralympics, and within each event there are multiple athletes with intense levels of physical training and strength. But certain sports have athletes that have been more consistently recognized for their extreme physical prowess.

Power sports, such as weightlifting, come to mind when words such as “strongest” and “power” are used. But many other sports have athletes that have pushed their physical limits and done incredible feats of strength. Let’s take a look at some of the sports that boast the strongest athletes.

Powerlifting

Powerlifting is the traditional leader when it comes to “strongest athletes.” This strength sport consists of three lifts — the squat, bench press, and deadlift — and each lift requires tremendous amounts of power and lower body strength. Those who can lift the heaviest amount of weight successfully are considered the strongest in this sport.

Powerlifters like the Czech Republic’s Svend Karlsen and America’s Ed Coan have truly pushed the boundaries of the sport. Karlsen is the all-time holder of the heaviest deadlift, with a massive 786 lbs. Coan is renowned for his world records in both the bench press and total combined lifts.

Powerlifters have seen Olympic sport recognition, having even become a feature event in the 2020 Paralympics, where British athlete Natalie Jones won two gold medals in the women’s -54kg division.

Olympic Weightlifting

Weightlifting is a unique discipline, and athletes competing in Olympic weightlifting must dedicate months and years of training to complete and perfect certain moves such as the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the press. To effectively execute these lifts, weightlifters must have amazing levels of power, agility, balance, and mobility.

Weightlifting events have been around for centuries and remain a popular form of strength building. Among the current Olympic athletes competing in weightlifting, Iran’s Hossein Rezazadeh, China’s Liao Hui, and Thailand’s Udomporn Polsak are renowned for their tremendous amount of strength.

Rezazadeh has earned multiple world records in the men’s Super Heavyweight division. Liao holds world records in both the snatch and the clean and jerk for the men’s 69kg and 77kg divisions. Polsak, known as “Pocket Hercules”, is a champion in both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, with wins across the snatch and clean and jerk.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics may not be the first sport you think of when it comes to athletes with tremendous strength, but this is far from the truth. Gymnasts have incredible upper and lower body strength, and much of this comes from rigorous training and complex techniques used in performing their routines.

Handbalancing, which consists of holding difficult poses for long periods of time and using the body’s own strength to support itself, is one of the most difficult forms of gymnastics. American gymnast Don Igwe has earned the title of world champion in handbalancing multiple times. Russian gymnast Kseniia Kofanova is another example of this craft’s sought-after skill.

Gymnasts also participate in strength-oriented events during competitions. The men’s rings and pommel horse events demand supreme levels of upper body strength, while the vault routine requires confidence, precision, and agility.

Strongman

The strongman sport has become popular in recent years, with competitions such as the World’s Strongest Man and Europe’s Strongest Man providing an opportunity for men and women to demonstrate their strength and endurance. Events such as the log press and the tire flip require both mental and physical strength.

Competitors such as American athlete Brian Shaw and English athlete Eddie Hall are some of the world’s most recognizable strongmen. Shaw won the competition in 2015, 2016, and 2019, and he has placed first in tournaments across Europe, North America, and Australia. Hall achieved an impressive deadlift record of 1,102 lbs. in 2016.

Boxing

Boxing is another forgotten sport in terms of strength and power, but boxers dedicate time and energy to ensure that they are strong enough to last in the ring against high-level opponents. Training involves multiple techniques to improve strength, power, and conditioning.

Wladimir Klitschko is one of the most well-known boxers, having won multiple championships across the globe. Klitschko boasts a peak punch power of 1,554 psi, meaning the power behind his punches is extremely strong. Another athlete to mention is Gennady Golovkin, a Kazakhstan-born athlete who earned multiple middleweight wins.

Rugby

Rugby is a physically demanding sport. Due to the sport’s physicality, it requires its athletes to have lower body strength, power, and agility. Many of the sport’s powerhouses are well-known for their ability to push past opponents and break tackles.

Jonah Lomu, a New Zealander often considered the greatest rugby union player of all time, is one of the best examples. Lomu was a strong winger who could run and pass with outrageous techniques. Other notable rugby hard men include Australia’s Simon Poidevin and England’s Phil Vickery.

American Football

American Football is similar to rugby in terms of the need to have lower body strength and power. Athletes participate in powerful tackles and hurdling tactics to gain ground across the field.

One athlete to mention is Reggie White, the NFL Hall of Fame inductee. White earned a strong reputation for foiling offensive lines and setting crowd-thrilling records along the way. Another player to mention is Lawrence Taylor, another Hall of Fame inductee with 215 sacks and 1,088 tackles across his career.

Power Throw

Power throw is a relatively new sport that has gained massive traction in recent years. It is a hybrid sport that combines elements of shot put, discus, and javelin throwing. Competitors stand in a circle and, using their own power, throw the equipment as far as they can.

Polish athlete Michał Miśkiewicz is the record holder in the event, having thrown 1.2 kilometres (1,344m) in 2013. Other notable throwers include Jaroslaw Borsuk, Minna Jantunen, and Phyllis de Prez.

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the strongest athletes in the world?

The strongest athletes in the world depend on the sport in question. Some of the most notable are weightlifter Svend Karlsen, gymnast Don Igwe, strongman Brian Shaw, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, rugby player Jonah Lomu, American football player Reggie White, and power thrower Michał Miśkiewicz.

What is the strongest sport?

There is no clear-cut answer as to which sport is the strongest, as different sports require different levels of strength. Power sports such as powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and strongman have athletes that are consistently recognized for their extreme physical prowess. Gymnastics, American football, and power throw are also popular sports with athletes who boast great strength.

Which sport has the best athletes?

The best athletes in terms of strength, power, and agility can be found in most any sport. For example, the Olympic and Paralympic athletes across various sports are widely acknowledged for their commitment to physical training and overall athletic superiority. Different sports may also have highly regarded athletes, such as powerlifter Svend Karlsen or boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Where can I watch strong athletes compete?

Strong athletes can be seen competing in sports like powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and strongman, which all have various competitions across the world. Other sports such as boxing and rugby often feature athletes known for their strength, and many of these matches can be seen on live television.

What is power throw?

Power throw is a hybrid sport that combines elements of shot put, discus, and javelin throwing. Athletes stand in a circle and, using their own power, throw the equipment as far as they can. Michał Miśkiewicz, from Poland, is the record holder in the event, having thrown 1.2 kilometres (1,344m) in 2013.

How can I become strong like an athlete?

Becoming strong like an athlete requires dedication and hard work. Eating a healthy diet, strength training, and engaging in consistent cardiovascular activity are essential parts of the training process. It also important to focus on proper form, rest, and recovery in order to safely build strength and avoid injury.

Which sport has the strongest core?

Most sports require some degree of core strength, as it is important for coordination, balance, and endurance. Sports like gymnastics and weightlifting are known for their intense core strength training, while American football and rugby require more of an all-around strength that includes a strong core.

Conclusion

In the world of sports, strength and power reign supreme. Many athletes from various sports all over the world have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of strength. Power sports such as powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and strongman have athletes that are consistently recognized for their extreme physical prowess. Gymnastics and American football also have athletes with incredible strength, while power throw is a relatively new sport that has gained massive popularity.

Renowned athletes in power sports, gymnastics, American football, and power throw include Svend Karlsen, Liao Hui, Jonah Lomu, Reggie White, and Michał Miśkiewicz. All of these athletes are recognized for their superior level of strength and power, and many of them have broken world records across their respective disciplines.