Mariusz Pudzianowski is one of the most decorated athletes in strongman history. Mariusz was born in Poland in 1977, where he would first foster his love of sports. His father was an Olympic weightlifter who inspired Mariusz to pursue a career in sport. Pudzianowski began by learning karate from the age of 11. He would go on to begin strength training at the age of 13. Mariusz also spent 7 years in boxing training.
Soon he entered his first contest, a bench press event at the Polish Weightlifting Championship. Soon though this would be momentarily halted by a short incarceration. Pudzianowski was incarcerated for assault in 2000, which left him in prison for 19 months. Pudzianowski claims that he was trying to stop a "local mafia boss" and was wrongfully accused of assault and stealing the man's golden watch. This accounts for his absence after his impressive 4th place showing in World's Strongest Man 2000. But Mariusz would soon roar back to the sport by winning first place in 2002.
Mariusz would follow this victory with another in 2003. But the streak would be broken in 2004, where he initially only placed 2nd, losing to Vasyl Virastyuk, but would soon have this victory revoked after failing his drug test. But coming off of this, Mariusz would return to win 3 more times, becoming the first and only man thus far to win the contest 5 times.
A controversy does exist, despite the dominance in World's Strongest Man, over whether Mariusz was indeed the best strongman of his era. This stems from the fact that Mariusz and Lithuanian Zydrunas Savickas rarely squared off. Savickas dominated many contests and was the reliable winner of nearly every Arnold Strongman Championship during that time, which Mariusz would not compete in. Likewise, Mariusz would be dubbed the 'Dominator' the World's Strongest Man contests, which Savickas not attend, for the most part, except in his earlier years and in 2009 when he defeated Mariusz. Sadly, this was in Pudzian's last year in strongman.
Controversies aside, Mariusz is still considered one of the greatest strongmen ever for his powerful performances in the sport's most famous and decorated contest. Mariusz also broke a long line of Scandinavian/American/British victories which, prior to his arrival, were nearly the sole winners of the contest. Pudzian also helped to build the sport's fame.
Marius would go on to become an MMA fighter, quitting strongman. So far Mariusz has had mixed results, with a record of 6-3 with one no contest. He also has a Master's degree in International Relations. Despite his massive success, Mariusz treats his sports as 'a hobby' and says that he cannot live off of the money for them alone. He owns a school for bodyguards in addition to several real estates.
Soon he entered his first contest, a bench press event at the Polish Weightlifting Championship. Soon though this would be momentarily halted by a short incarceration. Pudzianowski was incarcerated for assault in 2000, which left him in prison for 19 months. Pudzianowski claims that he was trying to stop a "local mafia boss" and was wrongfully accused of assault and stealing the man's golden watch. This accounts for his absence after his impressive 4th place showing in World's Strongest Man 2000. But Mariusz would soon roar back to the sport by winning first place in 2002.
Mariusz would follow this victory with another in 2003. But the streak would be broken in 2004, where he initially only placed 2nd, losing to Vasyl Virastyuk, but would soon have this victory revoked after failing his drug test. But coming off of this, Mariusz would return to win 3 more times, becoming the first and only man thus far to win the contest 5 times.
A controversy does exist, despite the dominance in World's Strongest Man, over whether Mariusz was indeed the best strongman of his era. This stems from the fact that Mariusz and Lithuanian Zydrunas Savickas rarely squared off. Savickas dominated many contests and was the reliable winner of nearly every Arnold Strongman Championship during that time, which Mariusz would not compete in. Likewise, Mariusz would be dubbed the 'Dominator' the World's Strongest Man contests, which Savickas not attend, for the most part, except in his earlier years and in 2009 when he defeated Mariusz. Sadly, this was in Pudzian's last year in strongman.
Controversies aside, Mariusz is still considered one of the greatest strongmen ever for his powerful performances in the sport's most famous and decorated contest. Mariusz also broke a long line of Scandinavian/American/British victories which, prior to his arrival, were nearly the sole winners of the contest. Pudzian also helped to build the sport's fame.
Marius would go on to become an MMA fighter, quitting strongman. So far Mariusz has had mixed results, with a record of 6-3 with one no contest. He also has a Master's degree in International Relations. Despite his massive success, Mariusz treats his sports as 'a hobby' and says that he cannot live off of the money for them alone. He owns a school for bodyguards in addition to several real estates.