Derek Poundstone
Pressing the Apollon's Axle overhead at the 2008 Arnold Strongman Cl*ic Derek pulled 911.5 lbs during the Hummer Tire Deadlift at the 2008 Arnold Strongman Cl*ic
Derek Poundstone (born September 28, 1981) is an American former professional strongman athlete from Woodbridge, Connecticut who placed runner-up at the 2008 World's Strongest Man. Derek Poundstone is also a police Sergeant for the Naugatuck, Connecticut Police Department and is the former owner and landlord of an apartment complex and gym.
Contents
- 1 Strength sports
- 2 Personal life
- 3 Personal records - strongman
- 4 Personal records - powerlifting
- 5 Achievements
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Strength sports
Poundstone began by competing in powerlifting and progressed to become the Connecticut State Champion. He started competing in strongman after finding an adverti*t for a contest on the back of a powerlifting flyer. After earning his Professional Strongman card from the ASC (American Strongman Corporation), Poundstone took two years off competing to enter the Police Academy and become a police officer. He returned to compete in strongman, and placed fifth in the 2006 St. Patrick's Strongman National Qualifier. Poundstone then went on to place 2nd to the current IFSA World Champion Žydrūnas Savickas in the 2006 World Strongman Challenge contest in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Next, Poundstone placed 5th in the 2006 America's Strongest Man contest. This earned him an invitation to the 2006 IFSA World Championships. On October 26, 2006, two weeks before the IFSA World Championships, Poundstone severely injured his lumbar spine during training while attempting a maximum effort deadlift of 366:kg (805:lb). Poundstone had a lumbar disc herniation (L4/5) and a m*ive spinal cord hemorrhage. Doctors told him that he would never lift again due to the severity of the injury.
Poundstone's return to the strongman compe*ion circuit was the 2007 St. Patrick's Strongman contest in Columbia, South Carolina. Poundstone won by 13.5 points and overcame his deadlifting injury fear by completing a 364:kg (800:lb) deadlift during the compe*ion. This victory qualified Poundstone to compete in the 2007 America's Strongest Man contest, which Poundstone won by a record 30 points. Poundstone also qualified to compete in the 2007 IFSA World Championships in Geumsan, South Korea. Additionally, Poundstone received an invitation from Dr. Terry Todd to compete at the 2008 Arnold Strongman Cl*ic, in Columbus, Ohio.
Poundstone also competed in two Team Strongman contests and a Highland Games/Strongman hybrid contest. First was the USA vs. World team contest put on by Al Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Poundstone and his team (Travis Ortmayer, Van Hatfield, Nick Best, Walt Gogola) pulled out an unprecedented victory against three of the top five European strongmen in the World, (Zydrunas Savickas, Vasyl Virastyuk, and Andrus Murumets). Team USA won the first three events and Team World won the next three events. Team USA won with a victory in the final event, the Atlas Stones. Poundstone's next contest was in Callander, Scotland at the World Highland Games contest. This contest was a Highland Games / Strongman hybrid. Poundstone won the event and set two world records. With Douglas Edmunds present, Poundstone broke Igor Pedan's 9 rep 125:kg (275:lb) Log Clean and Press World Record by powering through 13 reps, with 130:kg (286:lb). Poundstone also broke the current World Champion's, Zydrunas Savickas, 140:kg (308:lb) Block Press World Record by pressing out a 145:kg (319:lb) block. Poundstone's training partner Tom McClure also competed in Callander and placed 2nd. Poundstone's next contest was a team contest, the World's Strongest Nation held in Ukraine. This time Team USA consisted of Poundstone along with Travis Ortmayer, Tom McClure, and Brian Shaw. Team USA placed 2nd overall behind Team Ukraine led by Vasyl Virastyuk.
Poundstone competed in the 2007 IFSA World Championship held in Geumsan, South Korea. Poundstone was in 2nd position throughout the entire compe*ion until the last event. During the final event, Poundstone ripped open his hands during the Farmer's Walk event, which caused him to drop the implements. Poundstone placed 4th overall in his first appearance at the World Championship, 2 points behind Mikhail Koklyaev and 1 point behind the 2006 World Champ Zydrunas Savickas. Vasyl Virastyuk won the compe*ion, becoming the first athlete to win both the World's Strongest Man *le and the IFSA World Championships. Poundstone's performance was the best ever recorded by an American at the IFSA World Championships.
Poundstone decided to compete on the WSM/SS circuit after sufficient political differences with IFSA. Poundstone was called up by Odd Haugen and asked to enter as a replacement athlete into the Mohegan Sun Super Series due to Kevin Nee pulling out with a torn biceps. Poundstone accepted and competed for the first time against Mariusz Pudzianowski. Poundstone defeated the four-time WSM champion and secured a qualification spot for the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest.
Poundstone competed in the 2008 Arnold Strongman Cl*ic contest, his first appearance at the Arnold. Poundstone would take second place behind Zydrunas Savickas.
On June 29, 2008 during the 2 day Fortissimus contest, Poundstone became the first American to defeat Zydrunas Savickas. Poundstone and Savickas were approximately 40 points ahead of all the other compe*ors. Poundstone was the only athlete who managed to lift the 517:lb Louis Cyr Stone and secured his victory and *le at the "Mightiest Man on the Planet."
Poundstone became the 2008 Strongman Super Series champion after ac*ulating the most points throughout the Grand Prix. 1st at the Mohegan Sun, 2nd at Madison Square Garden, and 4th at Sweden earned Poundstone enough to take the overall *le.
Poundstone competed in the 2008 World's Strongest Man compe*ion where he and Mariusz Pudzianowski, Poland's then four-time champion would go head-to-head in the final event, the atlas stones, with Poundstone leading in points. In the atlas stones, Poundstone gained the lead, but as he lifted the final stone, the stone slipped, falling to the ground and giving Pudzianowski his record 5th World's Strongest Man *le.
Poundstone's next challenge was the 2009 Arnold Strongman Cl*ic. With Zydrunas Savickas opting to take a year off, the crown was vacant. Poundstone set a new world record with 15 reps in the circus dumb bell event. Poundstone took first place overall, and became only the third man behind Mark Henry and Zydrunas Savickas to win the Arnold Strongman Cl*ic *le since its inception in 2002.
In May 2009, Poundstone was scheduled to defend his *le at the Mohegan Sun Strongman Championship hosted by Giants Live. Poundstone won five of six events, taking second on one event, and took the overall *le. Poundstone also set a new world record on the max apollon's axle clean and press with 415:lbs.
Poundstone competed in the 2009 World's Strongest Man compe*ion, which took place in Malta, being in fourth place after Brian Shaw, Mariusz Pudzianowski and Zydrunas Savickas.
Poundstone successfully defended his *le at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Cl*ic. Leading up to the last event, the timber carry, Poundstone had a 3-point lead over 6-time champion Zydrunas Savickas. Poundstone won the last event and the overall *le for a second consecutive time, only the second man to accomplish this feat at the Arnold Strongman Cl*ic. Zydrunas Savickas came in second and Travis Ortmayer came in third place. During the awards ceremony, Poundstone proposed to his girlfriend on stage and she happily accepted.
Poundstone defended his *le at the 2010 Mohegan Sun Strongman Championships hosted by Giants Live, winning 3 out of 6 events including the shield carry. This was Poundstone's third consecutive victory at this contest. Brian Shaw came in second and Stojan Todorchev came in third place.
Shortly before the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest, Poundstone severely tore his quad muscle and was unsure if he would be able to compete, but he decided to heal and focus on upper body training. Poundstone was able to qualify for the finals and finished in 9th place overall.
Less than 24 hours after the 2010 WSM contest, Poundstone won his 3rd America's Strongest Man *le.
Poundstone is the host of a radio show *led "Poundstone Power Radio" which airs every Wednesday from 6-8pm Eastern time, on SIRIUS channel 94, XM channel 208, and on Sirius XM Radio internet radio channel 860. The first episode aired on November 3, 2010.
Personal life
Poundstone married fiancée Kristin Nelson on Saturday June 25, 2011 in Branford, Connecticut’s Trinity Episcopal Church. Poundstone's training partner Louis-Philippe Jean was a groomsman at the wedding, and fellow strongman compe*ors Travis Ortmayer and Nick Best attended the wedding. In 2017 Derek and Kristin separated then later divorced. Both have since remarried.
Personal records - strongman
Atlas Stone
- 252:kg {555:lb to 42"} Unofficial World Record Connecticut
- 239:kg {525:lb to 48"} {Arnold's Strongest Man, Columbus, Ohio}
Louis Cyr Stone
- 241:kg {530:lb to 36"} World Record {Fortissimus - World Strength Challenge, Notre-Dame-Du-Rosaire, Quebec, Canada} (Louis Cyr lift it up to the top of his shoulder, Derek lift it by fliping it on a small block)
Log Press
- 130:kg * 13 {286:lb} - 75 sec time limit, Clean and Press each rep} World Record Callander Games, Scotland}
Overhead Block Lift
- 150:kg {330:lb} World Record {World's Strongest Man 2011, Wingate, North Carolina}
Circus Dumbbell
- {227:lb * 11 - 90 sec time limit, Clean and Press each rep} World Record {Arnold's Strongest Man, Columbus, Ohio}
Car Squat
- 360:kg * 12 reps {792:lb} {World's Strongest Nation 2007, Ukraine}
Tire Deadlift
- 363:kg {800:lb} {USA National Championship Qualifier, South Carolina, U.S.}
Hummer Tire Deadlift
- 481:kg {1062:lb} {Arnold Strongman Cl*ic 2012, Columbus, Ohio}
Timber Frame Carry
- {1000:lb - 11.59 sec on 36' incline ramp} American Record {Arnold's Strongest Man, Columbus, Ohio}
Super Yoke
- 500:kg {1100:lb - 9.59 sec for 32'} {Arnold's Strongest Man, Columbus, Ohio}
Personal records - powerlifting
done in official powerlifting meets in ADAU ("Anti Drug Athletes United") as a Junior/ Teen-ager
under powerlifting rules (no wrist straps, clean lifts)
Squat
Bench Press
- 196:kg {430:lb} - November, 2003
Deadlift
- 289:kg {635:lb} (June, 2003)
- 311:kg {685:lb} (November, 2003)
Total
- 750:kg {1650:lb} (November, 2003)
done in official strongman compe*ions
under strongman rules (wrist straps, leaning back and hitching allowed)
Deadlift
- 395:kg {870:lb} no wrist wraps, with power suit from standard height (Madison Square Garden Super Series - June 21, 2008 - New York)
- 415:kg {914:lb} with wrist straps from standard height (World Strongest Man 2011')
- 481:kg {1062:lb} Hummer Tire Deadlift - partial deadlift with wrist straps with high bending bar (Arnold Strongman Cl*ic 2012')
done in the gym (unofficial)
Bench Press
- 224:kg {500:lb} for 3 repe*ions raw (February, 2009)
- 265:kg {585:lb} raw (May, 2012) according to Poundstone himself
Deadlift
- 363:kg {800:lb} for 9 repe*ions with wrist straps and power suit, leaning back and hitching allowed (August, 2009)
- 389:kg {855:lb} from standard height (recent gym lift personal record - October, 2007)
- 413:kg {910:lb} with wrist straps from standard height (most recent gym lift personal record - 2011')
Achievements
Professional Compe*ive Record -
Performance Metric - .923
- Arnold Strongman Cl*ic - Columbus, Ohio - 1st Place (March 6–8, 2010
- America's Strongest Man (USA National Championship) Morgantown, W. Va. - Winner - (7/24-7/26/09)
- Fortissimus - Louis Cyr Strength Challenge Montmagny, Quebec, Canada - 2nd place (6/24-6/25/09)
- Giants Live (World's Strongest Man Qualifier) - Uncasville, Connecticut, USA - 1st Place(5/17/2009)
- Arnold Strongman Cl*ic - Columbus, Ohio - 1st Place (March 6–8, 2009)
- World's Strongest Man - Charleston, West Virginia, USA - 2nd Place (September 2008)
- Sweden Super Series (World's Strongest Man Qualifier) - Sweden - 4th place (8/16/2008)
- Fortissimus - Louis Cyr World Strength Challenge - Notre-Dame-Du-Rosaire, Quebec, Canada - winner (6/28-29/2008)
- Madison Square Garden Super Series (World's Strongest Man Qualifier) - New York, New York, USA - 2nd place (6/21/2008)
- Arnold's Strongest Man - Columbus, Ohio, USA - 2nd
- Mohegan Sun Super Series (World's Strongest Man Qualifier) - Uncasville, Connecticut, USA - winner (1/19/2008)
- World vs. Lithuania Team Compe*ion - Vilnius, Lithuania - 2nd (10/27/2007)
- IFSA 2-Man Team World Championship - Vilnius, Lithuania - 3rd (10/7/2007)
- IFSA World Championship - Geumsan, South Korea - 4th (2007)
- World's Strongest Nation Team Compe*ion - Ukraine - 2nd (2007)
- World Highland Games - Callander, Scotland - winner (7/29/2007)
- USA vs. World Team Compe*ion - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - winner (2007)
- America's Strongest Man (USA National Championship) - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - winner (2007)
- St. Patrick's Strongman (USA National Championship Qualifier) - Columbia, South Carolina - winner (2007)
- USA vs. Lithuania Team Compe*ion - Lithuania - 2nd (2006)
- World's Strongest Nation Team Compe*ion - Kiev, Ukraine - 3rd (2006)
- America's Strongest Man (USA National Championship) - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - 5th (2006)
- World Strongman Challenge (USA Grand Prix) - Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA - 2nd (5/19/2006)
- St. Patrick's Strongman (USA National Championship Qualifier) - Columbia, South Carolina, USA - 5th (3/17/2006)
- Florida Pro - Am - Florida, USA - 3rd (2005)
- Northeast Regional Strongman Showdown - Wilmington, M*achusetts, USA - winner (2004) earned ASC Professional Strongman card
- Connecticut State Powerlifting Champion
References
External links
- Derek Poundstone's official site
- Official ASC Professional Athlete Profile of Derek Poundstone
- Official YouTube web site of Derek Poundstone
- Derek Poundstone - The Viper YouTube compilation, courtesy Garrick Daft
- Photos from Callander Games, courtesy Jammach_UK
- Derek Poundstone profile at MHPSTRONG.com