Cheick Sanou

Cheick Ahmed al-Hassan Sanou, also known as Iron Biby, is a Burkinabe strongman. He is five-time World Log Lift Champion and holds the Guinness World record for most overhead presses (of a person) in one minute.

As the current world record holder in the log clean and press, axle clean and press (using a strict press), and numerous unofficial records for other forms of overhead presses, Sanou is regarded as one of the strongest overhead pressers of all time.

Early life Sanou was born in Burkina Faso. He was a large child who was frequently bullied at school for his size; he earned the nickname "Biby" at an early age. He had early interests in sprinting, gymnastics, and basketball.

At age 17 he attended the University of Moncton in Canada, where he earned a business administration degree. During that period, he began his journey in weightlifting, showcasing exceptional talent early on.

In 2013, at age 21, Sanou entered and won his first powerlifting competition. Following his achievements in strongman, he acquired the moniker "Iron Biby".

Strongman career Sanou entered his first strongman competition in 2016, the Ultimate Strongman Junior World Championships in Canada. There, he placed 3rd. He progressed quickly in the sport, entering his first two Giants Live shows the following year.

Although Sanou has not had any major wins in multi-event competitions, he has gained a reputation as one of the greatest pressers in the world. He has won the Giants Live World Log Lift Championship a record five times. He has set several world records in the log press and axle press—he has held the log press record three separate times, most recently improving it by lifting 231 kg (509 lbs) at the Giants Live World Log Lift Championship in 2024.

Sanou has often struggled to train conventionally in his home country of Burkina Faso. He claimed to eat as many as eight chickens a day to maintain his weight throughout training. He has claimed that he does not use anabolic steroids.

While in Burkina Faso, Sanou often trains past midnight as it is too hot to train during the day.

Personal records Log press – (2024 Giants Live World tour finals) (World Record) → Sanou has broken this world record a total of three times, and has also done during training Axle press (using strict press) – (2021 Giants Live Strongman Classic) (World Record) → ''small|Even though it was surpassed in 2024 by Mitchell Hooper with , he utilized a split jerk technique hence Sanou's lift remains the heaviest using a strict press. Barbell strict press – (Unofficial World Record) Barbell seated shoulder press – (Unofficial heaviest overhead press of all time) Log press (for reps) – x 5 reps (2019 World's Ultimate Strongman) (Joint World Record) 1st Place at the 2022 World Log Lift Championships - (tied with Luke Stoltman) 1st Place at the 2023 World Log Lift Championships - (former world record) 1st Place at the 2024 World Log Lift Championships - (world record) 3rd Place at the 2021 Giants Live Strongman Classic 3rd Place at the 2016 Ultimate Strongman Junior World Championships 4th Place at the 2017 Giants Live World Tour Finals 5th Place at the 2019 Giants Live World Tour Finals 1st Place in World Powerlifting Championship (junior class) (2014), both in bench press (217.5 kg) and deadlift (307.5 kg) at age 22