Derek Poundstone

Derek Anthony Poundstone (born September 28, 1981) is an American police officer, former professional strongman and strength coach from Woodbridge, Connecticut. He was the runner-up at the 2008 World's Strongest Man, a two-time Arnold Strongman Classic champion (2009 and 2010), and a three-time winner of America's Strongest Man (2007, 2009, 2010). Several strength analysts and historians regard Poundstone as the best athlete to have never won World's Strongest Man title.

He is also a high-ranking officer for the Naugatuck, Connecticut Police Department and is the former owner and landlord of an apartment complex and gym.

Background Poundstone was born into a military family at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Elmore County, Idaho. He lived in Spain and Italy until he was 10, after which the family settled in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Poundstone began lifting weights at the local YMCA branch. Poundstone moved to Waterbury, Connecticut in 1999.

Strength sports

Early career Poundstone began his sporting career by competing in powerlifting, encouraged by a local champion, and progressed to become the Connecticut State Champion. He started competing in strongman after finding an advertisement 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 in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

2006 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 massive spinal cord hemorrhage. Doctors told him that he would never lift again due to the severity of the injury.

2007 Poundstone's return to the strongman competition 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 competition. 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 Classic, 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. 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, (Žydrūnas 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. 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 Žydrūnas Savickas, 140 kg (308 lb) Block Press World Record by pressing out a 145 kg (319 lb) block. 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 competition 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 Žydrūnas Savickas. Vasyl Virastyuk won the competition, becoming the first athlete to win both the World's Strongest Man Title 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.

2008 Poundstone competed in the 2008 Arnold Strongman Classic contest, his first appearance at the Arnold. Poundstone would take second place behind Žydrūnas Savickas.

On June 29, 2008, during the 2 day Fortissimus contest, Poundstone became the first American to defeat Žydrūnas Savickas. Poundstone and Savickas were approximately 40 points ahead of all the other competitors. Poundstone was the only athlete who managed to lift the 517 lb Louis Cyr Stone and secured his victory and title at the "Mightiest Man on the Planet."

Poundstone became the 2008 Strongman Super Series champion after accumulating 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 title.

Poundstone competed in the 2008 World's Strongest Man competition 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 title.

2009 Poundstone's next challenge was the 2009 Arnold Strongman Classic. With Žydrūnas 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 Žydrūnas Savickas to win the Arnold Strongman Classic title since its inception in 2002.

Poundstone competed in the 2009 World's Strongest Man competition, which took place in Malta, coming in fourth place after Brian Shaw, Mariusz Pudzianowski and Žydrūnas Savickas.

2010 Poundstone successfully defended his title at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic. Leading up to the last event, the timber carry, Poundstone had a 3-point lead over 6-time champion Žydrūnas Savickas. Poundstone won the last event and the overall title for a second consecutive time, only the second man to accomplish this feat at the Arnold Strongman Classic. Žydrūnas 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.

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 title and broke Nick Best's Jón Páll Sigmarsson Stone carry world record.

Present day Poundstone is currently coaching professional strongman Rob Kearney.

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 competitors Travis Ortmayer and Nick Best attended the wedding. Car Squat – x 12 reps (2007 World's Strongest Nation) Bench press (Raw) – , x 3 reps (during training) Axle press – (2009 Giants Live Mohegan Sun) (Former World Record) Log press for reps – x 13 reps (clean and press each rep in 75 sec time limit) (2007 Callander Highland Games) (World Record) Metal Block press medley – (4 blocks) in 51.93 secs (2011 World's Strongest Man - group 5) (World Record) Circus Dumbbell – x 11 reps (clean and press each rep in 90 sec time limit) (2010 Arnold Strongman Classic) (World Record) Circus Dumbbell – x 15 reps (clean and press each rep in 90 sec time limit) (2009 Arnold Strongman Classic) (World Record) Manhood Stone (Max Atlas Stone) – over 3 ft 6 in (42 in) bar (during training) (Former World Record) Manhood Stone (Max Atlas Stone) for reps – x 3 reps over 4 ft (48 in) bar (2010 Arnold Strongman Classic) Louis Cyr Stone loading – to 30 in platform (2008 Fortissimus) (World Record) → The stone Louis Cyr lifted in 1883 was Jón Páll Sigmarsson Stone carry – for (2010 America's Strongest Man) (Former World Record) Farmer's walk (no straps) – per each hand for 30m course in 16.09 seconds (2013 Giants Live FitX Melbourne) (World Record) Timber carry – on a 35 ft inclined ramp in 9.28 secs (2010 Arnold Strongman Classic) Bale tote – for 35 ft in 8.84 secs (2009 Arnold Strongman Classic) Super Yoke – for in 12.78 secs (2010 Strongman Super Series Mohegan Sun Grand Prix) (World Record)

Powerlifting Done at ADAU (Anti Drug Athletes United) Powerlifting Nationals as a Junior (21y, 125 class) Squat (Raw w/sleeves) – (June, 2003) Bench press (Raw) – (June, 2003) Deadlift (Raw) – (June, 2003) Total (Raw w/sleeves) – (June, 2003) Done at ADAU (Anti Drug Athletes United) Powerlifting Nationals as a Junior (21y, 125 class) Bench press (Raw) – (November, 2003) Deadlift (Raw) – (November, 2003) Done at RPS New England Revolution Squat (Raw w/wraps) – (Mar, 2015)

Achievements Professional Competitive Record – [1st (6), 2nd (6), 3rd (3) – Out of Total(19)] Performance Metric – .923 [American – .931 International – .915] Professional 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th INJ DNQ Total American 4 3 1 2 10 International 2 3 2 2 9 Combined 6 6 3 2 2 19 Arnold Strongman Classic – Columbus, Ohio – 1st Place (March 6–8, 2010 America's Strongest Man (USA National Championship) Morgantown, W. Virginia – 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, US – 1st Place(5/17/2009) Arnold Strongman Classic – Columbus, Ohio – 1st Place (March 6–8, 2009) World's Strongest Man – Charleston, West Virginia, US – 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, US – 2nd place (6/21/2008) Arnold's Strongest Man – Columbus, Ohio, US – 2nd Mohegan Sun Super Series (World's Strongest Man Qualifier) – Uncasville, Connecticut, US – winner (1/19/2008) World vs. Lithuania Team Competition – 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 Competition – Ukraine – 2nd (2007) World Highland Games – Callander, Scotland – winner (7/29/2007) USA vs. World Team Competition – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US – winner (2007) America's Strongest Man (USA National Championship) – Charlotte, North Carolina, US – winner (2007) St. Patrick's Strongman (USA National Championship Qualifier) – Columbia, South Carolina – winner (2007) USA vs. Lithuania Team Competition – Lithuania – 2nd (2006) World's Strongest Nation Team Competition – Kyiv, Ukraine – 3rd (2006) America's Strongest Man (USA National Championship) – Charlotte, North Carolina, US – 5th (2006) World Strongman Challenge (USA Grand Prix) – Tulsa, Oklahoma, US – 2nd (5/19/2006) St. Patrick's Strongman (USA National Championship Qualifier) – Columbia, South Carolina, US – 5th (3/17/2006) Florida Pro–Am – Florida, US – 3rd (2005) Northeast Regional Strongman Showdown – Wilmington, Massachusetts, US – winner (2004) earned ASC Professional Strongman card Connecticut State Powerlifting Champion