Rugged Icelandic strongman Jon Pall Sigmarrson was one of the strongest, best-conditioned athletes to ever stride the earth. When his competitors faltered and withered in the face of adversity and challenge, Sigmarrson conquered. He did so in a charismatic, crowd-pleasing style that endeared him to all. In spite of his imposing, foreboding presence and immense strength, Sigmarrson was a smiling, laughing, genial, outgoing, loving man. He could project the ferocity of his Viking ancestors without diminishing his friendly nature.
He set all sorts of records and dominated the strength world in the 1980s through 1992. He became famous for yelling, “I am a Viking” even in the midst of competition, stating that he invoked and projected the strength of all the Viking warriors that preceded him.
Sigmarrson’s family, including his sister, had a long history of a particular heart defect. Sigmarrson had the same defect, present since birth, and had been advised to lead a sedentary life. At age 32, whilst training for his strongman feats, Sigmarrson’s aorta detached under the strain and he died. He died in pursuit of what he loved, secure in the knowledge that he never backed down from demanding his best, even when he knew the inherent danger. His legacy endures in the memory of his great feats and the attitude with which he accomplished greatness.
At a contest in Australia, contestants picked up a large, rough rectangular stone and walked for maximum distance. Many contestants struggled to hoist the prodigious rock, let alone walk with it. The best contestant stumbled a few meters forward and dropped the stone. It was Sigmarrson’s turn. He heaved the stone to his chest and squeezed tight. He weaved and staggered several meters until he was even with the longest distance, then stopped, still holding the massive stone. He turned toward the crowd, bowed in an exaggerated, sweeping fashion, then began to dance, skip and frolic his way down the course. When he reached the end of the path, he again turned toward the crowd, adjusted and wedged the mighty stone against only one of his arms, and raised the free arm into a stupendous biceps flex. “I am a Viking!” he said. The cry thundered down the path he’d just traveled, and ascended into the heavens. If you listen, you can still hear the echo.
From September 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
He set all sorts of records and dominated the strength world in the 1980s through 1992. He became famous for yelling, “I am a Viking” even in the midst of competition, stating that he invoked and projected the strength of all the Viking warriors that preceded him.
Sigmarrson’s family, including his sister, had a long history of a particular heart defect. Sigmarrson had the same defect, present since birth, and had been advised to lead a sedentary life. At age 32, whilst training for his strongman feats, Sigmarrson’s aorta detached under the strain and he died. He died in pursuit of what he loved, secure in the knowledge that he never backed down from demanding his best, even when he knew the inherent danger. His legacy endures in the memory of his great feats and the attitude with which he accomplished greatness.
At a contest in Australia, contestants picked up a large, rough rectangular stone and walked for maximum distance. Many contestants struggled to hoist the prodigious rock, let alone walk with it. The best contestant stumbled a few meters forward and dropped the stone. It was Sigmarrson’s turn. He heaved the stone to his chest and squeezed tight. He weaved and staggered several meters until he was even with the longest distance, then stopped, still holding the massive stone. He turned toward the crowd, bowed in an exaggerated, sweeping fashion, then began to dance, skip and frolic his way down the course. When he reached the end of the path, he again turned toward the crowd, adjusted and wedged the mighty stone against only one of his arms, and raised the free arm into a stupendous biceps flex. “I am a Viking!” he said. The cry thundered down the path he’d just traveled, and ascended into the heavens. If you listen, you can still hear the echo.
From September 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com