PHILADELPHIA STRONGMAN COMPETITION 2008 re: photos of really big guys I wouldn’t want to piss off

June 29, 2008 by HughE Dillon 4 Comments

Strong·man (strôngmn) n.: an intense sport of which the modern derivation is a direct descendent of the Scottish and Icelandic/Scandinavian test of manhood. A typical strongman competition is a test of strength, endurance, ingenuity and heart. It consists of events adopted from traditional Scottish Highland Games, variations of powerlifting, Olympic lifting and just plain “crazy” events such as the rope and harness truck pull.

As part of the Sunoco Welcome America Celebration, a Strongman Competition was held at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum on Saturday and Sunday.

A nice sized crowd came out to watch in the summer heat to see the Strongmen

Food of the champions, Little Ceasar pizza, yum and lots and lots of water

Gerard Benderoth who won yesterday’s competition resting before the competition

” Farmer’s Walk – Competitors carry heavy objects weighing from 275-400 lbs in each hand for a set distance, and compete for the fastest time. A variation involves use of a heavy frame with parallel handles” In this instance this contraption weighed 800lbs. Gerard Benderoth

Gerard Benderoth

Gerard Benderoth, Philadelphia City Hall and the World Flags along Ben Franklin Parkway. The flags represent countries that are members of the United Nation.

Phil Pfister, who was the Met-Rx World’s Strongest Man in 2006.

When Pfister won the title, he pocketed a cool $41,000 grand prize and became the first American to win the crown since Bill Kazmaier won his third-straight strongman title in 1982.

The prize money supplemented what Pfister already receives from working as a firefighter in West Virginia, where he lives with his family.

2006 ‘WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN’ CHAMPION PHIL PFISTER

When I read that the Strongman competition “is a direct descendent of the Scottish”, it explained why this guy was wearing a kilt, especially on this 90F day. – It takes about a dozen guys, strength and rope to move the 800lb weight back into place.

If he was Britney Spears, this photo would be worth a pretty penny. I guess guys do wear something under their kilts.

It takes about 4 guys to move the anvil back. I have no idea how much it weighs, but I wouldn’t lift it.

I do not know who this guy was, anyone know? Update: Thanks to my commentor who tells me it’s Josh Thigpen

but after the three guys before him couldn’t go more than 5 feet with the 800lbs of hell, he completed the course

grabbed the anvil

dumped it

Josh Thigpen made a beeline

over the fence

high fives along the crowd

finishing with the Marine hi five

then he ripped off his shirt

and lifted a girl, probably his girlfriend. Yes the testostorone was flowing at Eakins Oval, which would have made Eakins happy.

I have to say that I love the 10 day July Fourth celebration – America’s Birthday – that Philadelphia puts on. I look forward to it every year as I enjoy the festivities, the people, the red, white and blue, the concerts and most importantly the FIREWORKS. I have to admit that no matter where I have lived in Philadelphia, I always have to had to have a view of either the Art Museum or Penns Landing so I could have a party and celebrate Fourth of July. For the past 7 years I have both views, granted PL is a mile away buy I can still enjoy those, the Art Museum, well that’s my front yard. I always wait in anticipation for the announcement of who is going to be the headline act at the July 4th – This Year it’s John Legend, who I really enjoy, but more importantly from a celebrity photographer stance he’s always been terrific and always gives a good shot. I just saw him last week at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards in NYC and took this shot; plus chatted with him about his performance. He’s really looking forward to performing here, but he’s not having a cheesesteak because they are too fattening. Wanted to know if anyone sells turkey cheesesteaks, thinks they have less calories.