Jón Páll Sigmarsson
Encyclopedia
Jón Páll Sigmarsson (April 28, 1960 – January 16, 1993) was a strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
, a powerlifter
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
, and a bodybuilder
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
who won the World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
Competition four times (1984, 1986, 1988, 1990). In 1984 Jón won the Icelandic bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
title in the +90 kg. class. His achievements in powerlifting also include Icelandic records in the bench press
Bench press
The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
and the squat
Squat (exercise)
In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
, but his best performances were usually in the deadlift
Deadlift
The deadlift is a weight training exercise where a loaded barbell is lifted off the ground from a stabilized, bent over position. It is one of the three canonical powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press.-Overview:...
event, in which he set the European record many times and multiple world records in strongman competition deadlift variations, such as the rectangular handled wheel and one handed deadlift.
In 1986, Jón first wrestled English Author and Guinness World Record Holder Sir Brian Sterling-Vete in a demonstration match for the TV news and print media held at Finnur Karlsson’s gymnasium in Reykjavik, Iceland. Halfway through the match Jón and Sterling had plotted to surprise the audience with a supposed angry outburst leading to the two of them demonstrating their skills as martial artists. This very typical ‘showmanship’ became synonymous with both Jón and Sterling.
In 1987, a contest called Pure Strength '87
Pure Strength
Pure Strength was a strongman competition held from 1987 to 1990 which was created by Tjalling van den Bosch.-Event History:The first year of the event was known as "Pure Strength Challenge" and was a single man competition featuring only Bill Kazmaier, Geoff Capes and Jon Pall Sigmarsson. The...
was held on the grounds of Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle is a ruined castle in Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly.-History:...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In this event, Jón Páll, Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier is a former powerlifter, strongman and professional wrestler from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions...
and Geoff Capes
Geoff Capes
Geoffrey Lewis Capes is a former athlete, strongman and professional Highland Games competitor...
competed to define the strongest man of all time, where Jón Páll won 8 out of 10 events. A famous quote, "there is no reason to be alive if you can't do deadlift" was shouted by Jon Pall when he won the deadlift event at this contest.
During the deadlift event at the 1985 World's Strongest Man
1985 World's Strongest Man
The 1985 World's Strongest Man was the 9th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Geoff Capes from the United Kingdom. It was his second title after finishing third the previous year. 1984 champion Jon Pall Sigmarsson from Iceland finished second and Cees de Vreugd from the Netherlands...
competition, someone in the audience called him an eskimo, then he shouted back: "I am not an Eskimo
Eskimo
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
, I am a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
!"
Two other famous quotes are, "I am in seventh heaven" which was his translation of an Icelandic saying, and "Ekkert mál fyrir Jón Pál" which roughly translates as "No problem for Jon Paul".
Jón Páll was namechecked in Iceland's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1988
Eurovision Song Contest 1988
The Eurovision Song Contest 1988 was the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1988 in Dublin. The presenters were Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca...
, "Sókrates
Þú og þeir (Sókrates)
"Þú og þeir " was the Icelandic entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, performed in Icelandic by Beathoven....
" by Sverrir Stormsker.
Hjalti Arnason
Hjalti Arnason
Hjalti Árnason is a former Icelandic strongman competitor and world champion powerlifter. Hjalti was known by the nickname "The Great Ursus". He first began in strength sports by competing as a junior powerlifter representing Iceland in 1983...
, a lifelong friend of Jon Pall, created the Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic
Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic
Jón Páll Sigmarsson Classic is an annual strongman competition consisting of international athletes from various countries. The event was established in 2010 by contest organizer Hjalti Árnason, who was a childhood friend of the late Jón Páll Sigmarsson. The event takes place annually during the...
international strongman contest in 2010 in honor of Jon Pall. The event is held annually during the Icelandic fitness & health expo in Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, the inaugural winner was America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's Brian Shaw
Brian Shaw (strongman)
Brian Shaw is a professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 World's Strongest Man competition.-Early life:...
in 2010.
Death
Jón Páll Sigmarsson died on the 16th January 1993 of a heart attack. He was deadlifting in his gym in IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
when he suffered the heart attack, caused, it is thought, by a torn aorta
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
which was related to a weakened heart, a problem that was known to exist in his family.
Strength athletics
- World's Strongest ManWorld's Strongest ManThe World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
- 1983 - 2nd
- 1984 - 1st
- 1985 - 2nd
- 1986 - 1st
- 1988 - 1st
- 1989 - 3rd
- 1990 - 1st
- World Muscle Power Championship
- 1985 - 1st
- 1986 - 1st
- 1987 - 2nd
- 1988 - 3rd
- 1989 - 1st
- 1990 - 1st
- 1991 - 1st
- 1992 - 3rd
- Europe's Strongest ManEurope's Strongest ManEurope's Strongest Man is an annual strength athletics competition which began in 1980. The event is held in various locations throughout Europe, and features exclusively European strongman competitors. Mariusz Pudzianowski currently holds the record for most wins with 6 titles...
- 1983 - 3rd
- 1985 - 1st
- 1986 - 1st
- 1987 - 3rd
- 1988 - 2nd
- 1989 - 3rd
- 1990 - 4th
- 1992 - 4th
- Other contests
- 1982 Scandinavian Strongest Man - 1st
- 1985 Le Defi Mark Ten (Canada) - 3rd
- 1986 Le Defi Mark Ten (Canada) - 2nd
- 1987 Le Defi Mark Ten (Canada) - 5th
- 1987 Ultimate Challenge Competition - 1st
- 1987 Japan Grand Prix - 2nd
- 1987 Pure Strength - 1st
- 1989 Corby Great Eccleston (England) - 1st
- 1989 Iceland's Kraftur Contest - 1st
- 1989 Scottish Power Challenge - 1st
- 1990 Nissan Power Cup - 1st
- 1990 European Muscle Power Championship
- 1991 European Hercules - 2nd
- 1992 European Hercules - 6th
- Iceland's Strongest Man winner - 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992
- Finland's Strongest Man winner - 1989, 1992
Powerlifting
- 1980 European Powerlifting Championships - 2nd
- 1981 European Powerlifting Championships - 2nd
- 1981 World Powerlifting Championships - 3rd
- 1983 European Powerlifting Championships - 1st
Highland games
- 1986 Carmunnock Highland Games (Scotland) - 7th
- 1986 Commonwealth Highland Games (Scotland) - 1st