Raivis Vidzis
Encyclopedia
Raivis Vidzis (born 22 March 1976 in Ogre
, Latvia
) is a leading international strongman
competitor, former two-time holder of the World Strongman Cup title and repeat entrant to the World's Strongest Man
. Now Raivis competiting in Mixed Martial Arts
.
. He won it again in 2005, and made a number of appearances in the Strongman Super Series
. He qualified for the prestigious 2005 World's Strongest Man
competition but did not make the final. In 2006 he was invited to the 2006 World's Strongest Man
where he made the final ten, finishing ninth overall. In 2007 a fourth place showing in Europe's Strongest Man
was the highlight although he did make the 2007 World's Strongest Man
competition but did not make the final. Vidzis, having been so active in the now defunct World Strongman Cup, reduced his competitive activity in 2008 and 2009. He competed in the 2008 World's Strongest Man
competition but again did not make the final. An appearance at the 2009 Europe's Strongest Man was the only major engagement of that year.
|Win
|align=center|2-0
| Julius Zurauskis
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|WFCA - Fight Arena: Latvia vs. Russia
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:56
|Riga, Latvia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
| Vadim Gridiajev
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|WFCA - Cage Fight Volume 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:22
|Riga
, Latvia
|
|-
Ogre, Latvia
Ogre is the principal town of Ogre District in Central Latvia, 36 km east of the capital Riga, situated at the confluence of the Daugava and Ogre rivers...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) is a leading international 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...
competitor, former two-time holder of the World Strongman Cup title and repeat entrant to 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...
. Now Raivis competiting in Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
.
Biography
Vidzis won his country's strongest man title when he was just 24 year's old. He went on to dominate in Latvia for four years whilst also making a reputation on the international circuit. In 2004 he won the overall title for the World Strongman Cup having thrown in his lot with them as opposed to the International Federation of Strength AthletesInternational Federation of Strength Athletes
The International Federation of Strength Athletes was an international governing body for strongman competition...
. He won it again in 2005, and made a number of appearances in the Strongman Super Series
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
. He qualified for the prestigious 2005 World's Strongest Man
2005 World's Strongest Man
The 2005 World's Strongest Man was the 28th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. It was his third title. Jesse Marunde from the USA finished second, and Dominic Filiou from Canada third. The contest was held at Chengdu, China.-Heat 1:-Heat 2:-Heat...
competition but did not make the final. In 2006 he was invited to the 2006 World's Strongest Man
2006 World's Strongest Man
The 2006 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man was the 29th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Phil Pfister, the first American to win the competition since Bill Kazmaier in 1982. The contest took place between the 14th and 23rd of September 2006, in Sanya, China.The 25 competitors in the...
where he made the final ten, finishing ninth overall. In 2007 a fourth place showing in Europe's Strongest Man
Europe's Strongest Man
Europe'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...
was the highlight although he did make the 2007 World's Strongest Man
2007 World's Strongest Man
The 2007 World's Strongest Man was the 30th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. It was his fourth title. Sebastian Wenta also from the Poland finished second after finishing sixth the previous year, and Terry Hollands from the United Kingdom finished...
competition but did not make the final. Vidzis, having been so active in the now defunct World Strongman Cup, reduced his competitive activity in 2008 and 2009. He competed in the 2008 World's Strongest Man
2008 World's Strongest Man
The 2008 World's Strongest Man was the 31st edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. It was his fifth title. Derek Poundstone from the USA finished second, and Dave Ostlund also from the USA finished third after finishing sixth the previous year...
competition but again did not make the final. An appearance at the 2009 Europe's Strongest Man was the only major engagement of that year.
Competition record
- 2000
- 1. - Latvia's Strongest Man
- 2001
- 1. - Latvia's Strongest Man
- 7. - World's Strongest Team 2001 (with Raimonds BergmanisRaimonds BergmanisRaimonds Bergmanis is a fomer Olympic weightlifting champion and retired strongman competitor from Latvia....
)
- 2002
- 9. - Europe's Strongest Man 2002Europe'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...
- 1. - Latvia's Strongest Man
- 9. - Europe's Strongest Man 2002
- 2003
- 1. - Latvia's Strongest Man
- 2004
- 2. - World Strongman Cup 2004: Edmonton
- 2005
- 4. - Polish Giants, Łódź
- 1. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Mińsk
- 4. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Wexford
- 4. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Yorkshire
- 3. - World's Strongest Team 2005 (with Rolands Gulbis)
- 1. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Denver
- 5. - Strongman Super Series 2005: MalborkStrongman Super SeriesThe Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
- 5. - Strongman Super Series 2005: VarbergStrongman Super SeriesThe Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
- 4. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Bad Häring
- 1. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Ladysmith
- 5. - Europe's Strongest Man 2005Europe'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...
- 5. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Nuremberg
- 1. - World Strongman Cup 2005: Chanty-Mansyjsk
- 2006
- 5. - Polish Giants, Łódź
- 2. - World Strongman Cup 2006: Ryga
- 5. - World Strongman Cup 2006: Armagh
- 8. - Strongman Super Series 2006: MiliczStrongman Super SeriesThe Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
- 2. - World Strongman Cup 2006: Mińsk
- 2. - Poland against Europe
- 9. - 2006 World's Strongest Man2006 World's Strongest ManThe 2006 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man was the 29th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Phil Pfister, the first American to win the competition since Bill Kazmaier in 1982. The contest took place between the 14th and 23rd of September 2006, in Sanya, China.The 25 competitors in the...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... - 10. - World Strongman Cup 2006: Vienna
- 6. - World Strongman Cup 2006: Grodzisk Mazowiecki
- 5. - World Strongman Cup 2006: Podolsk
- 2007
- 6. - Polish Giants, Łódź
- 2. - World Strongman Cup 2007: Ryga
- 4. - Europe's Strongest Man 2007Europe'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...
- 6. - World Strongman Cup 2007: Dartford
- 4. - Grand Prix of Khanty-Mansijsk (WSMC)
- 2008
- 7. - Europe's Strongest Man 2008Europe'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...
- 3. - Polish Grand Prix
- 8. - Strongman Super Series 2008: LysekilStrongman Super SeriesThe Strongman Super Series, known from 2005 to 2008 as the World's Strongest Man Super Series and reverting in 2009 to the World Strongman Super Series, is a sequence of grand prix events in the sport of strength athletics...
- 7. - Europe's Strongest Man 2008
- 2009
- 8. - Europe's Strongest Man 2009Europe'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...
- 8. - Europe's Strongest Man 2009
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align=center|2-0
| Julius Zurauskis
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|WFCA - Fight Arena: Latvia vs. Russia
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:56
|Riga, Latvia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
| Vadim Gridiajev
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|WFCA - Cage Fight Volume 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:22
|Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
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