Gary Taylor (strongman)

A former weightlifter, powerlifter, and bodybuilder, Taylor competed at 6 ft (183 cm) and approximately 295 lbs (134 kg) during his strongman career.^[1] He competed in weightlifting at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, taking second in the snatch in the 110 kg class.^[2]

Gary is best known for winning the 1993 World's Strongest Man contest in Orange, France.^[1] He also finished 3rd in 1991, 5th in 1992, and 6th in 1995.^[1]

Taylor was really strong on the Behind-The-Neck push press. At Brian Batcheldor's Strength Seminar in Birmingham in 1995, he performed an incredible Behind-The-Neck push press of 272.5 kg (600.75 lb) (judged by David Webster, the organizer of the World's Strongest Man competitions).^{[citation needed]}

Gary suffered a career-ending knee injury during the tire flip event at the 1997 Europe's Strongest Man contest. The injury was so severe that it forced Gary to retire from strongman competition permanently.^{[citation needed]}

Powerlifting

• Squat – 385 kg (849 lb) raw
• Bench Press – 235 kg (518 lb) raw
• Deadlift – 355 kg (783 lb) raw

Strongman

• Flintstone barbell push press (behind the neck) – 225 kg (496 lb) (1995 World Muscle Power Classic)^[3] (former world record)

→ It is often claimed that Taylor has behind the neck push pressed weights such as 270 kg (595 lb) and 272 kg (600 lb).^[4][5] However, his 1995 World Muscle Power Classic lift remains the heaviest weight he has behind the neck push pressed with irrefutable evidence.

• Log press – 160 kg (353 lb) (1993 World's Strongest Man, group 1)
• Atlas stones – 5 stones weighing 90–136 kg (198–300 lb) (no tacky) in 17.19 seconds (1993 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)^[6]
• Samson's barrow carry – 10 humans (25m course) in 12.55 seconds (1993 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)^[7]
• Keg toss – 25 kg (55 lb) over 5.10 metres (16 ft 9 in) (1995 Manfred Hoeberl Classic) (former world record)
• Weight over bar – 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 4.70 metres (15 ft 5 in) (1991 World Viking Challenge)
• Scottish hammer throw – 15 kg (33 lb) super-heavy hammer for 24.62 metres (80 ft 9 in) (1991 World Viking Challenge)

Taylor, now retired from competition, worked within the PE department (he was a senior officer) at Aylesbury Young Offenders Institute, a prison for Category A (highest and most considered dangerous), as well as being the Senior Gym Officer and rugby coach for Ampthill youth rugby team. He moved to Littlehey Prison Cat-C/YOI as a Security Governor. Gary currently does commentating and event organizing for the annual UK's Strongest Man contest.^{[citation needed]}

• 1991 World's Strongest Man – 3rd
• 1992 World's Strongest Man – 5th
• 1993 World's Strongest Man – Winner
• 1994 World's Strongest Man – Qualified
• 1995 World's Strongest Man – 6th