Strength athletics

Strength athletics is the collection of strength sports which measure physical strength, based on both: non-standard and historical implements as seen in Strongman and Highland games, and standardized and calibrated equipment as seen in Powerlifting and Weightlifting.

Some of the disciplines have similarities to each other and although it is very difficult to master more than one, some athletes participate in several of them and perform at world class levels. Weightlifting consists of two lifts (snatch and clean & jerk) and powerlifting consists of three lifts (squat, bench and deadlift) where all test the maximal strength (one rep max output). Highland games consists of up to about ten different disciplines (including stone put, Scottish hammer throw, weight throw, weight over bar, caber toss, keg toss and sheaf toss) while strongman span across more than thirty different lifts and events (including deadlift, log lift, axle press, vehicle pull, stonelifting, stone carrying, circus dumbbell press, yoke carry, farmers walk, squat, keg toss, weight over bar, basque circle, power stairs, fingal's fingers, Hercules hold, car flip, bar bending, loading medleys and grip events), testing both maximal strength and physical endurance.

At present day, Strongman takes the bulk of the strength athletics domain, owing to involving both standardized and non standardized tests of strength, as well as for its highly diversified nature.

Strength competitions pre-date written history. The first Olympics (running, throwing, jumping) were believed to be held in 776 BCE. There are records in many civilizations of feats of strength performed by great heroes, perhaps mythological, such as Heracles, Orm Storolfsson and Milo of Croton.

Competitions that modern strongman events are modeled on, Scottish Highland Gatherings, were formalized around 1820 by Sir Walter Scott. In 1848, Queen Victoria attended the Braemar Highland Games.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, circus strongmen lent sensationalism to their acts such as bending iron bars, breaking iron chains worn around their chests, and lifting heavy objects. Famous strongmen from this era included Thomas Topham, Eugen Sandow, Louis Cyr, Thomas Inch, Arthur Saxon, Angus MacAskill, and Alexander Zass.

In the 20th century, strength sports such as weightlifting and powerlifting were popularized through the Olympic Games. However, feats of strength akin to the circus performances also gained in popularity. David Prowse (who played Darth Vader in Star Wars) was initially famous in 1964 for his lifting the famed 733 pounds (332 kg) Dinnie Stones, the first man to do so since Donald Dinnie himself a century earlier.

Perhaps the most famous event is the World's Strongest Man competition, still described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strength athletics.