Brian Shaw, the world's strongest man, makes even the biggest bodybuilders look small

When you think of strength, you usually think of hulking, powerful men. But standing face to face with Brian Shaw, even the biggest bodybuilders look small.

Bodybuilder looks tiny next to Brian Shaw.

Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 425 pounds (192.7 kg) , Brian Shaw - the world's strongest man - has a towering and muscular physique that will surely leave you in awe.

But his enormous size isn't the only thing that has caught our attention. Over the course of his two-decade career, Brian has pushed the limits of human potential. From pulling trucks to deadlifting twice his body weight without breaking a sweat, he has left many skeptical about the power of human muscle.

Brian has surpassed the limits of human potential.

While the average person consumes and burns around 1,600 to 2,200 calories a day, this man can burn thousands of calories. When he starts training for a competition, he will consume 8,000 calories and increase to around 10,000 to 11,000 calories a day during the sprint phase.

Brian Shaw is from Fort Lupton, a small town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. He was born on February 26, 1982, to Jay and Bonnie Shaw, both of whom were larger than average in stature. Their genes were passed down to Brian.

However, during his younger days at Fort Lupton High School, he also gained a reputation as a basketball player. Brian excelled at basketball and showed his ability to the point that he received scholarships to play at Otero Junior College and Black Hills State University.

 Shaw discovered his love for weightlifting while playing basketball. (Illustration photo).

Interestingly, his passion changed during college. Brian Shaw discovered a love for weightlifting while training to improve his basketball skills. Over the next few years, weightlifting became Brian's main focus, leading him to decide to pursue a career in strength and conditioning, prioritizing it over basketball.

Shaw's high school basketball coach noted that even during his basketball days, Shaw was drawn to weight training and spent time in the weight room. This early interest in weightlifting and strength training became a consistent part of Shaw's journey in the years that followed. Through weight training and building physical strength, Shaw paved the way for long-term success in weightlifting competitions.

 Shaw paved the way for lasting success in weightlifting competitions. (Illustration photo).

Shaw's career began in 2005 when he won the " Denver's Strongest Man" competition in October of that year without any professional training! Just 7 short months later, in June 2006, he competed and earned his pro card when he won the "Utah's Strongest Man" competition . This marked his transition into the ranks of professional strongman.

He steadily climbed the ladder in the "World's Strongest Man" competition , finishing third in 2009. Shaw continued to advance, finishing second in 2010. His dedication paid off in 2011 when he won his final title, defeating renowned weightlifter Žydrūnas Savickas for the title of "World's Strongest Man".

 Shaw has reached the finals of "World's Strongest Man" 13 times. (Illustration photo).

Shaw's muscular strength became even more apparent in 2015 when he defeated Savickas again and won the title of "World's Strongest Man" once again. He proved this was no fluke by defending his title once again. During the 2009–2021 period, Shaw reached the final of "World's Strongest Man" 13 times.

In addition, he is a three-time winner of the legendary Arnold Strongman Classic and a two-time winner of the title of "America's Strongest Man." Shaw has also repeatedly pushed the limits of human strength, setting world records in iconic strength tests such as the deadlift, Atlas kick, and barrel throw.

 Shaw has also surpassed the limits of human strength many times. (Illustration photo).

After winning one final championship title, Brian Shaw retired from competitive strength sports in August 2023. At the Shaw Classic in Loveland, Colorado, a competition he founded, Brian won the title of 'The Strongest Man on Earth' as ​​a fitting way to end his career.

World's Strongest Man (WSM) is an annual competition for athletes founded under the management of TWI company under the international sports organization IMG (International Management Group).

The competition is broadcast on television around December every year. Contestants will have to compete in various timed events (pulling vehicles, throwing heavy objects into the air, placing rocks on high platforms, etc.), the winner is the person with the highest overall score. The champion will also receive a trophy along with the title of World's Strongest Man.