September 26, 2006 – Phil Pfister, a member of Charleston, WV Local 317, has won the MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man contest, held September 23 in Sanya, China. Athletes from around the world participate in the 10-day competition, which includes feats of strength such as lifting stones and refrigerators, pulling buses and pushing cars.

Pfister entered the last day of the contest in second place behind returning champion Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland. He overtook Pudzianowski in the Atlas Stones event in which competitors carry a series of spherical stones from one pillar to another.

Although Pfister has competed in strength contests for eight years, he never expected to finish in higher than third place. He is the first American to win this contest since 1982.

“Phil took us all by surprise,” says Danny Anderson, secretary-treasurer of Local 317. “We knew he was good, but he faced an uphill battle on some the events.” Anderson reports that Pfister is recognized throughout the community for his Strongest Man aspirations and for conducting local “Strongest Man” contests for children to encourage them to be healthy, strong and fit.

A professional fire fighter since 1999, Pfister trains in a makeshift gym he fashioned in a dilapidated high school. In a GQ magazine interview several years ago, he promised to win the Strongest Man contest. “I want to be the world’s strongest man,” he said. “I will be the world’s strongest man. Wouldn’t you want to lift a truck if you could?”

The World’s Strongest Man contest will be broadcast December 23 on ESPN2 during a six-hour marathon from 6:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.