Riku Kiri

Riku Kiri
Born Riku Kiri
(1963-04-05) April 5, 1963
Finland Kotka, Finland
Residence Helsinki, Finland
Occupation Powerlifting, Strongman
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight 320 lb (150 kg)(1994)
Spouse(s) Sari Kiri
Competition record
Strongman[1]
Representing  Finland
World's Strongest Man
3rd 1993 World's Strongest Man
3rd 1994 World's Strongest Man
2nd 1996 World's Strongest Man
Qualified 1997 World's Strongest Man
6th 1998 World's Strongest Man
World Strongman Challenge
1st 1988
1st 1991
Le Defi Mark Ten International
2nd 1985
2nd 2002
World's Strongest Team
1st 1997 w/Jouko Ahola
Europe's Strongest Man
1st 1995
1st 1996
1st 1997
European Hercules
1st 1990
1st 1991
1st 1992
1st 1993
IFSA European Open
1st 1995
1st 1997
Finland's Strongest Man
1st 1988
1st 1993
1st 1994
Powerlifting
Representing  Finland
EPF European Powerlifting Championships[2]
2nd 1986 +125kg
FPF Finnish Powerlifting Championships[2]
2nd 1984 125kg
2nd 1985 125kg
1st 1986 +125kg
NPF Nordic Powerlifting Championships[2]
2nd 1986 +125kg

Riku Kiri (born April 5, 1963 in Kotka, Finland) is a Finnish former strongman and powerlifter, best known for competing in the World's Strongest Man competition, narrowly missing out on capturing the title on more than one occasion. He has been referred to as: "the strongest guy who has never won the World's Strongest Man competition."[3]

Life and career

The 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in), 145 kg (320 lb) Kiri is particularly noted for his static strength including a 300 kg (661.4 lb) single-arm deadlift at Brian Batcheldor's Strength Seminar in Birmingham in 1992 and an unofficial 302.5 kg (666.9 lbs) raw bench press at Brian Batcheldor's Strength Seminar in Birmingham in 1992 (both judged by David Webster, the organizer of the World's Strongest Man competitions). He squatted 440 kg in the Dutch Open strongman contest of 1995. He also bench pressed 290.0 kg (639.3 lb) raw in an official WPC meet along with many other records. At 19 years old in 1983, Riku held a World Record in powerlifting in the squat lift in IPF competition, 350 kg (125 kg weight category).

In one of his first ever strongest man contests, he defeated reigning World's Strongest Man winner Jón Páll Sigmarsson, in 1985.

For most of his appearances in World's Strongest Man competition, Kiri has been hampered by ankle injuries. Although Kiri placed 3rd and 2nd respectively in 1993 and 1996, ankle injuries plagued him during both contests. In reference to the Car Carry event in 1993, Kiri's coach, Markku Suonenvirta, famously said: "His ankle is broken but he's a tough guy." Kiri's ankle was in fact not broken but badly injured and weakened. In the 1996 WSM final event (Power Stairs) Kiri was about to go head to head with Magnus Ver Magnusson. However, just after the starter's whistle, Kiri dropped out due to another ankle injury. Kiri was also forced to drop out of the 1998 World's Strongest Man final due to an ankle injury, finishing in 6th place.

His background is in security work, and he holds shares in Gold's Gym-Helsinki.

He is cousin to Miss World Fitness - Connie Garner who lives in Australia.

Powerlifting

Training records:

References

  1. "davidhorne-gripmaster.com". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kiri Riku - powerlifting and bench press performances, records, bio, photo, video". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  3. "David Webster speaking to Ironmind on Tuesday, March 21, 2000 Kiri Coming Back... by Randall J. Strossen". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  4. "Riku Kiri : Conditioning and Strength Training - UFC Videos, MMA Videos, Fight Videos - MMALinker". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  5. "Riku Kiri : Conditioning and Strength Training - UFC Videos, MMA Videos, Fight Videos - MMALinker". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  6. "Riku Kiri : Conditioning and Strength Training - UFC Videos, MMA Videos, Fight Videos - MMALinker". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  7. "Riku Kiri : Conditioning and Strength Training - UFC Videos, MMA Videos, Fight Videos - MMALinker". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  8. "Riku Kiri : Conditioning and Strength Training - UFC Videos, MMA Videos, Fight Videos - MMALinker". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.