34 Facts About Derek Poundstone

Derek Anthony Poundstone was born on September 28,1981 and is an American police officer, former professional strongman and strength coach from Woodbridge, Connecticut.

Derek Poundstone was the runner-up at the 2008 World's Strongest Man, a two-time Arnold Strongman Classic champion, and a three-time winner of America's Strongest Man.

Derek Poundstone was born into a military family at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Elmore County, Idaho.

Derek Poundstone lived in Spain and Italy until he was 10, after which the family settled in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Poundstone began lifting weights at the local YMCA branch.

Derek Poundstone began his sporting career by competing in powerlifting, encouraged by a local champion, and progressed to become the Connecticut State Champion.

Derek Poundstone started competing in strongman after finding an advertisement for a contest on the back of a powerlifting flyer.

Derek Poundstone returned to compete in strongman, and placed fifth in the 2006 St Patrick's Strongman National Qualifier.

Derek Poundstone then went on to place 2nd to the current IFSA World Champion Zydrunas Savickas in the 2006 World Strongman Challenge contest in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Derek Poundstone had a lumbar disc herniation and a massive spinal cord hemorrhage.

Additionally, Derek Poundstone received an invitation from Dr Terry Todd to compete at the 2008 Arnold Strongman Classic, in Columbus, Ohio.

Derek Poundstone's next contest was a team contest, the World's Strongest Nation held in Ukraine.

Derek Poundstone competed in the 2007 IFSA World Championship held in Geumsan, South Korea.

Derek Poundstone was in 2nd position throughout the entire competition until the last event.

Derek Poundstone placed 4th overall in his first appearance at the World Championship, 2 points behind Mikhail Koklyaev and 1 point behind the 2006 World Champ Zydrunas Savickas.

Derek Poundstone's performance was the best ever recorded by an American at the IFSA World Championships.

Derek Poundstone was called up by Odd Haugen and asked to enter as a replacement athlete into the Mohegan Sun Super Series due to Kevin Nee pulling out with a torn biceps.

Derek Poundstone accepted and competed for the first time against Mariusz Pudzianowski.

Derek Poundstone defeated the four-time WSM champion and secured a qualification spot for the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest.

Derek Poundstone competed in the 2008 Arnold Strongman Classic contest, his first appearance at the Arnold.

On June 29,2008, during the 2 day Fortissimus contest, Derek Poundstone became the first American to defeat Zydrunas Savickas.

Derek Poundstone became the 2008 Strongman Super Series champion after accumulating the most points throughout the Grand Prix.

Derek Poundstone competed in the 2008 World's Strongest Man competition where he and Mariusz Pudzianowski, Poland's then four-time champion would go head-to-head in the final event, the atlas stones, with Derek Poundstone leading in points.

Derek Poundstone set a new world record with 15 reps in the circus dumb bell event.

Derek Poundstone took first place overall, and became only the third man behind Mark Henry and Zydrunas Savickas to win the Arnold Strongman Classic title since its inception in 2002.

In May 2009, Derek Poundstone was scheduled to defend his title at the Mohegan Sun Strongman Championship hosted by Giants Live.

Derek Poundstone won five of six events, taking second on one event, and took the overall title.

Derek Poundstone competed in the 2009 World's Strongest Man competition, which took place in Malta, coming in fourth place after Brian Shaw, Mariusz Pudzianowski and Zydrunas Savickas.

Derek Poundstone successfully defended his title at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic.

Derek Poundstone won the last event and the overall title for a second consecutive time, only the second man to accomplish this feat at the Arnold Strongman Classic.

Derek Poundstone defended his title at the 2010 Mohegan Sun Strongman Championships hosted by Giants Live, winning 3 out of 6 events including the shield carry.

Shortly before the 2010 World's Strongest Man contest, Derek Poundstone severely tore his quad muscle and was unsure if he would be able to compete, but he decided to heal and focus on upper body training.

Derek Poundstone was able to qualify for the finals and finished in 9th place overall.

Less than 24 hours after the 2010 WSM contest, Derek Poundstone won his 3rd America's Strongest Man title and broke Nick Best's Jon Pall Sigmarsson Stone carry world record.

Derek Poundstone married fiancee Kristin Nelson on Saturday June 25,2011, in Branford, Connecticut's Trinity Episcopal Church.