Fann þetta viðtal við Stefán Sölva á http://the5thstone.wordpress.com/
March 3, 2011 by The 5th Stone One of the brightest prospects in Strongman, Stefán Sölvi Pétursson, agreed to answer some questions, and this it what he had to say.
How has 2011 been for you so far?
2011 has been good so far training wise. I have been hitting pb’s on few events so things are looking great.
You are best known for being a professional Strongman, was that always your dream or did you want to be something else when you were younger?
I wanted to be alot of things when I was a kid and strongman was one of them. At the age of 4 I saw Jón Páll, Magnús Ver and Hjalti Árnason doing a strength exhibition at a local grocery store. That gave me a spark that I still feel today and is the reason why I do this sport.
Iceland has had two 4 time champions, who do you consider the better out of Jón Páll Sigmarsson and Magnus Ver Magnusson? For the record, in my opinion Jon Pall Sigmarsson is the greatest strongman ever, the perfect combination of strength and personality that made him so good to watch.
You are putting me in a difficult spot there  No comment although I’ll say Jón Páll is my idol and has been since I was 4 years old.
How did it feel to be crowned Iceland’s Strongest Man (first in 2009 and again in 2010), a title won by both Sigmarsson and Magnusson in the past?
Felt good. I compete to win.
Just what is it Iceland that produces such great Strongmen?
Viking warrior heritage. Only the strongest survived Iceland’s harsh enviroment during the 1000+ years we have been on this soil.
2010 was your first time in the World’s Strongest Man final, having gone out at the group stages in 2008 and 2009. What was different in 2010, that saw you step up to the next level and compete amongst the World’s elite?
I went to Zydrunas Savickas in Lithuania for training camp in august. Training with him and spending time with him helped me tremendously.
You didn’t just compete in the final, you came in 4th, which is an amazing performance for someone in their first WSM final. How did it feel to do so well and do you think you can do better in 2011?
Getting 4th place felt good but many guys were fighting injuries or coming out of serious ones. But then again that is part of the game so I was happy but still feel like I have so much room to improve. And regarding to 2011 I’ll just say that I want better results and to get stronger and better each year so 2011 is no diffrent. It will be hard but I’ll fight.
When I announced on Twitter that I was going to be interviewing you, Matt (@njstrongman32) said he gives you 3-5 years till you become World’s Strongest Man. What’s your reaction to that?
I’m happy with that of course and would like to thank him for believing in me.
What event is your speciality?
I’m striving for the sport of strongman to be my speciality. But I can be good at stones and want to be the best.
Who do you think is the greatest Strongman ever, the greatest competing today, and apart from yourself, who do you think represents the future of World’s Strongest Man?
But I The greatest strongman ever in my heart is Jón Páll Sigmarsson. But in reality it’s Zydrunas Savickas. I like to believe I am part of the future for WSM. But there are many extremely strong, powerful and talented guys out there. One name stands out today and that is Brian Shaw. I also believe Terry Hollands can do great things as well as Johannes Arsjö and Vytautas Lalas. We have a great guy coming up in Iceland as well in Hafthor Julius Bjornsson just to name some, there are so many more.
Who is your best friend on the Strongman circuit?
We are all friends but I stay most in touch with Johannes, Brian and Terry.
Outside of Strongman, what do you do to relax?
Listen to music, hang around with friends and eat good food.
For anyone out there wanting to follow in your footsteps and become a Strongman, what advice would you give them?
Always remember why you love the sport and that it is for fun.
Sorry, one last question. While watching the final I calculated that you should have got 6 points (5th place) for the Giant Log Lift but were only awarded 5. You should have ended up on 33 points but were only awarded 32. Were you aware of this and was there an explanation why? I wrote about it here.
I had no idea about that. I don’t check out the points really unless I’m fighting for the win.
Thanks to Stefán for taking the time to answer these questions and I’m looking forward to seeing him compete in 2011, and especially in the Atlas Stones – can he become the world’s best? |
