Adrian Smith (strongman)

Adrian Smith (born 18 March 1964) is a former strongman competitor from Great Britain. Adrian has competed in both bodybuilding and strongman.[2] He won UK's Strongest Man three times, Britain's Strongest Man once, and placed 5th in World's Strongest Man.

Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith in 2024 at the Lustleigh Show
Personal information
Birth nameAdrian Smith
Born (1964-03-18) 18 March 1964 (age 60)[1]
Corby, England
OccupationStrongman Bodybuilding
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Medal record
Strongman
Representing  United Kingdom
World's Strongest Man
5th 1990 World's Strongest Man
Pure Strength
4th Pure Strength IV 1990 w/Brian Bell
UK's Strongest Man
1st UK's Strongest Man 1992
1st UK's Strongest Man 1997
1st UK's Strongest Man 1998
3rd UK's Strongest Man 1999
Britain's Strongest Man
1st Britain's Strongest Man 1990

Personal life

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Smith is from Corby and was a photocopier engineer when he started in strongman competitions.[3]

He married Claire in 1998, and has a child, Emily.[4]

Strongman career

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Smith was three times winner of UK's Strongest Man in 1992,[5][6] 1997, and 1998, and winner of Britain's Strongest Man in 1990.

In 1995, Smith took a break from strongman to compete in bodybuilding where he placed 4th in the Mr Britain competition, and invited to compete in the Mr Universe competition that same year.[7]

Missing the 1997 Britain's strongest man through injury, he acted as the commentator for Sky Sports.[5]

He was trained by the legendary Geoff Capes for the 1990 World's Strongest Man competition, his only appearance in WSM, finishing in 5th place.[8][2] Adrian also competed in Pure Strength IV for team Great Britain along with teammate Brian Bell. Team Great Britain finished in 4th place.

Smith has held the world record for log lifting, managing to press a 200 pounds (91 kg) log above his head 30 times in one minute in 1993,[9] and for brick lifting.[10][11][8]

Live show

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Smith has performed a peripatetic show, initially as "Adrian Smith, Strongman" and latterly as "The Mighty Smith" at various shows around the country.[5][12][13][14] The show consists of feats of strength including tearing up catalogues, bending nails in his teeth, pulling vehicles, and lifting Atlas stones.[15] He offers a £1,000 prize to anyone who can match his strength feats in the arena.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Personally Speaking". Northamptonshire Daily Telegraph. 6 March 1993. p. 7.
  2. ^ a b "Adrian Smith".
  3. ^ "Strongman in high spirits". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. 20 July 1987. p. 1.
  4. ^ "Two chase top strongman title". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. 18 September 1998.
  5. ^ a b c Tomney, David (16 January 1997). "The Sky's the limit for strongman". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.
  6. ^ "Corby muscleman". Wellingborough & Rushden Herald & Post. 30 July 1992. p. 3.
  7. ^ Crossley, David (22 May 1995). "Strength to Strength". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. p. 9.
  8. ^ a b "Adrian's show has powerful appeal". Rutland Times. 6 June 1997.
  9. ^ "Take a bough". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. 6 April 1993.
  10. ^ "10 Years Ago". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. 22 June 2000.
  11. ^ "Strong Men at the Highland Gathering". Highland Gathering Official Programme 1991. 13 July 1991. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Take the strain..." Hemel Hempstead Gazette. 18 June 2003.
  13. ^ Barker, Patrick (28 May 2024). "The Mighty Smith Show". The Lustleigh Show.
  14. ^ "Could YOU beat Mighty Smith?". Silloth Vintage Rally. 28 April 2019.
  15. ^ Shand, Alistair (20 August 2024). "Final preparations underway for this year's Keighley Show". Keighley News.
  16. ^ Howarth, Richard (4 July 2022). "Prize of £1,000 offered in challenge with one of Britain's strongest men at Banbury Mayor's party". Banbury Guardian.