Darren Sadler (born 22 March 1980) is a British former strongman competitor, winner of the World Strongman Challenge in the under 105 kg category, and notable for being a repeat competitor at the World's Strongest Man despite his comparatively small stature. He is also the co-founder of the Giant's Live Tour together with Colin Bryce.[2]
Darren Sadler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 22 March 1980[1] |
| Other names | Pocket Rocket |
| Occupation | Strongman |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Strongman | ||
Representing  United Kingdom
| ||
| World's Strongest Man | ||
| Qualified | 2006 World's Strongest Man | |
| Qualified | 2007 World's Strongest Man | |
| Qualified | 2009 World's Strongest Man | |
| Qualified | 2010 World's Strongest Man | |
Representing  England
| ||
| Britain's Strongest Man | ||
| 3rd | Britain's Strongest Man 2007 | |
| England's strongest man (WSM) | ||
| 3rd | England's Strongest Man 2009 | |
| IFSA Under 105kg World Championships | ||
| 2nd | 2005 | |
| 1st | 2006 (called World Strongman Challenge) | |
| IFSA England's Strongest Man under 105kg | ||
| 1st | 2005 | |
Early life
editDarren Sadler was born on 22 March 1980 in Boroughbridge and attended Boroughbridge High School.[3]
Strongman career
editSadler began training in the gym at the age of seventeen, but it was not until he was eighteen when he was approached by former World's Strongest Man competitor, Dave Warner,[4] that he began to compete in strongman competitions.
In 2009, Sadler said that "At first I was the youngest and the lightest person, but I did work at it. Now I come in the top few in the country every year."[5] However, when the IFSA showcased a light division class for strongmen in the mid-2000s, Sadler rose to eminence in the field.
In 2005, Sadler not only won the English under 105 kg championships, but went on to place first in the world championships in 2006.[6][7] In 2006, still in the light division, he won the IFSA World Strongman Challenge.[6][8] Such was his ability that despite his weight and height, in a sport where men of 6' 1" have been described as "short",[9] he was invited to compete in the main division and began to rise up the rankings against the very best in the world.
In 2006, Sadler secured an invite to the World's Strongest Man (WSM), the premier strength athletics event. Here, he was noted for producing "unbelievable performances for a guy his size."[10] In 2007, he came third in the Britain's Strongest Man finals after Terry Hollands and Mark Felix, who had both been in the top four athletes in the world at one stage. He was again invited to the WSM and was just short of making it into the top ten finalists. He has been quoted as saying his greatest achievement in strongman is qualifying for the 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010 WSM competitions.[4]
In 2008, at the Britain's Strongest Man finals where Sadler was hoping to improve on his third-place finish in 2007, he tore a hamstring. This led to a self-imposed absence in 2008, in which time he concentrated on setting up a business.[5] However, a third invite to WSM was secured with a third-place finish in the WSM qualifying version of England's Strongest Man,[11] which replaced the Britain's Strongest Man competition in 2009 as a WSM qualifier, the latter not being held.
Sadler's favourite event is the Conan's Wheel, with his least favourite being the Deadlift Hold.[4] Additionally, his height hinders his performance in the Atlas Stones. Sadler has said that of the former greats he most admires Jón Páll Sigmarsson, and Mariusz Pudzianowski as the current athlete for whom he has most admiration, along with Derek Poundstone.[4]
Outside of strongman
editIn 2008, Sadler bought a gym in his hometown of Boroughbridge. He opened it in 2008 under the name of Absolute Fitness, and although his name has an attraction for "musclemen and fitness fanatics", he stressed that he wanted it to be an all-round gym for all ages and sexes.[3] He has referred to his business and family as his greatest personal achievements.[4]
General stats
edit- Squat: 380 kg
- Deadlift: 400 kg
References
edit- ^ "Darren Sadler". World's Strongest Man. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008.
- ^ "Darren Sadler". Giants Live. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Strongman Darren to open gym in the town". Harrogate Advertiser. 20 March 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Profile on Official WSM site". World's Strongest Man. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Darren in strongest man bid". Ripon Gazette. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Strongman Results". David Horne's World of Grip. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "Previous News". IFSA Official Site. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009.
- ^ Thompson, Al (21 May 2006). "Poundstone Comes Back To Capture Second Place in Tulsa". American Strongman Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009.
- ^ "WSM Legends". World's Strongest Man. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
See Jouko Ahola's section
- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (15 September 2006). "MET-Rx World's Strongest Man Qualifiers: More From Day 2". IronMind. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (26 May 2009). "Terry Hollands Wins England's Strongest Man". IronMind. Retrieved 2 January 2021.