Johan Els

Johan Els (born 29 May 1979) is a South African strongman competitor from Christiana, South Africa.^[1] He is a 2 x times Africa's Strongest Man Champion (2016 and 2018) and was selected to the World's Strongest Man competition thrice, winning 6th place in the 2018 World's Strongest Man competition held in Manila, Philippines.^[2] Els was coached by Ricardo Barreto.

Johan Els

Personal information
Nationality	South African
Born	(1979-05-29) 29 May 1979 (age 45)
Occupation	Strongman
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	155–160 kg (342–353 lb)
Spouse	Annelle Els ​ (m. 2021)​
Medal record Strongman Representing  South Africa World's Strongest Man Qualified 2016 World's Strongest Man Qualified 2017 World's Strongest Man 6th 2018 World's Strongest Man Africa's Strongest Man 1st 2016 Africa's Strongest Man 1st 2018 Africa's Strongest Man Arnold Pro Strongman World Series 7th 2017 Arnold Africa 5th 2018 Arnold Africa

In 2019, Els retired from Strongman to pursue his ambition of becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.^[3]

Personal records

• Deadlift – 360 kg (794 lb) (2017 Arnold Africa)
• Car Deadlift – 386 kg (851 lb) x 5 reps (2018 WSM Finals)
• Deadlift Ladder – 290–350 kg (639–772 lb) 5 lifts under 60 seconds (2018 WSM - Group 2)
• Log press – 158 kg (348 lb) (2017 WSM - Group 3)
• Viking press – 154 kg (340 lb) (2016 WSM - Group 5)
• Circus Dumbbell press – 90 kg (198 lb) (2018 WSM - Group 2)
• Super Yoke – 450 kg (992 lb) for 5.57 meters (2018 Arnold Africa)
• Farmer's walk – 185 kg (408 lb) per each hand for 20 meters in 25.59 seconds (2018 Arnold Africa)
• Elephant frame carry – 200 kg (441 lb) for 44.93 meters (2017 WSM - Group 3)
• Keg toss – 15 kg (33 lb) over 6.75 meters (2016 WSM - Group 5)
• Kettlebell throw – 7 kettlebells from 21–30 kg (46–66 lb) over 4.75 meters in 51.59 seconds (2018 WSM - Group 2)
• Loading race – 105 kg Anchor, 125 kg Anvil, 120 kg Keg, 150 kg Sandbag & 120 kg Safe (10m) - 34.12 seconds (2018 WSM Finals)
• Medley – 2 x 150 kg sacks and 150 kg per each hand farmer's walk for 12 meters in 33.96 seconds (2018 WSM - Group 2)
• Atlas Stones – 150–200 kg (331–441 lb) 5 stones in 32.16 seconds (2018 WSM - Group 2)
• Atlas Stone over bar – 220 kg (485 lb) x 4 reps, over a 4' bar (2018 Arnold Africa)
• Arm Over Arm Pull – 6,850 kg (15,102 lb) for 17.57 meters (2018 WSM - Group 2)
• Bus pull – 28,123 kg (62,001 lb) 25 meters in 40.25 seconds (2018 WSM Finals)

Reference: Strongmanarchives.com^[4]