Lars Hedlund

Lars Hedlund (January 24, 1949 – June 4, 2016), was a former strongman and powerlifter from Sweden.

Lars Hedlund

Lars Hedlund
Personal information
Born	January 24, 1949 Sweden
Died	June 4, 2016 [1]
Occupation(s)	Strongman, powerlifting
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Medal record Strongman Representing  Sweden World's Strongest Man 3rd 1978 World's Strongest Man 2nd 1979 World's Strongest Man 2nd 1980 World's Strongest Man Europe's Strongest Man 1st 1981 Europe's Strongest Man Powerlifting Representing  Sweden IPF World Powerlifting Championships[2] 6th 1977 IPF World Championships +110kg 3rd 1979 IPF World Championships +110kg EPF European Powerlifting Championships[2] 3rd 1978 EPF European Championships +110kg 2nd 1979 EPF European Championships +110kg 1st 1980 EPF European Championships +125kg NPF Nordic Powerlifting Championships[2] 1st 1979 NPF Nordic Championships +110kg

Strongman

Lars competed in three World's Strongest Man contests, finishing second at the 1979 and 1980 World's Strongest Man, and third in 1978.^[3][4] Lars also won Europe's Strongest Man in 1981.

Powerlifting

Lars was a European Powerlifting champion in 1980, and the Scandinavian Powerlifting champion in 1979.^[2] He competed twice at the IPF World Powerlifting Championships in 1977 finishing 6th, and in 1979 finishing third.^[2] Lars set numerous bench press world records throughout his powerlifting career, his best lift was 628 pounds (285 kg) raw in 1980 in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[2]

Personal records

Powerlifting

• Squat – 380 kg (838 lb) single-ply equipment (1979 IPF Men's World Powerlifting Championships)
• Bench Press – 285 kg (628 lb) raw (1980 IPF Men's World Powerlifting Championships) (former world record)^[5]

→ Lars also held the all-time world record bench press with 278 kg (613 lb) in 1979 until it was surpassed by Bill Kazmaier.

• Deadlift – 327.5 kg (722 lb) raw (1980 EPF Men's European Powerlifting Championships)
• Total – 967.5 kg (2,133 lb) (370 + 270 + 327.5 kg (816 + 595 + 722 lb)) (1980 EPF Men's European Powerlifting Championships)

Strongman

• Deadlift (with straps) – 340 kg (750 lb) (1980 World Strongbow)

Honours

• 3rd place 1978 World's Strongest Man
• 2nd place 1979 World's Strongest Man
• 2nd place 1980 World's Strongest Man
• 1st place 1981 Europe's Strongest Man

See also

• List of strongmen