Riku Kiri

Riku Kiri (born April 5, 1963 in Kotka, Finland) is a Finnish former strongman and powerlifter, best known for competing in the World's Strongest Man competition, narrowly missing out on capturing the title on more than one occasion. He has been referred to as: "the strongest man never to win World's Strongest Man."^[3]

Riku Kiri

Personal information
Born	(1963-04-05) April 5, 1963 (age 62) Kotka, Finland
Occupation(s)	Powerlifting, Strongman
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Spouse	Sari Kiri
Medal record Strongman[1] Representing  Finland World's Strongest Man 3rd 1993 World's Strongest Man 3rd 1994 World's Strongest Man 2nd 1996 World's Strongest Man Qualified 1997 World's Strongest Man 6th 1998 World's Strongest Man World Strongman Challenge 1st 1988 1st 1991 Le Defi Mark Ten International 2nd 1985 World's Strongest Team 1st 1997 w/Jouko Ahola Europe's Strongest Man 1st 1995 1st 1996 1st 1997 European Hercules 1st 1990 1st 1991 1st 1992 1st 1993 IFSA European Open 1st 1995 1st 1997 Finland's Strongest Man 1st 1988 1st 1993 1st 1994 Powerlifting Representing  Finland EPF European Powerlifting Championships[2] 2nd 1986 +125kg FPF Finnish Powerlifting Championships[2] 2nd 1984 125kg 2nd 1985 125kg 1st 1986 +125kg NPF Nordic Powerlifting Championships[2] 2nd 1986 +125kg

Having competed in 25 International strongman competitions and winning 11 of them, Kiri is among the 20 most decorated strongmen of all time.^[4]

Life and career

The 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in), 145 kg (320 lb) Kiri is particularly noted for his static strength including a 300 kg (661.4 lb) single-arm deadlift and a 302.5 kg (666.9 lbs) raw bench press. He squatted 440 kg in the Dutch Open strongman contest of 1995 in a Smith machine apparatus. He also bench pressed 290.0 kg (639.3 lb) raw in an official WPC meet along with many other records. At 19 years old in 1983, Riku held a World Record in powerlifting in the squat lift in IPF competition, 350 kg (125 kg weight category).

In one of his first ever strongest man contests, he defeated reigning World's Strongest Man winner Jón Páll Sigmarsson, in 1985.

For most of his appearances in World's Strongest Man competition, Kiri has been hampered by ankle injuries. Although Kiri placed 3rd and 2nd respectively in 1993 and 1996, ankle injuries plagued him during both contests. In reference to the Car Carry event in 1993, Kiri's coach, Markku Suonenvirta, famously said: "His ankle is broken but he's a tough guy." Kiri's ankle was in fact not broken but badly injured and weakened. In the 1996 WSM final event (Power Stairs) Kiri was about to go head to head with Magnus Ver Magnusson. However, just after the starter's whistle, Kiri dropped out due to another ankle injury. Kiri was also forced to drop out of the 1998 World's Strongest Man final due to an ankle injury, finishing in 6th place.

His background is in security work, and he holds shares in Gold's Gym-Helsinki.

Personal records

Strongman

• Deadlift (for reps) – 380 kg (838 lb) x 4 reps, 352.5 kg (777 lb) x 7 reps (raw)^[5]
• Silver dollar safe squat (for reps) – 310 kg (683 lb) × 4 reps (1999 AFSA Dubai Full Strength Challenge) (World Record)^[6]
• Log press – 150 kg (331 lb) (1997 World's Strongest Man, group 2)
• Log press (for reps) – 125 kg (276 lb) x 15 reps (1998 IFSA German Grand Prix)
• Atlas stones – 5 stones weighing 160–210 kg (353–463 lb) (1998 IFSA Hungary Grand Prix)
• Natural Stone press – 120 kg (265 lb) (1997 Europe's Strongest Man)
• Stone block throw – 18 kg (40 lb) over 5.90 metres (19 ft 4 in) (1992 World Muscle Power Classic) (World Record)^[7]
• Keg toss – 20 kg (44 lb) over 5.70 metres (18 ft 8 in) (1997 European Open) (former world record)
• Duck walk – 300 kg (661 lb) for 12m course in 15.03 seconds (1999 AFSA Dubai Full Strength Challenge) (World Record)^[8]
• Cable drum push – 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) on a 5 hump course in 38.41 seconds (1999 AFSA Dubai Full Strength Challenge) (World Record)^[9]
• Arm over arm plane pull – 10,000 kg (22,046 lb) for 15m course in 27.70 seconds (1993 World Viking Challenge) (World Record)^[10]

Powerlifting

• Squat – 400 kg (882 lb) (raw)^[5]
• Bench Press – 302.5 kg (667 lb) (raw)^[5][11]
• Deadlift – 390 kg (860 lb) (raw)^[5]
• Total – 1,092.5 kg (2,409 lb) (raw)^[5]