The weight-lifter Jón Páll Sigmarsson gradually became one of Iceland’s best known celebrities. Hardly any Icelander did not identify him and his charming demeanor earned him both admiration and respect.  This Hercules of the 20th Century was very muscular, tall and blond, and you hardly saw him in public without him wearing his landmark smile. He definitely looked like the Viking warriors of the medieval times, but on the inside he was a peaceful, caring, nice and a loving man. Jón Páll Sigmarsson was one of those men, you would love to be friends with. And many did. He was indeed very proud of his heritage. While competing for the title “World’s Strongest Man” he always emphasized his Icelandic Viking origin. “I am not an Eskimo, I am a Viking” he often shouted to the audience, repeatedly caught be TV cameras.  He won the “World’s Strongest Man” title four times and was almost unbeatable for over a decade, making himself a living legend.A famous quote from him is "there is no point in being alive if you cannot do the deadlift". In a tragic irony, he died at the age of 32 while performing this exercise in the gym. He knew he had serious heart problems in his family and was aware of this weakness. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest strength athletes of his time. |
