Jouko Ahola

Jouko is best known for winning both the 1997 and 1999 World's Strongest Man, and finishing second in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com/strongmanresults.html |title=David Horne's World of Grip |publisher=Davidhorne-gripmaster.com |date=2014-03-30 |access-date=2014-08-18}} Ahola also won the Europe's Strongest Man contest twice, in 1998 and 1999, and finished fourth in 1996. Jouko won the World's Strongest Team in 1997 and 1999, and was second in 1998.

Ahola set world records for the Hercules hold (45.7 sec, 197 kg) and Atlas Stones (215 kg).

He is one of only ten men to be a repeat champion in the World's Strongest Man competition.

Jouko was a very successful strongman competitor, at {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|275|lb|kg}}, corresponding to a BMI of 35.8, which is low by WSM standards.{{cite web |url=http://www.dlc.fi/~gold-cam/jokke.html |title=Jouko Ahola's Official Home Page |publisher=Dlc.fi |access-date=2014-08-18 |archive-date=2014-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605071627/http://www.dlc.fi/~gold-cam/jokke.html |url-status=dead }}

Powerlifting

• Squat – {{convert|360|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} raw
• Bench press – {{convert|220|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} raw{{cite web|author=Sami Koskinen |url=http://www.samson-power.com/PB/pbwja1.htm |title=Powerbuilding WSM - Workout with Jouko Ahola |publisher=Samson-power.com |access-date=2014-08-18}}
• Deadlift – {{convert|406|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} raw

Strongman

• Crucifix hold – {{convert|18|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} for 44.59 seconds (1999 IFSA Finland Grand Prix) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S15 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 15 - Static holds |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=12 April 2025}}
• Crucifix hold – {{convert|11|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} for 97.53 seconds (1998 Strongest Man Alive) (World Record)
• Natural stone lift to platform – 5 Rocks ranging from {{convert|91-159|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} to tall platforms in 30.43 seconds (1999 Beauty and the Beast) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S8 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 08 - Stonelifting (Irregular stones) |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}

After his strongman career, Ahola has directed his focus towards films. So far, his most notable roles have been in Kingdom of Heaven, Bad Day to Go Fishing, War of the Dead and Invincible.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0014261/|title=Jouko Ahola}}

Ahola starred in Werner Herzog's 2001 film Invincible as early 20th century Jewish strongman Zishe Breitbart. Jouko played a former world wrestling champion in Alvaro Brechner's 2009 film Bad day to go fishing, (Mal día para pescar). The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival.

Jouko appeared in the music video for Robin's "Faija skitsoo" in 2012.{{cite web | url= http://www.findance.com/uutiset/17903/tassa-on-teinipoppari-robinin-uusi-musavideo | title = Tässä on teinipoppari Robinin uusi musavideo| publisher= Findance| access-date= 2012-05-22}} He also made a cameo appearance on the second season of The Dudesons TV series, which aired worldwide in 2008.

Jouko also serves as a judge and event organizer for the World's Strongest Man contest.{{cite web |url=http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2005/May/Joukos_Back.html |title=Jouko's Back! |publisher=Ironmind.com |date=2005-05-02 |access-date=2014-08-18 |archive-date=2013-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316073025/http://ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2005/May/Joukos_Back.html |url-status=dead }}

In 2013 he appears in the new History Channel series Vikings.{{cite web |url=http://www.hameensanomat.fi/uutiset/kanta-hame/215995-jouko-ahola-vaihtoi-tyokalut-jareaan-sotakirveeseen |title=Jouko Ahola vaihtoi työkalut järeään sotakirveeseen | Hämeen Sanomat |language=fi |publisher=Hameensanomat.fi |access-date=2014-08-18 |archive-date=2014-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505231344/http://www.hameensanomat.fi/uutiset/kanta-hame/215995-jouko-ahola-vaihtoi-tyokalut-jareaan-sotakirveeseen |url-status=dead }}

• He regards Arnold Schwarzenegger as his role model.
• His nickname is "Jokke."
• His name is often misspelled as Juoko Ahola, Finnish for "Does Ahola drink?"

• {{IMDb name|0014261}}
• {{official website|http://www.dlc.fi/~gold-cam/jokke.html}}
• [http://www.mcshane-enterprises.com/PB/pbwja1.htm Interview 1997] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807151627/http://www.mcshane-enterprises.com/PB/pbwja1.htm |date=2011-08-07 }}
• [http://www.mcshane-enterprises.com/WSL/Jouko_Ahola/ Interview 1999] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807151643/http://www.mcshane-enterprises.com/WSL/Jouko_Ahola/ |date=2011-08-07 }}

{{World's Strongest Man champions}}

{{World Muscle Power champions}}

{{World Strongman Challenge Champions}}

{{Europe's Strongest Man champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahola, Jouko}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Hämeenlinna

Category:Finnish male film actors

Category:Finnish strength athletes

Category:Finnish powerlifters