Matjaz Belsak

Matjaž Belšak was born in a village Seničica, near Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia on 23 September 1992.{{Cite web|url=http://theworldsstrongestman.com/athletes/matjaz-belsak/|title=Matjaž Belšak|website=World's Strongest Man|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}} He grew up in a family of cooks; his parents own a restaurant "[http://www.gostilna-belsak.si/ Gostilna Belšak]"{{Cite web|url=https://www.flexshop.com/blog/najmocnejsi-slovenec|title=Športna prehrana Flexshop, Proteini {{!}} Flexshop.com|website=flexshop.com|access-date=2020-01-10}} where he still occasionally works as an apprentice chef. He graduated in Tourist Studies.{{Cite web|url=http://theworldsstrongestman.com/the-new-faces-of-the-2015-worlds-strongest-man/|title=The new faces of the 2015 World's Strongest Man|last=Pratt|first=Rob|date=2015-11-18|website=World's Strongest Man|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}

Matjaž started working out in 2008, when he was 15, with a goal to become stronger. As his strength was increasing really fast, it soon became clear that he might be able to show some really decent results in a couple of years. He decided to compete in his first powerlifting meet in 2010, when he was 17 years old.{{Cite web|url=https://barbend.com/matjaz-belsak-strongman/|title=Behind the Scenes with Slovenian Strongman Matjaz Belsak|date=2017-01-26|website=BarBend|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}} During his early years of strength related sports he set quite a few Slovenian national records in powerlifting and he even won the overall gold in GPC Slovenian Powerlifting nationals in 2010. In 2012 he won his first and only international powerlifting meet (GPC), totaling 875 kg / 1929 lbs (360 kg / 793,5 lbs in the squat, 190 kg / 419 lbs in bench press and 325 kg / 716,5 in deadlift).{{Cite web|url=https://openpowerlifting.org/u/matjazbelsak|title=Matjaž Belšak|website=openpowerlifting.org|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.powerlifter.cz/matjaz-belsak-u4631.aspx|title=Matjaž Belšak|first=Tomáš|last=Poles|website=Powerlifter.cz|language=cs-CZ|access-date=2020-01-10}} After that competition he only focused on the sport of strongman.

A former Slovenian strongman and Slovenia's strongest man at that time Gregor Stegnar{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/preostali-sporti/najmocnejsi-slovenec-s-pomocjo-cokolina-lahko-premakne-tudi-40-tonsko-letalo/451801|title=Najmočnejši Slovenec: s pomočjo čokolina lahko premakne tudi 40-tonsko letalo|website=RTVSLO.si|language=sl|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.times.si/sport/foto-piknik-na-brniku-vrnil-se-je-najmocnejsi-slovenec-matjaz-belsak--b6c106e22d6cb70c274e8d70b6d15e9dcb6432e4.html|title=FOTO: Piknik na Brniku: vrnil se je najmočnejši Slovenec Matjaž Belšak|website=Times.si|language=sl|access-date=2020-01-10}} saw the potential in the young powerlifter and inspired him to try strongman for the first time in 2012, offering him his mentorship. Matjaž quickly fell in love with the sport. He started competing in competitions in Slovenia and surrounding countries.

Matjaž became a professional strongman after winning the Savickas classic competition in 2015, which enabled him to compete in the Strongman Champions League in the next season at just 20 years old, where he was among the youngest competing athletes.

Almost immediately after starting to compete in strongman, Matjaž won the title of Slovenia's Strongest Man in 2014{{Cite web|url=https://giants-live.com/athletes/matjaz-belsak|title=Giants Live|website=giants-live.com|access-date=2020-01-10}} and did it again in 2015 The contest was not held during the next two years. In 2018{{Cite web|url=https://novice.svet24.si/clanek/zanimivosti/5afac1af967b2/kdo-bo-najmocnejsi-slovenec|title=Svet24.si - Prihaja spektakularni boj za laskavi naziv NAJMOČNEJŠEGA Slovenca!|website=Svet24.si - Vsa resnica na enem mestu|language=sl|access-date=2020-01-10}} and 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.vecer.com/in-video-matjaz-belsak-je-najmocnejsi-moski-v-sloveniji-10084635|title=Večer - (FOTO in VIDEO) Matjaž Belšak je najmočnejši moški v Sloveniji|date=2019-10-31|website=vecer.com|language=sl-si|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnevnik.si/1042912347|title=#video V Ljubljani okronali najmočnejšega Slovenca|website=Dnevnik|access-date=2020-01-10}} he again won the title back to back. The contest was again not held during the next two years due to COVID-19.

From 2022 onwards, besides competing, Matjaž also took over the organizing and hosting of the competition.{{Cite web |title=Matjaž Belšak najmočnejši Slovenec premakne za več kot 20 metrov tudi 16-tonski tovornjak (FOTO) |url=https://www.slovenskenovice.si/novice/slovenija/matjaz-belsak-najmocnejsi-slovenec-premakne-za-vec-kot-20-metrov-tudi-16-tonski-tovornjak-foto/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=slovenskenovice.si |language=sl-si}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gorenjskiglas.si/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20220608/C/220609817/1025/vlekli-sestnajsttonski-tovornjak&template=printart |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=gorenjskiglas.si}} He won the title in 2022, 2023 and 2024, taking his tally to 7 titles.

• During the 2013–2016 seasons, Matjaž did only a few competitions during his first two years of competing in the Strongman Champions League, as he was mostly focusing on becoming stronger, but he competed in a lot of SCL events in 2016 and finished the season by taking the 5th place in the finals.{{Cite web|url=https://strongmancl.com/results-and-rankings-2016/|title=Results and Rankings 2016|website=Strongman Champions League|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}
• In the season of 2017, Matjaž won all of the SCL competitions he took part in and even won the final in Mexico,{{Cite web|url=https://strongmancl.com/the-strongest-man-alive-after-a-perfect-season-matjaz-belsak-is-the-new-world-champion-of-the-mlo-strongman-champions-league-2017/|title=The Strongest Man Alive – After A Perfect Season, Matjaz Belsak Is The New World Champion Of The Mlo Strongman Champions League 2017|date=2017-12-01|website=Strongman Champions League|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}} becoming the 2017 Strongman Champion's League world champion,{{Cite web|url=https://strongmancl.com/results-and-rankings-2017/|title=Results and Rankings 2017|website=Strongman Champions League|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Citation|title=SCL world champion 2017 Matjaz Belsak| date=23 February 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bhp6rBZHyM|language=en|access-date=2020-01-10}} achieving one of his biggest goals to that day, as he stated in a video made a year before.{{Citation|title=Made in Slovenia - Matjaž Belšak| date=12 April 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4a3FkJMtGw|language=en|access-date=2020-01-10}}

After a few successful years of competing on the international level, Matjaž was invited to compete in the World's Strongest Man.

• In the 2015 World's Strongest Man in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Matjaž successfully made his first appearance at the event. While he didn't qualify for the finals,{{Cite web|url=https://strongman.org/news/worlds-strongest-man-2015-malaysia/|title=World's Strongest Man 2015 - Malaysia|date=2015-04-20|website=Strongman.org|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-11}} he finished 3rd in his heat.{{Cite web|url=http://theworldsstrongestman.com/worlds-strongest-man-2015-finalists/|title=World's Strongest Man 2015 Finalists|last=Pratt|first=Rob|date=2015-12-28|website=World's Strongest Man|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}
• In the 2016 World's Strongest Man in Kasane, Botswana, Matjaž made it to the finals, finishing 9th overall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.floelite.com/events/5010469-the-commerce-worlds-strongest-man-2016/../../results/5997627-the-commerce-worlds-strongest-man-2016-results/3930|title=See the results for the Commerce World's Strongest Man 2016 elite fitness event on FloElite.com|website=floelite.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-11}}
• In the 2017 World's Strongest Man in Gabarone, Botswana, he was unable to make it to the finals, finishing 3rd in his heat.
• In the 2018 World's Strongest Man in Manila, Philippines, Matjaž had his best performance at WSM, finishing 7th place overall in the finals.{{Cite web|url=https://novice.svet24.si/clanek/zanimivosti/5af59cc70fc1c/slovenec-sedmi-najmocnejsi-zemljan|title=Svet24.si - Slovenec sedmi najmočnejši Zemljan|website=Svet24.si - Vsa resnica na enem mestu|language=sl|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://strongman.org/news/worlds-strongest-man-2018-final-results/|title=World's Strongest Man 2018 Final (Results)|date=2018-05-06|website=Strongman.org|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-11}}

• Matjaž competed for the first time in this event in 2015 World's Strongest Team, taking the 1st place with Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson who competed under the name 'Vikings'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elitefts.com/news/huge-weekend-for-strongman-world-records-fall-and-one-team-rises/|title=Huge Weekend For Strongman: World Records Fall and One Team Rises|last=Triana|first=Andrew|website=elitefts|date=4 June 2015 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-10}} Yankees (Jerry Pritchett & Mike Burke) placed second while the Saxons (Eddie Hall & Mark Felix) placed third.
• He also competed in 2019 World's Strongest Team, finishing on 3rd place with Mikhail Shivlyakov.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimatestrongman.tv/team-world-championship-2019-results/|title=Ultimate Strongman » Team World Championship 2019 Results|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-10}}

Matjaž competed on three different Europe's Strongest Man competitions, always finishing in the top 10:

• In 2015 Europe's Strongest Man he made his first appearance, finishing the competition on 5th place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.floelite.com/results/5986017-europes-strongest-man-world-deadlift-championships-2015/511|title=See the results for the Europe's Strongest Man + World Deadlift Championships 2015 elite fitness event on FloElite.com|website=floelite.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-11}}
• In 2017 Europe's Strongest Man he placed 6th.{{Cite web|url=https://www.floelite.com/articles/5063445-europes-strongest-man-2017-recap|title=Europe's Strongest Man 2017 Recap|website=floelite.com|date=3 April 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://giants-live.com/news/the-mountain-beats-the-beast-europe-s-strongest-man-2017-results-new-axle-press-world-record|title=Giants Live|website=giants-live.com|date=8 June 2018 |access-date=2020-01-11}}
• In 2018 Europe's Strongest Man Matjaž finished on the 7th place.{{Cite web|url=https://giants-live.com/news/strongman-records-smashed-at-europe-s-strongest-man-2018|title=Giants Live|website=giants-live.com|date=25 June 2018 |access-date=2020-01-11}}

Matjaž competed on Arnold Strongman Classic events all over the world. His most important placings were:

• 6th place at 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic USA in Columbus, OH.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roguefitness.com/2018-arnold-strongman-classic|title=2018 Arnold Strongman Classic|website=Rogue Fitness|language=en|access-date=2020-01-11|archive-date=14 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814204717/https://www.roguefitness.com/2018-arnold-strongman-classic|url-status=dead}}
• 5th place at 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic USA in Columbus, OH.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/sports-and-events/pro-strongman-series/|title=Arnold Pro Strongman Arnold Sports Festival|website=arnoldsportsfestival.com|access-date=2020-01-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://gorenjski-utrip.si/matjaz-belsak-odlicen-peti-na-tekmovanju-najmocnejsih-zemljanov/|title=Matjaž Belšak odličen peti na tekmovanju najmočnejših zemljanov|date=2019-03-03|website=Gorenjski Utrip|language=sl-SI|access-date=2020-01-14}}
• 1st place at 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic Europe in Barcelona, Spain.{{Cite web|url=http://belsakstrongman.com/|title=Matjaž Belšak - Arnold Classic Europe and SCL 2018 Winner|website=Matjaž Belšak Strongman|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-11}}
• 2nd place at 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic Europe in Barcelona, Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://startingstrongman.com/2018/10/03/2018-arnold-strongman-europe-results/|title=2018 Arnold Strongman Europe Results|date=2018-10-03|website=Starting Strongman|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-11}}
• 1st place at 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic Poland.

Matjaž had a complete right hip replacement on 24 June 2021{{Cite web |title=Matjaž Belšak on Instagram: "The operation went great without complications. A complete hip replacement is finally behind me after 2 years of pain and quite a few limitations. 1 day after the surgery I have already taken a couple of steps, I am ok the pain is not terrible but very tired all the time. I look forward to what the future holds for me. Stay strong my friends! @sbd.slovenija @sbdapparel @belsakpowercoaching" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgFnClg-QD/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |via=Instagram |language=en}} because of an old injury. The injury made him unable to compete for some time. His first strongman competition after the hip replacement was Slovenia's Strongest man 2022, which he also won, just about a year after the surgery. During the rehabilitation he also competed at Slovenia's Arm Wrestling Championship 2022.{{Citation |title=Matjaž Belšak 133 kg vs Matej Zidarič 85 kg - Right Hand - Full match | date=29 August 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=molFjYfn6zA |language=en |access-date=2022-09-09}}

Matjaž is 187 cm tall (6 ft 2 in) and weighs around 150 kg (330 lbs) during the competitive strongman season.

Matjaž trains most of the time in his home gym. He usually trains for 3–4 hours a day, besides his regular stretching and mobility routines. He usually has 5 meals per day and consumes between 5000 and 7000 calories daily. He tries to sleep for at least 8 hours every night.

• Deadlift – {{convert|410|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2019 Arnold Africa)
• Elephant bar Deadlift (Raw w/straps) – {{convert|404|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2019 Arnold Strongman Classic)
• Frame Deadlift (from 15 in) – {{convert|450|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2019 Slovenia's Strongest Man)
• Car Deadlift – {{convert|340|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 16 reps (2014 SCL Hungary)
• Squat – {{convert|400|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (Raw, with wraps)
• Axle press – {{convert|200|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2017 Europe's Strongest Man)
• Log press (with SCL giant log) – {{convert|195|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2017 SCL FIBO)
• Viking press – {{convert|160|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 15 reps (2016 SCL Norway)
• Block press – {{convert|140|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2014 Savickas Classic)
• Cyr Dumbbell press – {{convert|127|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2020 Arnold Strongman Classic)
• Cyr (Junior) Dumbbell press for reps (in 60 seconds) – {{convert|102|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 9 reps (has achieved this feat twice)
  (2017 SCL Canada) and (2017 Festival des Hommes Forts de Warwick) (Joint-World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S4 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 04 - One-arm Overhead presses |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=9 April 2025}}
• Circus Dumbbell press for reps (in 60 seconds) – {{convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 10 reps (2016 WSM - Group 1) (Former Joint-World Record)
• Circus Dumbbell press for reps (in 60 seconds) – {{convert|92|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 14 reps (2017 SCL World Finals) (World Record)
• Atlas Stones – 5 stones set {{convert|140-180|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} in 19.89 seconds (2015 SCL FIBO) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S7 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 07 - Stonelifting (Regular & Semi-Regular stones) |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}
• Atlas Stone to Shoulder – {{convert|140|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 8 reps/ bouncing technique (2014 Giants Live Hungary) (Former World Record)
• Max Atlas Stone – {{convert|220|kg|abbr=on|0|}} (2019 Arnold Africa)
• Húsafell Stone – 186 kg (410 lb) for 55.07 meters (180 ft 8 in) (2019 Arnold Strongman Classic)
• Odd Haugen tombstone to shoulder – {{convert|186|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2019 Arnold Strongman Classic)
• Sandbag over bar – {{convert|32|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} over 4.57 metres (15 ft 0 in) (2018 Arnold Strongman Classic)
• Front hold – {{convert|40|kg|abbr=on|0|}} for 15.94 seconds (2015 SCL Poland)
• Power Medley – {{convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} log carry for 20m course and {{convert|300|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} sled drag for 20m course in 34.50 seconds (2017 SCL World Finals) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S16 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 16 - Medleys |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=12 April 2025}}
• Conan's Wheel of Pain – {{convert|9072|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} 32.16 meters (105 ft 6 in) (2019 Arnold Strongman Classic)
• Arm over arm truck pull – {{convert|10000|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for 25m course in 43.67 seconds (2015 SCL Martinique) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S17 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 17 - Arm over Arm |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=14 April 2025}}
• Arm over arm truck pull – {{convert|18000|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for 20m course in 37.28 seconds (2015 SCL Austria) (World Record)
• Viking Boat pull (without the sails) – {{convert|3000|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} harness only/ no rope for 25 meters 'in ice terrain' - 16.68 seconds (2016 World's Strongest Viking / SCL Norway) (Former World Record)
• Truck pull – {{convert|31752|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} 'uphill' for 16.12 meters (2017 Festival des Hommes Forts de Warwick)

Despite being one of the strongest people on earth, Matjaž does not get that much media attention in Slovenia. However, he made a few appearances in Slovenian's most important media:

• In 2016 he gave an interview on a popular Slovenian radio show, hosted by Denis Avdić, where he was asked to pull a truck.{{Citation|title=Matjaž Belšak premaknil tovornjak pred studiem Radia 1| date=21 September 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LksleAvt7qg|language=en|access-date=2020-01-10}}
• In 2018 he gave an interview for the Slovenian national television.
• In 2019 Matjaž was a special guest on an annual event of Elektro Ljubljana, one of major energy suppliers in Slovenia, where he symbolically lifted a model of a transmission tower.{{Citation|title=It was a pleasure for me to be able to... - Matjaž Belšak Strongman Slovenia|url=https://www.facebook.com/118189061683354/videos/1005456229831916|language=en|access-date=2020-01-10}}
• In 2020 he gave an interview during one of the most watched Slovenian news shows on Pop TV.{{Cite web|url=https://www.24ur.com/novice/fit-24ur/eden-premika-letala-drugi-meri-moci-kot-gasilec.html|title=Eden premika letala, drugi meri moči kot gasilec|website=24ur.com|language=sl|access-date=2020-01-10}}

• {{Official website|https://belsakstrongman.com/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belsak, Matjaz}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:Slovenian strength athletes

Category:Slovenian sportsmen

Category:Slovenian powerlifters

Category:Male powerlifters