Nick Best

{{Short description|American strength athlete}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Nick Best

| other_names =

| image = Nick Best.png

| caption = Nick Best at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada

| birth_name = Nick Best

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|11|06}}

| birth_place = {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada

| known =

| occupation = Strongman, power lifter

| title =

| salary =

| term =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| party =

| boards =

| religion =

| spouse = Callie Marunde-Best

| partner =

| children = Dylan Best, Jessica Best

| relations =

| website = {{URL|nickbeststrongman.com}}

| footnotes =

| employer =

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}

| weight = 320 lb

| medaltemplates = {{CompetitionRecordSport | Strongman}}

{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{USA}} }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|World's Strongest Man}}

{{CompetitionRecord|6th| 2010 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2011 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2012 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2013 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2014 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2015 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2016 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|10th| 2017 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2018 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2020 World's Strongest Man | }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Arnold Strongman Classic }}

{{CompetitionRecord|9th| 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|7th| 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic | }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Giants Live }}

{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2012 Australia | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2013 Australia | }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|SCL North American Championships }}

{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 2012 SCL North American Championships | }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Strongman Super Series }}

{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2009 Romania Grand Prix | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|4th| 2009 Venice Beach Grand Prix | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|6th| 2009 Sweden Grand Prix | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 2009 Overall | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|6th| 2010 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2010 Sweden Grand Prix | }}

{{CompetitionRecord|4th| 2010 Overall | }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|America's Strongest Man }}

{{CompetitionRecord|6th| 2006 America's Strongest Man| }}

{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 2007 America's Strongest Man| }}

{{CompetitionRecord|4th| 2008 America's Strongest Man| }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|All-American Strongman Challenge }}

{{CompetitionRecord|9th| 2008 All-American Strongman Challenge| }}

{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2009 All-American Strongman Challenge| }}

{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2010 All-American Strongman Challenge| }}

{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2011 All-American Strongman Challenge| }}

{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 2012 All-American Strongman Challenge| }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Jesse Marunde Invitational }}

{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2009 | }}

{{CompetitionRecordSport | Powerlifting}}

{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{USA}} }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|USAPL National Powerlifting Championships}}

{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1996 USAPL National Powerlifting Championships |125kg }}

{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1997 USAPL National Powerlifting Championships |125kg }}

{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 1998 USAPL National Powerlifting Championships |125kg }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships}}

{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1996 WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships |125kg }}

}}

Nick Best (born November 3, 1968) is an American strongman and powerlifter.

Powerlifting

Prior to competing in strongman, Best won the USAPL National Powerlifting Championships in the 125 kg class in 1996 and 1997, as well as the WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.nickbeststrongman.com/history.html|title=Nick Best, Pro Strongman|website=Nickbeststrongman.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}}

Strongman

Best started his strongman career in 2006 by participating at America's Strongest Man competition. The following year he won second place to Derek Poundstone. In 2008, he carried the legendary Jón Páll Sigmarsson Stone for {{convert|28.24|m|ftin}} for a new world record. In 2009 he participated at Strongman Super Series Romania Grand Prix and won second place.

In 2010, Best won the All-American Strongman Challenge which qualified him for the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic where he finished ninth.http://www.thefitexpo.com/docs/2010STRONGMANRESULTS.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224918/http://www.thefitexpo.com/docs/2010STRONGMANRESULTS.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} 2010 Gaspari Nutrition All American Strongman Challenge Two months later he competed in the 2010 World's Strongest Man and qualified for the finals and finished sixth. On the same year Best finished second at the Strongman Super Series Swedish Grand Prix behind Brian Shaw.{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmind.com/news/Brian-Shaw-Wins-World-Strongman-Super-Series-Swedish-Grand-Prix-and-Overall-Title/|title=Brian Shaw Wins World Strongman Super Series Swedish Grand Prix and Overall Title|website=Ironmind.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}}

In 2011, He placed second at the 2011 All-American Strongman Challenge which earned him an invite to the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic, where he took seventh.{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmind.com/news/Terry-Hollands-Wins-at-the-FitExpo-Strongman-.-.-.-Nick-Best-is-Second/|title=Terry Hollands Wins at the FitExpo Strongman . . . Nick Best is Second|website=Ironmind.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}} He competed in the 2011 World's Strongest Man contest but failed to qualify for the finals.

In 2012, Best competed in the 2012 All-American Strongman Challenge and finished third. He placed second at the 2012 Giants Live Melbourne, Australia behind Mike Jenkins.{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmind.com/news/Mike-Jenkins-Wins-Giants-LiveFitX-Melbourne-2012/|title=Mike Jenkins Wins Giants Live–FitX Melbourne 2012|website=Ironmind.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}} In this competition, he set a joint world record in the hip lift event with Jenkins with a lift of {{convert|1,150|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}. This placing qualified Nick for the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest, he finished third in his heat and failed to qualify for the finals. Also in 2012, he competed in the inaugural SCL North American Championships in Warwick, Ontario, winning third place.{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmind.com/news/L.P.-Jean-Wins-Festival-Hommes-Forts-Warwick/|title=L.P. Jean Wins Festival Hommes Forts Warwick|website=Ironmind.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}}

In 2013, Best finished second in the Giants Live Australia Grand Prix behind Derek Poundstone.{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmind.com/news/Giants-LiveMelbourne-FitX-Poundstone-Wins-with-One-Arm/|title=Giants Live–Melbourne FitX: Poundstone Wins with One Arm|website=Ironmind.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}} This placing qualified Nick for the 2013 World's Strongest Man contest. Despite qualifying for the World's Strongest Man competition in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, he could not manage to get selected to the finals. However, in 2017 he did so where he emerged tenth. His attempts to get into the finals in 2018 and 2020 were unsuccessful.

In the 2019 television series, The Strongest Man in History, on the History channel, Best broke Paul Anderson's legendary Carousel lift world record by lifting {{convert|1,266|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wDtEyTLIy4|title = The Strongest Man in History: Carousel Lift Challenge | History|website = YouTube}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Most Weight Ever Lifted: Man's Greatest Strength Feats |url=https://thebarbell.com/most-weight-ever-lifted/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US}}

Personal records

  • Deadlift – {{convert|380|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2017 World's Strongest Man)
  • Hummer tyre Deadlift (15 inches off the floor) – {{convert|432|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2010 Arnold Strongman Classic)
  • Elevated Axle bar Deadlift (for reps) (15 inches off the floor) – {{convert|340|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 12 reps (2009 Strongman Super Series Sweden Grand Prix) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S1 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 01 - Deadlifts |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=9 April 2025}}
  • Log press – {{convert|160|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2015 Britain's Strongest Man)
  • Axle press – {{convert|171|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2009 Romania Grand Prix)
  • Atlas Stone (for reps) – {{convert|205|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 4 reps over 4 ft bar (2011 Arnold Strongman Classic)
  • Atlas Stone to shoulder – {{convert|147|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 7 reps (2013 Giants Live FitX Melbourne) (Joint-World Record)
  • Jón Páll Sigmarsson Stone carry – {{convert|221|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|28.24|m|ftin}} (2008 America's Strongest Man) (Former World Record)
  • Elephant Shield carry – {{convert|200|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|71.33|m|ftin}} (2017 World's Strongest Man - Group 5) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S13 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 13 - Revolving, Pushing & Carrying |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=12 April 2025}}
  • Farmer's Walk – {{convert|125|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} per each hand for 75 m in 47.56 seconds (2006 IFSA World Championships Group 1) (IFSA Record){{cite web|url=https://www.strongmancl.com/website2015/|title=Strongman Champions League|website=Strongmancl.com|accessdate=19 April 2019}}
  • Carousel lift – {{convert|1,266|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2019 Strongest Man in History TV show) (World Record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S9 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 09 - Hip lifts & Back carries |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=11 April 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wDtEyTLIy4|title = The Strongest Man in History: Carousel Lift Challenge | History|website = YouTube}}
  • Hip lift – {{convert|1,150|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2012 Giants Live FitX Melbourne) (joint-world record)
  • Super Yoke – {{convert|400|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for 20 m in 8.88 seconds (2009 Romania Grand Prix)
  • IronMind Rolling Thunder – {{convert|103|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2016 Visegrip Viking, Los Angeles)
  • Double overhand Axle deadlift – {{convert|180|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2023 Fefor Arm Lifting)

See also

References