Laurence Shahlaei
| Laurence Shahlaei | |
|---|---|
|
Shahlaei in 2009 | |
| Born |
Laurence Shahlaei 25 December 1982 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England |
| Residence | Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
| Occupation | Strongman |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 353 lb (160 kg)[1] |
| Children | 1 |
Laurence "Loz" Shahlaei (born 25 December 1982) is an English strongman competitor, winner of England's Strongest Man and Britain's Strongest Man, and regular competitor at the World's Strongest Man. He is currently Europe's Strongest Man.
Early life
Shahlaei was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire,[3] the son of an Iranian father from Kermanshah and an English mother from Newcastle upon Tyne. He attended Balcarras School, and later moved to Stroud, Gloucestershire.[3]
Strongman career
Shahlaei started strongman training in 2005 and entered his first novice competition that year, where he finished 8th. Within two years, he entered his first Britain's Strongest Man ("BSM"), having won the Midlands qualifier. In that competition, he made a huge impact, making it to the final, only to tear his biceps in the tyre flip, which forced him to withdraw. He won the Midlands qualifier again in 2008, and once again made the final, this time finishing 4th behind Jimmy Marku, Terry Hollands, and Mark Felix. This placing landed him an invite to the World's Strongest Man in 2008. Despite his impressive win in the squat, he did not make the final.
In 2009, just four years after beginning strongman, he became the UKSC Midlands Strongest Man and also won the UKSC England's Strongest Man, citing this, alongside his WSM 2008 squat win, as the greatest moment of his career (the WSM qualifier titled "England's Strongest Man", which replaced the Britain's Strongest Man contest in 2009, was won by Terry Hollands and Shahlaei did not compete in that). His favourite strongman event is the farmer's walk because it is a good test of natural strength, whereas his least favourite strongman event is the Atlas stones. Shahlaei has said that he admires Bill Kazmaier and Vasyl Virastyuk for their intensity and belief in themselves, qualities he seeks to emulate, and that he believes the greatest strength athlete of all time is Zydrunas Savickas.
Other work
Shahlaei has said that he would like to set up a sports related business in the future, but his dream is to become an actor. He had a role in The Golden Compass (2007).
On 19 August 2011, Shahlaei competed on Deal or No Deal, where he won £20,000 and lifted presenter Noel Edmonds up above his head.
In August 2012, Shahlaei opened a personal training business in Swindon, Wiltshire.[4]
Stats
- Bench press max: 220 kg
- Squat max: 400 kg
- Deadlift max: 435 kg (accurate as of 2014 World Deadlift Championship event)
Personal life
Shahlaei has a daughter named Ava, whom he once described as his greatest achievement. He and his girlfriend, Liz, live in Swindon, Wiltshire.[5]
References
External links
| Preceded by Jimmy Marku (in 2008) |
Britain's Strongest Man 2012-2013 |
Succeeded by Eddie Hall |
| Preceded by Jimmy Marku |
England's Strongest Man (Elite/UKSC) 2009 |
Succeeded by Eddie Hall (Elite) Dean Slater (UKSC) |