They say that only a true athlete is capable of carrying a refrigerator on his back for long distances. And heave heavy logs as high into the air as possible. And lift quarter-ton stones onto pedestals of different heights. And, most importantly, run as fast as possible while carrying a rock shaped like the continent of Africa.
If the mysterious “they” are correct, then our man today, Magnus ver Magnusson (born April 22, 1963), is one hell of an athlete. He also has one of the manliest names you’ll ever hear.
Magnus ver Magnusson pulling what appears to be a tank. No big deal.
Magnus, a former powerlifter and strongman competitor from Iceland, competed in seven World’s Strongest Man competitions. He won four of those contests and was runner up twice. ver Magnusson is inarguably one of the greatest competitors in WSM history, which means a lot to us here at the blog (we have a soft spot in our hearts for timbersports and strongman competitions). He also won the Iceland’s Strongest Man competition eight times, and even held the much-coveted world record for the tire deadlift for awhile, lifting a whopping 981 lbs.
Although now retired, Magnus keeps himself busy running a powerlifting and strongman gym and raising a child in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland. Please direct any and all pronunciation questions to our good Finnish friend, and fellow blogger, Arto Jaakkola. I haven’t a clue how to pronounce that town’s name!
The Blog of Funny Names 
I’m a Svend Karlsen and Mariusz Pudzianowski guy myself!
great idea for a blog, and thanks for the like!
You’re welcome for the Like! Honestly, I should be thanking you for the content – it’s easier to like a good post than to write one.
Wiser words never spoken! thanks again anyway 🙂
As soon as I read the title of that place in Iceland, I said, “How in the hell do you pronounce that?” So funny that you thought the same thing! Thanks for the visit.–Marilyn
Since I’ve been called in as an expert, let me try and help you with that. First, start eating a bagel, preferably whole wheat. Then, attempt to say the word “bananaboat” with the bagel filling your mouth, but substitute the last “-oat” part with a kind of Marlon Brando mumble, which should sound something like “ummmumumummum”. Finish up with the sound of a very hungry owl calling over a waiter and I think you’ve got it. Or you can just call it “the place Magnus ver Magnusson” is from. Might be easier.
Haha, well done.
lol Arto!! This guy, from the looks of it, took up a great deal of landspace by himself!
He certainly did. And if he didn’t take up the landspace, he picked up the landspace – they once had an event where they had to lift these giant stones in the shape of Africa. http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Africa-Stone-7-393×590.jpg
P.S. Haha, thanks to this blog, I think you know more about the weird childhoods that Rob and I had than almost anyone else I know – even friends that I’ve been in touch with for years.
I don’t think I’ve told anyone about the Africa Stones before 🙂
Ah – not to be confused with Magnus Magnusson the question master from Mastermind!
I have seen MvM ‘perform’ on TV and he is a powerhouse!
He really was! Probably still is.
I guess that’s what you’d expect from a guy whose name translates to “Large, son of Large’s son” or “Great, son of Great’s son”. That’s a heck of a lineage for a strongman!