Riku Kiri

Kiri was a child prodigy and started lifting weights at the age of seven. At 19 years old in 1983, Kiri held a World Record in powerlifting in the squat in IPF competition, with a lift of in 125 kg weight category. In one of his first ever strongman competitions in 1985, he defeated the reigning World's Strongest Man Jón Páll Sigmarsson. The 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in), prime Kiri is particularly noted for his static strength including a single-arm deadlift and a raw bench press. He squatted in the Dutch Open strongman contest of 1995 in a Smith machine apparatus. He also bench pressed raw in an official WPC meet along with many other records. For most of his appearances in World's Strongest Man competition, Kiri was hampered by ankle injuries. Although Kiri placed 3rd and 2nd respectively in 1993 and 1996, ankle injuries plagued him during both contests. In reference to the Car Carry event in 1993, Kiri's coach, Markku Suonenvirta, famously said: "His ankle is broken but he's a tough guy." Kiri's ankle was in fact not broken but badly injured and weakened. In the 1996 WSM final event (Power Stairs) Kiri was about to go head to head with Magnus Ver Magnusson. However, just after the starter's whistle, Kiri dropped out due to another ankle injury. Kiri was also forced to drop out of the 1998 World's Strongest Man final due to an ankle injury, finishing in 6th place. His background is in security work, and he holds shares in Gold's Gym-Helsinki. ==Personal records==

Strongman • Deadlift (for reps) – x 4 reps, x 7 reps (raw) • Smith machine Squat – (1995 Dutch Open) (partial lift not to parallel depth) • Log press – (1997 World's Strongest Man, group 2) • Log press (for reps) – x 15 reps (1998 IFSA German Grand Prix) • Atlas stones – 5 stones weighing (1998 IFSA Hungary Grand Prix) • Hercules hold – in each hand (direct weight) for 63.60 seconds (1993 World's Strongest Man) (former world record) • Natural Stone press – (1997 Europe's Strongest Man) • Stone block throw – over (1992 World Muscle Power Classic) (World Record) • Keg toss – over (1997 European Open) (former world record) • Duck walk – for 12m course in 15.03 seconds (1999 AFSA Dubai Full Strength Challenge) (World Record) • Cable drum push – on a 5 hump course in 38.41 seconds (1999 AFSA Dubai Full Strength Challenge) (World Record) • Arm over arm plane pull – for 15m course in 27.70 seconds (1993 World Viking Challenge) (World Record) Powerlifting • Squat – (raw) • Bench press – (raw) • Bench press (for reps) – x 14 reps (raw) • Deadlift – (raw) • Total – (raw) ==References==