Over the years, the events used in World's Strongest Man have changed a lot, so it can be a little difficult to give an accurate comparison between competitors of old and the newer strongmen. Magnússon never went head to head with Kazmaier or Reinhoudt, so how are we to know who was the strongest?
        It is difficult to compare the performances of strongmen in some events, like the Truck Pull, because the weight of the truck or the distance of the course varies from year to year. There are, however, a few events that have been used consistently through the years with which one can compare the two eras.

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The Dead Lift
        This is a good lift to consider if one is trying to measure a competitor's pure power. It requires tremendous strength in the legs and back, and a good grip as well. Here are some of the best dead lifts ever seen in WSM history:

Tom Magee Jon Pall Sigmarsson Bill Kazmaier Ernie Hackett Gerrit Badenhorst Jouko Ahola Don Reinhoudt Magnús Ver Magnússon

1177 lbs. (535 kg.) 1133 lbs. (515 kg.) 1055 lbs. (480 kg.) 1055 lbs. (480 kg.)   968 lbs. (440 kg.)   957 lbs. (435 kg.)   950 lbs. (432 kg.)   946 lbs. (430 kg.)

New Zealand, 1983 New Zealand, 1983 United States, 1982 United States, 1982 South Africa, 1994 United States, 1997 United States, 1979 South Africa, 1994

        All of these lifts (with the exception of Reinhoudt's) were performed as a "silver dollar lift" where the weights on the bar were coins in boxes at each end. This generally provides a slightly shorter distance for the lift and more bend in the bar than with traditional weights. Reinhoudt's lift was on a standard bar attached to the back of a car, and was the equivalent of a 950 lb. bar lift.

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The Squat
        This is basically the only event from the first WSM contest that is still being used now. Here are some of the best squats in competition:

Don Reinhoudt Bill Kazmaier Magnús Ver Magnússon Ernie Hackett Tom Magee Mark Philippi Dave Waddington Gerrit Badenhorst Gary Taylor

1000 lbs. (455 kg.)   969 lbs. (440 kg.)   964 lbs. (438 kg.)   955 lbs. (434 kg.)   955 lbs. (434 kg.)   955 lbs. (434 kg.)   955 lbs. (434 kg.)   898 lbs. (408 kg.)   898 lbs. (408 kg.)

United States, 1979 United States, 1981 Bahamas, 1995 United States, 1982 United States, 1982 United States, 1997 United States, 1982 Bahamas, 1995 Bahamas, 1995

        In comparison, the best squat ever managed by Bruce Wilhelm was 750 lb. (341 kg.) in 1978. The squat was never used in any contest featuring Jon Pall Sigmarsson, so it is difficult to compare him in this event.

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The Log Lift
        This event has not been used in recent years for maximum weight, but instead for repetitions. Here are the best log lifts from the years that it was an event:

Jamie Reeves Bill Kazmaier Jon Pall Sigmarsson Raimunds Bergmanis Gary Taylor Lars Hedlund Ernie Hackett

374 lbs. (170 kg.) 363 lbs. (165 kg.) 360 lbs. (164 kg.) 353 lbs. (160 kg.) 352 lbs. (160 kg.) 346 lbs. (157 kg.) 345 lbs. (157 kg.)

Spain, 1989 Spain, 1989 Scotland, 1987 United States, 1997 South Africa, 1994 United States, 1980 United States, 1982

        As this event has not been used recently, with the exception of one qualifying heat in 1994, it is difficult to compare some men like Magnússon, Kiri, or Badenhorst.

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The Rock Lift/Barrel Lift
        The rock and barrel lift are similar in that they are both an overhead press of an object on which it is very difficult to get a good grip. Here are the best rock and barrel lifts seen in WSM:

Don Reinhoudt Lars Hedlund Magnús Ver Magnússon O.D. Wilson Gerrit Badenhorst Magnús Ver Magnússon Anton Boucher John Gamble Jon Pall Sigmarsson Laszlo Fekete

300 lbs. (136 kg.) Barrel 290 lbs. (132 kg.) Barrel 286 lbs. (130 kg.) Barrel 275 lbs. (125 kg.) Barrel 297 lbs. (135 kg.) Rock 286 lbs. (130 kg.) Rock 286 lbs. (130 kg.) Rock 277 lbs. (126 kg.) Rock 275 lbs. (125 kg.) Rock 275 lbs. (125 kg.) Rock

United States, 1979 United States, 1979 Canary Islands, 1991 Canary Islands, 1991 South Africa, 1994 South Africa, 1994 South Africa, 1994 New Zealand, 1983 Sweden, 1984 Finland, 1990

        To put old and new in perspective, the best barrel lift managed at the first WSM in 1977 was 250 lb. (114 kg.) by Bruce Wilhelm.

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