Meet the Pros

Jerry Pritchett, USA

Robert Oberst, USA

Dimitar Savatinov, Bulgaria

Nick Best, USA

Mark Felix, England

Derek DeVaughn, USA

Dave Ostlund, USA

Stan Carradine, USA

Bryan Benzel, USA

Benhard Thompson, Canada

By Kalle Beck







The North American Open Championships, presented by Giants Live, will be back in the United States for the first time in six years from Saturday, June 25, to Sunday, June 26, at the Grand Arena in Martinsville, Indiana. The last time a Giants Live event took place on U.S. soil was May of 2009 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. FloElite will be there to live-stream all the action , beginning with the amateur division on Saturday, June 25, in the North American Log and Deadlift Championships, and continuing with the professionals on Sunday, June 26, in the North American Open Championship.The top three athletes will qualify to compete at the 2016 World Strongest Man™ competition, which is rumored to take place sometime in August. That potentially makes this event one of the last chances to qualify for one of the coveted spots.The Giants Live qualifying tour primarily takes place overseas, which makes it more difficult for up-and-coming American talent to get a chance to shine at World Strongest Man™. And once they get there, they must contend with perennial American heavy-hitters such as Brian Shaw, Mike Burke and Jerry Pritchett.It’s a long road to the top, and it starts with the North American Open Championships.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCjbITHJujD/" hide_caption="0"]Standing 6-4 and weighing 350-plus pounds, this four-time World Strongest Man™ finalist is one of the clear favorites. Pritchett became the first American to deadlift more than 1,000 pounds at the 2016 Arnold Classic, and recently broke the American deadlift record in powerlifting.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGugcughP9J/" hide_caption="0"]The 6-8, 400-plus-pound fan favorite is a three-time World Strongest Man™ competitor; America’s Strongest Man runner-up; and American log lift record-holder with a 465-pound hoist.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGpYXT3piRj/" hide_caption="0"]Hailing from Bulgaria and now residing Florida, the 5-10, 337-pound Dimitar got his start as a performing circus strongman for the Ringling Brothers. Since transferring to professional Strongman, Dimitar won America’s Strongest Man in 2014 and 2015, placed fourth at the Arnold Classic, and holds the world record in the circus dumbbell at 308 lbs.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGbI4B8N5fl/" hide_caption="0"]This 6-3, 315-pound, six-time World Strongest Man™ competitor lives in Las Vegas. Best, a 47-year-old veteran, has been competing in strength sports since he was a teen, and set multiple records in powerlifting and strongman, including events such as the farmer’s walk. After focusing almost exclusively on strongman for 15 years, Best recently set three world records at a powerlifting contest in the 308-pound master’s division.[tweet url="https://twitter.com/bri961/status/739477889872203777" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]At 6-3 and 320 lbs, Felix seems to only be getting better with age. He made his fourth World Strongest Man™ final in 2015 just a few days short of his 50th birthday. This 10-time World Strongest Man™ competitor holds multiple grip and deadlift world records, and poses a big threat to the American competition.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BC3VeFcEvND" hide_caption="0"]This Martinsville, Indiana, native could use the home field advantage to qualify for his first appearance at World Strongest Man™. This 6-3, 330-pound athlete excels at medleys—he recently placed second at the LA Fit Expo, and won the USA Classic in 2015.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGnr0oZKEHG" hide_caption="0"]Ostlund made his first appearance at World Strongest Man™ in 2005, and just three years later made the podium with a third-place finish in 2008. The 6-7, 350-pound athlete is a true student of the game and historian of the sport—his highly technical approach might help him qualify for his eighth World Strongest Man™ appearance.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGFdvaKx7Om/" hide_caption="0"]One of the smaller competitors at 5-10 and 275 lbs, Carradine is a proficient lifter with a 400-plus-pound log press and is closing in on an 800-pound deadlift. The Colorado native is looking to qualify for his first appearance at World Strongest Man™.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGIhOPzn5Zb/" hide_caption="0"]The 6-2, 315-pound Benzel recently made strides by earning his professional card through a second-place finish at the 2015 Arnold Amateur World Championships. Benzel, a bulldog enthusiast, earned fifth at last year’s America’s Strongest Man in his rookie debut as a professional.[facebook url="https://www.facebook.com/benhardthecrusher/posts/1708523689410006"]A recent addition to the contest, the 5-6 Thompson is coming down from Canada fresh off a fifth-place finish at the Thunder Bay Classic.If you sign up this weekend, you'll not only get all the action at OSM and Giants Live North America, you'll also get to watch Europe's Strongest Man on July 9th, featuring Hafthor "The Mountain" Bjornsson, Eddie "The Beast" Hall, Zydrunas "Big Z" Savickas, and more!