If you look at Phile Pfister's strongman resume you'll notice that he was most often the bridesmaid and never the bride throughout most of his strongman career. Numerous 2nd place and 4th place (just off the podium) finishes. He's competed in 8 WSM's total, in a fistful of Arnold Classics and except for a miraculous finish in 2006, only has one other 1st place finish in international competition.
Why I like him:The rain was coming down in Sanya, China in 2006 as Phil Pfister stepped onto a slippery platform with the reigning World's Strongest Man, Mariusz Pudzianowski. Earlier, on the first event of the finals, the car deadlift, Phil finished a disappointing 5th place, giving him 6 points, digging himself a hole early, he never was a deadlifter. On the power stairs he faired a little better at third place, but still the contest now belonged to Mariusz. His fourth WSM title was now looking like a formality. Phil Pfister's only chance was to win the five remaining events, and not even the super strongman from Poland had ever done that, I don't think anyone ever has.
But then a funny thing happened. Phil won the over head stone lift, narrowly edging out the Pol.
And it didn't stop there. Then he won the Fingal Fingers. Then he beat Mariusz on the bus pull, and then by fractions of a second on the car walk. And now he was five stones away from becoming the first man from the USA to win World's Strongest Man in 24 years. All he had to do was beat Mariusz one more time.... Watch the Video and enjoy.
For the official results sheet from this contest, click here. [editor's note, the only reason the margin of victory is so high for Pfister is b/c Pudzianowski never placed his last stone, he gave up once he saw Pfister had won, had he completed the last stone the final score would have been Phil Pfister 61, Mariusz Pudzianowski 60.5 - War Damn Pfister]
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