Svend Karlsen

Svend Viking Karlsen (born 6 October 1967) is a Norwegian former strongman, powerlifter, and IFBB professional bodybuilder. He is well known for shouting his catch phrase "Viking Power!" during competitions.

Svend Karlsen
Born
Svend Ødegård Karlsen

(1966-10-06) 6 October 1966
Drammen, Norway
Other names"The Viking"
OccupationStrongman, Powerlifter, Bodybuilder
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Spouse(s)Eun Lene Ekrem Karlsen 2002-2009 (her death)
ChildrenSvend Alexander Karlsen
Competition record
Strongman
Representing  Norway
World's Strongest Man
Qualified 1996 World's Strongest Man
8th 1997 World's Strongest Man
3rd 1999 World's Strongest Man
2nd 2000 World's Strongest Man
1st 2001 World's Strongest Man
5th 2002 World's Strongest Man
9th 2003 World's Strongest Man
5th 2004 World's Strongest Man
Arnold Strongman Classic
2nd 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic
2nd 2003 Arnold Strongman Classic
2nd 2004 Arnold Strongman Classic
6th 2005 Arnold Strongman Classic
IFSA Strongman World Championships
Qualified 2005
IFSA World Open
2nd 2005
IFSA Nordic Championships
1st 2005
Strongman Super Series
3rd 2001 Holland Grand Prix
2nd 2001 Czech Grand Prix
3rd 2001 Sweden Grand Prix
3rd 2001 Overall
1st 2002 Scotland Grand Prix (World Muscle Power Championships)
2nd 2002 Sweden Grand Prix
5th 2002 Hawaii Grand Prix
2nd 2002 Overall
9th 2003 Hawaii Grand Prix
4th 2003 Holland Grand Prix
3rd 2003 Canada Grand Prix
4th 2003 Finland Grand Prix
2nd 2004 Arnold Strongman Classic
4th 2003/04 Overall
5th 2004 Moscow Grand Prix
3rd 2004 Sweden Grand Prix
3rd 2004 Sweden Grand Prix
World Strongman Challenge
3rd 1997
3rd 2000
3rd 2001
World Muscle Power Championships
2nd 2001
1st 2002
Europe's Strongest Man
3rd 1998
1st 2001
3rd 2002
6th 2003
Norway's Strongest Man
1st 2003
1st 2005
1st 2006
Powerlifting
Representing  Norway
IPF Junior World Championships[1]
3rd 1989 125kg
EPF European Powerlifting Championships[2]
4th 1989 110kg
EPF Junior European Championships[3]
3rd 1986 125kg
3rd 1989 125kg

Powerlifting and bodybuilding

Karlsen started out as a powerlifter in 1986, winning a number of titles and setting 30 Norwegian records, 3 European records, and 1 world record. Soon after, Karlsen began pursuing a career in bodybuilding. He traveled on the road doing posing exhibitions with some bodybuilding friends to help pay the bills. Karlsen won the Mr. Norway title, and took second place at the World Games. This victory earned him his IFBB pro card and he could now compete as a professional. Karlsen moved to California to focus on his bodybuilding career, and his first pro show was the IFBB Night of Champions. Karlsen suffered a severe muscle tear that forced him to retire from bodybuilding, and in 1996 he quickly moved on to strongman competitions.

Strongman career

Karlsen competed in one of the 1996 World's Strongest Man qualifying heats and narrowly missed qualifying for the finals. In the 1997 World's Strongest Man contest, Karlsen qualified for his first of 7 consecutive finals from 1997, 1999-2004 (did not compete in 1998). Karlsen was leading the finals on points, but during the warm-up for the squat event, he tore his hamstring and had to withdraw from the rest of the contest. Karlsen returned in 1999, finishing in third place, and finished in second place in 2000. Karlsen finally became victorious at the 2001 World's Strongest Man competition in Victoria Falls, Zambia.

Some of Karlsen's other notable strongman titles include Europe's Strongest Man 2001, 3 time runner-up at the Arnold Strongman Classic 2002-04, World Muscle Power Championships 2001 winner, and 3 time Norway's Strongest Man in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Karlsen was the second athlete inducted into the World's Strongest Man Hall of Fame in 2010 as voted by the fans. He has a larger than life personality, and is known for shouting his catchphrase "Viking Power". Among his best lifts in his early years were a 400 kg squat, 260 kg bench press and a 412.5 kg deadlift. In an interview in 1997, he claims his most notable feat of strength was deadlifting 400 kg for 3 repetitions.[4]

Personal records

Best gym lifts as of 1997

Best lifts in training

  • Bench Press - 260 kg (573 lb)
  • Deadlift - 400 kg (881 lb) for 3 repetitions, no wrist straps.
  • Deadlift - 425 kg (937 lb) (according to himself)

Retirement

Karlsen retired from competition in 2006, and began serving as presenter and producer of the Norwegian version of the World's Strongest Man contest and the qualifying tour; Giants Live

After retirement

Karlsen is the event organizer for the Norway's Strongest Man competition, introducing events and commentating. Karlsen was a co-commentator for the final event at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic. Karlsen also ran the Viking Power Challenge event in Norway, which was a part of the Super Series and later Giants Live tour for qualification into the World's Strongest Man competition.

Other competitions
  • Strongest Man in the North 1996 - 5
  • World Series Strongman Challenge 1997 - 3
  • European Hercules 1997 - 4
  • Helsinki Grand Prix 1998 - 2
  • Atlantic Giant 1998 - 3
  • Helsinki Grand Prix 2000 - 3
  • Ireland Grand Prix 2000 - 3
  • Beauty & The Beast 2000 - 2
  • Prague Grand Prix 2000 - 2
  • Romania Grand Prix 2000 - 4
  • China Grand Prix 2000 - 4
  • Northeast Strongman Showdown 2001 - 1
  • Polish Grand Prix 2001 - 3
  • Europe's Strongest Man 2001 - 1
  • Dutch Grand Prix 2001 - 3
  • Beauty & The Beast 2001 - 3
  • World Muscle Power 2001 - 2
  • Prague Grand Prix 2001 - 2
  • World Record Breakers 2001 - 1
  • X-treme Strongman Challenge 2001 - 1
  • Stockholm Grand Prix - 3
  • Northeast Strongman Showdown 2002 - 2
  • Arnold Classic strongman Contest 2002 - 2
  • Vantaa Challenge 2002 - 2
  • Atlantic Giants 2002 - 1
  • Clash of Titans 2002 - 1
  • Clash of the Celtic giants 2002 - 2
  • Europe Strongest Man 2002 - 3
  • China Grand Prix 2002 - 1
  • Sweden Grand Prix Super Series 2002 - 2
  • Team World vs. Poland 2002 - 1
  • Super Series Final 2002 - 2
  • Hawaii Grand Prix Super Series - 9
  • Arnold Classic Strongman contest 2003 - 2
  • Helsinki Grand Prix 2003 - 6
  • World Muscle & Power 2003 - 6
  • Holland Grand Prix Super Series 2003 - 5
  • Europe Strongest Man 2003 - 6
  • Canada Grand Prix Super Series 2003 - 3
  • World Team Championship 2003 - 5
  • Finland Grand Prix Super Series 2003 - 4
  • World Record Breaker 2003 - 5
  • Norway Strongest Man 2003 - 1
  • MHP X-TREME STRONGMAN Championship 2003 - 2
  • Norway Strongest Man 2006 - 1

References
  1. "Karlsen Svend Ødegård". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. "Karlsen Svend Ødegård". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. "Karlsen Svend Ødegård". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  4. "Interview with Svend Karlsen". Strongestman.billhenderson.org. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
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