Behold the 10 Strongest Bodybuilders of All Time

We all know and see that bodybuilders are all big and muscular, but which ones are the strongest among them? Which ones can also heave insane amounts of weight and not just look pretty? In this article, we take a look at this topic and break it down into a list of the strongest bodybuilders of all time.

Bodybuilders carry a huge amount of muscle onto their frame and they look imposing. However, for a lot of them, size does not translate into strength. And it’s only logical since bodybuilding is not a sport where strength carries such importance. Body proportions and size do. This is why for many of them strength comes as a sort of “side effect” in their pursuit of muscle. However, a certain level of muscular strength is still achieved and it comes naturally in the process of putting on a vast amount of muscle.

So, even though training for strength is not necessary, some bodybuilders enjoy doing it. That’s why in the duration of a more than a century we have seen some insanely powerful lifters take the bodybuilding stage. Without further ado, let’s delve into the list of the strongest of these remarkable individuals:

10. Larry Wheels

Larry Wheels is a sort of a unique athlete, in that even though he has competed as a bodybuilder, he’s more popular as a powerlifter. This means that he can be counted among the strongest bodybuilders in history. Larry has become somewhat of a phenomenon in bodybuilding circles and he’s known to always strive to lift heavier than the last time he hit the gym. That’s how he keeps a steady progression.

His Instagram is full of videos of him training in the gym and lifting heavy weights. When you ask any bodybuilder or powerlifter who they think the strongest of them all is, 9 times out of 10 they’d say it’s Larry Wheels. So, for him, it’s not just about if he looks good, it’s also about being a strong man. Here’s a video of Larry at 21, bench pressing 620 lbs.

9. Stan Efferding

Stan Efferding is another one who walks a fine line between bodybuilding and powerlifting. What makes him unique is that he has managed to become successful in both sports. What’s more, he started as a bodybuilder, and then he decided to give powerlifting a try.

It wasn’t until he reached his 40s that Efferding began upping his game and taking things to the next level. He earned his IFBB Pro card and he won in a few competitions. At the same time, he was able to hit personal powerlifting records of an 865lb squat, 606lb bench press, and 837lb deadlift. Now in his 50s, he’s still incredibly strong compared to his fellow bodybuilders.

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