Strength athletics in the United States
Strength athletics in the United States refers to the various strongman competitions organized throughout United States and North America with the elements of all of strength athletics taken into account. United States has held a preeminent position as a nation due to the enormous success of its competitors on the international stage, who between Bruce Wilhelm, Don Reinhoudt, Bill Kazmaier, Mark Henry, Phil Pfister, Derek Poundstone, Brian Shaw, Mike Jenkins and Martins Licis have won twelve World's Strongest Man titles, eight Arnold Strongman Classic titles, in addition to numerous other international strongman competitions won by various different athletes. United States has both amateur and professional sanctioning bodies in the sport.
History
American Strongman Corporation is the sole sanctioning body for all professional American strength athletes and organizes the annual America's Strongest Man contest, as well as the NAS US Amateur National Championships, the winner of which receives their pro card to compete in professional contests. North American Strongman organizes the majority of the amateur contests in the United States, and holds pro qualifier events and national championship events throughout the year with men's, woman's, teen's and master's divisions as well as lightweight and heavyweight classes similar to ASC.United States Strongman is a relatively new organization.
National Competitions
America's Strongest Man
America's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in the United States and featuring only American athletes. It is the most prestigious of the national titles. The contest was established in 1997 in Primm, Nevada, with Mark Philippi winning the inaugural contest. It has been held twenty-eight times in eighteen locations across the United States and has produced twenty champions.Derek Poundstone and Lucas Hatton shares the record for the highest number of wins with three, while Brian Shaw, Dimitar Savatinov, Steve Kirit and Brian Schoonveld share two wins each.
All-American Strongman Challenge
A competition started in 2005 which was initially reserved for American athletes but was later opened for international athletes from 2010 until its end in 2012.| Year | Champion | Runner-up | 3rd Place | Location | ||||
| 2005 |  NAS US Amateur Strongman ChampionshipsThe Amateur US Nationals were created in 1997 and are held annually in various locations throughout the United States, with the winner of each weight class earning their pro card to compete professionally. Traditionally, the winner of the men's heavyweight class will go on to compete in major national and international strongman contests such as the World's Strongest Man and the Arnold Strongman Classic.Other competitions
America's Strongest WomanAmerica's Strongest Woman was initiated in 2021 and features both American and foreign athletes residing and training in the United States. Over 20 athletes have participated in the competition over the past five years.
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