Gary Taylor (strongman)


Gary Taylor is a British former Strongman, Weightlifter, Powerlifter and Bodybuilder.
He won the World's Strongest Man competition in 1993.

Career

Taylor was inspired to lift weights at a young age after he saw a bodybuilding magazine and joined a local sports club. With three months of training he won the Welsh Junior Championships in Weightlifting. At the age of 21, he represented Wales at the 1982 Commonwealth games and placed sixth. At 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles he snatched in the 110 kg class which placed him second going into the clean and jerk, but unfortunately he failed all three of his attempts.
During mid 80s, Taylor focused more on bodybuilding and placed fifth at the 1987 Mr. Universe competition. During 1988 IFBB British Championships he emerged runner-up to future Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates.
Taylor won 1989 Welsh Powerlifting Championships. A year later he squatted, bench pressed and deadlifted for a total of at 1990 British Powerlifting Championships.
In 1989 he participated in his first strongman competition locally and won the inaugural Wales' Strongest Man competition. He later won this title for a total of eight times. After placing eighth at 1990 World Muscle Power Classic, he shared first place with Forbes Cowan at 1991 Europe's Strongest Man and emerged second at 1991 World Viking Challenge. In his inaugural World's Strongest Man in 1991 he placed third behind Magnús Ver Magnússon and Henning Thorsen. After placing second at 1992 World Mighty Man, he dropped to fifth at the 1992 World's Strongest Man.
The following year, Taylor won 1993 World's Strongest Man in Orange, France becoming the first Welshman and the third Brit to win the title. at 6 ft tall, he is the shortest World's Strongest Man winner in history.
Among his lifts, Taylor was noted for his behind-the-neck push press. During 1995 World Muscle Power Classic he lifted in the behind the neck Flintstone barbell push press event for a world record which remained unbeaten for 27 years. During a bodybuilding exhibition in 1994, he behind the neck push pressed for an unofficial world record.
Taylor suffered knee injury during the tire flip event at the 1997 Europe's Strongest Man contest. The injury was so severe that it forced him to retire from strongman permanently.

Personal records

Weightlifting
Powerlifting
Strongman

Retirement/later years

Taylor, now retired from competition, worked within the PE department at Aylesbury Young Offenders Institute, a prison for Category A, as well as being the Senior Gym Officer and rugby coach for Ampthill youth rugby team. He moved to Littlehey Prison Cat-C/YOI as a Security Governor. Gary currently does commentating and event organizing for the annual UK's Strongest Man contest.

World's Strongest Man results