Žydrūnas Savickas, born on July 15, 1975, is a Lithuanian former professional strongman and powerlifter. Known as "Big Z," he is widely considered one of the greatest strongman competitors of all time. Savickas began his journey in strength sports after watching a strongman contest on TV in 1989. He quickly excelled, setting Lithuanian records in squat, bench press, and deadlift. He won his first Lithuania's Strongest Man contest in 1998 and would go on to win it a total of 17 times.
Throughout his career, Savickas won 79 international competitions, 5 international masters competitions, and 36 national competitions. His notable achievements include four World's Strongest Man titles (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014), eight Arnold Strongman Classic titles (2003-2008), two IFSA Strongman World Championships, and three Europe's Strongest Man titles. He holds numerous world records, particularly in the log lift, where he reigned for sixteen years, and has seven World Log Lift Championship titles. In 2010, a biography titled "Žydrūnas Savickas – žmogus iš geležies" ("Žydrūnas Savickas – A Man From Iron") was published about him. Savickas is the only modern strongman to have won World's Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe's Strongest Man, Fortissimus, and the IFSA World Championships.
