Germany's Strongest Man () is an annual strongman competition held by the German Federation of Strength Athletes (GFSA). Heinz Ollesch holds the record for most wins with 12 wins.
League structure and qualification system On the men's side the sport of strongman in Germany is divided into three leagues - The ATX Power League (third division), the Deutschland Cup Series (second division) and the German Pro League (first division). Beginners can also optionally participate in a Beginner Cup as their first competition.
The ATX Power League (third division) was added to the two existing leagues in the 2021 season and consists of several competitions held throughout the year. After each competition, the top-placed German athletes are promoted to the second division, with the number of promotions depending on the number of participants. For every ten participating athletes, one athlete is promoted. The top athlete in the U105 weight class is also promoted to the second division.
With the introduction of the German Pro League in 2014, the Deutschland Cup Series became the second division in German strongman. Several competitions are held throughout the season, in which the top 20 German athletes earn points based on their results. Double points are awarded for the final competition of the season, and if an athlete competes three or more times in one season, his worst result is discarded. At the end of the season, the three athletes with the most points are promoted to the German Pro League. Athletes ranked fourth and fifth can either be promoted to the first division or compete for another season at Deutschland Cup level.
Like the Deutschland Cup Series, the German Pro League includes several competitions per season in which athletes can collect points toward qualification for the German Championships. Here, too, the top 20 athletes in a competition receive points, and if an athlete competes three or more times in one season, his worst result is discarded.
In 2023 the current qualification system with 12 spots was introduced, where athletes can qualify via the following pathways:
As champion of the previous year's competition As a top-10-athlete in the current German Pro League season As the overall leader of the current Deutschland Cup season up to the german championship
If a qualified athlete chooses not to compete, the next athlete in the German Pro League ranking can move up.
Champions breakdown
YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation1994 Heinz Ollesch 1995 Heinz Ollesch 1996 Heinz Ollesch 1997 Heinz Ollesch 1998 Heinz Ollesch 1999 Heinz Ollesch 2000 Heinz Ollesch 2001 Heinz Ollesch Martin Muhr Carsten Kühn Rosenheim2002 Heinz Ollesch 2003 Heinz Ollesch 2004 Heinz Ollesch 2005 Dieter Seidenkranz Franz Müllner Dietmar Zint Rosenheim2006 Heinz Ollesch Florian Trimpl Knut Handke 2007 Igor Werner Florian Trimpl Raik Seume 2008 Tobias Ide Igor Werner Jens Thamm 2009 Florian Trimpl Tobias Ide Steffen Hayn 2010 Igor Werner Patrik Baboumian Robert Heinrich Waging am See 2011 Patrik Baboumian Daniel Wildt Anton Schimke Waging am See 2012 Timo Rüdiger Mateusz Skrentny Patrik Baboumian Waging am See 2013 Daniel Wildt Robert Heinrich Patrik Baboumian Waging am See 2014 Michael Blumstein Daniel Wildt Dennis Kohlruss 2015 Andreas Altmann Raffael Gordzielik Julian Groth 2016 Andreas Altmann Raffael Gordzielik Dennis Kohlruss 2017 Raffael Gordzielik Dennis Kohlruss Sebastian Kraus Bruckmühl 2018 Raffael Gordzielik Dennis Kohlruss Sebastian Kraus Bad Tölz 2019 Raffael Gordzielik Dennis Biesenbach Sebastian Kraus Bad Tölz 2020 colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" 2021 Dennis Kohlruss Sebastian Kraus Adam Roszkowski Gera 2022 Dennis Kohlruss Tim Hruby Patrick Eibel Gera2023 Dennis Kohlruss Patrick Eibel Markus SchätzlGera2024 Dennis Kohlruss Patrick Eibel Alex ZahnSteinmauern2025 Dennis Kohlruss Dennis Schäfer Albin HasanovicSteinmauern2026 Patrick Eibel Philipp Zorn Volker Bauer
Repeat champions Five athletes won the competition multiple times. Out of these winners, only Dennis Kohlruss is still actively competing at the time of the 2026 season. +AthleteWinsYearsAthlete still active Heinz Ollesch12 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 No Dennis Kohlruss52021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Yes Raffael Gordzielik32017, 2018, 2019No Andreas Altmann22015, 2016No Igor Werner22007, 2010No
Weight class champions In addition to the open weight class the title "Germany's Strongest Man" is also awarded in the lighter weight classes.
In the U80 class the first championship was held in 2025. Kilian Mercier won the competition. In the U90 class the first title was awarded to Szymon Peplinski as the highest placing athlete under 90 kg competing in the U105 championship. Since 2023 the U90 championship is held annually as a standalone competition. Szymon Peplinski and Maximilian Wunderlich are the record holders with 2 wins each. In the U105 class the national title was initially awarded to the highest placing athlete under 105 kg in the open weight class championships. Since 2018 the U105 championship is held as an annual standalone competition. Voker Bauer is the record holder with four wins (2022, 2024, 2025, 2026). In the U120 class the first championship was held in 2025. Leonard Zimmermann was the winner.
+YearU80 ChampionU90 ChampionU105 ChampionU120 Champion2006 Robert Heinrich2007 Patrick Baboumian2008 Mirko Rothe2009 Patrik Baboumian (2)2010 Andreas Starzer2011 Oliver Nell2012 Oliver Nell (2)2013 Mirko Rothe (2)2014 Andreas Starzer (2)2015 Andreas Starzer (3)2016 Lukas Neumayer20172018 Szymon Peplinski Oliver Nell (3)2019 Lukas Neumayer (2)20202021 Lukas Neumayer (3)2022 Volker Bauer2023 Szymon Peplinski (2) Tim Hruby2024 Yago Kracht Volker Bauer (2)2025 Kilian Mercier Maximilian Wunderlich Volker Bauer (3) Leonard Zimmermann2026 Arkon David Maximilian Wunderlich (2) Volker Bauer (4) Max Weißenberg
References
External links German Federation of Strength Athletes (GFSA)