Bill Kazmaier: From Powerlifting Records to Wrestling Fame

Posted by Leonard Shemtob on May 20, 2025

Bill Kazmaier is one of the most famous strongmen in the world. He became well-known for his amazing strength and powerlifting skills. Bill won the title of World’s Strongest Man contest three times in a row and set many records during his career.

In this article, we will learn about his life, his achievements, and how he became a legend in strength sports.

Quick Summary

Bill Kazmaier is a legendary strongman who won the World's Strongest Man contest three times (1980, 1981, 1982).
He was also a world champion powerlifter, setting many strength records in the 1980s.
Kazmaier later became a professional wrestler and worked with wrestling companies like WCW.
He was known for his incredible strength, strong mindset, and love for competition.
For those dedicated to their own strongman and powerlifting journeys, our best supplement, Anafuse, can help support increases in muscle mass, strength, and recovery after training.

About Bill Kazmaier

Bill Kazmaier, born on December 30, 1953, in Burlington, Wisconsin, is widely regarded as one of the greatest strength athletes of all time. He is a former world champion powerlifter, three-time World's Strongest Man winner, and professional wrestler.

Kazmaier first gained attention as a star football player at the University of Wisconsin-Madison but left college in 1974 to focus on powerlifting and strength training full-time.

In 1978, he won both the American and International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) world championships. He became the first person to bench press 300 kg (661 lbs) raw in 1981 and set a total world record of 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs) in the same competition, which stood for over a decade. His best lifts included a 925 lb squat (without a suit), a 661 lb bench press, and an 887 lb deadlift.

Kazmaier dominated the World's Strongest Man competition, winning three consecutive titles in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Later, he entered the world of professional wrestling, where he performed in WCW and other wrestling organizations.

Even after retiring from sports, Bill Kazmaier stayed active in the strength world by working as a commentator, coach, and speaker. Today, he remains an iconic figure in strength sports.

Quick Facts: Bill Kazmaier

Full Name: William "Bill" Kazmaier
Nickname: “Kaz”
Born: December 30, 1953 (age 71 as of today's date: May 20, 2025)
Birthplace: Burlington, Wisconsin, USA
Primary Sports: Powerlifting, Strongman, Professional Wrestling
Weight (Competition): Around 320–340 lbs (145–155 kg)
Height: 6 ft 2.5 in (189 cm)

Bill Kazmaier Biography

Early Life and Background

Bill Kazmaier was born on December 30, 1953, in Burlington, Wisconsin. He grew up in a family with German ancestry and was the youngest child of William Bartholomew and Florence Louise Steinhoff Kazmaier. Bill had one brother, two sisters, and a half-brother.

His father owned soda water bottling plants in Wisconsin. From a young age, Bill was a naturally strong and athletic child, often described as a “big kid” growing up.

By age 10, he could overhead press his own bodyweight (110 lbs). In high school, he set records in shot put and sprinting while starring as a fullback in football.

In high school, he played football and showed promise as a serious athlete. He later went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he played as a fullback on the football team.

At the Madison YMCA, Bill learned the fundamentals of powerlifting. Early on, he struggled financially, working various tough jobs such as an oil rigger, bouncer, and lumberjack to make ends meet.

Rise in Powerlifting (1979–1983)

Bill’s rise in powerlifting was rapid and impressive. In 1978, at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championships, he made a strong impression by squatting 782 pounds, bench pressing 534 pounds, and deadlifting 804 pounds in the 275-pound weight class. This performance immediately placed him among the top powerlifters in the country.

In 1979, at just 25 years old, Kazmaier won his first International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Powerlifting Championship. His winning lifts included an 865-pound squat, a 622-pound bench press, and an 804-pound deadlift, totaling 2,291 pounds.

This victory marked the beginning of his dominance in the sport. That same year, he competed in the third annual World’s Strongest Man event in Studio City, California, where he finished in third place, just missing out on second.

After facing some financial difficulties in California, he moved to Auburn, Alabama. There, he first worked in strength research at Auburn University and later joined a barbell company. In the early 1980s, he opened the Kaz Fitness Center in the city.

Kazmaier continued to push the limits of strength. In 1981, he became the first person to bench press 300 kg (661 pounds) raw in an official competition. That same year, he set a total powerlifting record of 1,100 kg (2,425 pounds), a mark that stood for more than a decade.

His lifts were extraordinary, including a 926-pound squat (with a suit), a 661-pound bench press, and an 838-pound deadlift. These feats are still considered some of the best in powerlifting history.

Despite his success, Kazmaier’s career was plagued by injuries. He suffered severe muscle tears, including a pectoral injury and torn hip flexors, which limited his ability to set even higher records. Nonetheless, he remained a top competitor and continued to win championships.

Strongman Career (1979–1989)

After establishing himself as a powerlifting superstar, Bill Kazmaier turned his focus to the World's Strongest Man (WSM) competition, where he would become a legend in his own right. He first competed in the 1979 WSM contest and finished third.

Despite leading much of the competition, he was edged out near the end but made a strong impression by outperforming other strength icons, including Don Reinhoudt, by deadlifting a 2,555-pound car. This debut showed the world that Kazmaier was a serious contender in strongman events.

Kazmaier’s dominance began in 1980 when he won his first WSM title. He won five of the ten events outright and tied for first in another. His victories included the log lift, engine race, steel bar bend, playboy bunny squat lift, silver dollar deadlift, and the final tug of war. The runner-up, Lars Hedlund, finished more than 28 points behind, highlighting Kazmaier’s clear superiority.

He defended his title successfully in 1981 and 1982, becoming the first man to win the WSM three times in a row—a feat matched by only one other competitor since. In 1981, despite tearing his pectoral muscle during the bar bend event, Kazmaier set a world record by squatting 969 pounds on a Smith machine. His ability to perform at such a high level despite injury added to his reputation for toughness and mental strength.

Kazmaier was eventually excluded from the World’s Strongest Man after 1982. The official reason was never fully clear, but many believe organizers felt his dominance made the contest less competitive. That decision frustrated fans and left a lot of questions in the strongman world.

Some believe it had to do with Franco Columbu’s successful lawsuit against WSM in 1982, after a knee injury he suffered in the 1977 contest. What’s clear is that promoters began focusing more on international competitors, moving the event overseas almost every year after 1982. While Americans won the first six U.S.-based contests (1977–1982), another American wouldn’t win again until 2006.

After a brief absence, when he returned in the late 1980s, he narrowly lost to Jon Pall Sigmarsson, a rising star in the strongman world, and finished fourth in 1989. He continued to compete in other strongman events like Pure Strength, Scottish Power Challenge, and World Muscle Power Challenge, adding more titles to his name before retiring from competition around 1990.

With three World’s Strongest Man titles, Kazmaier is considered one of the sport’s all-time greats. Strength historian David P. Webster called him “the greatest American strength athlete of all time.”

In a 2008 expert poll, he was ranked the top superheavyweight lifter ever and one of the strongest men in history. That same year, Flex magazine listed him as the third strongest man of all time, behind Mark Henry and Žydrūnas Savickas.

Wrestling Career

Bill Kazmaier briefly pursued a career in professional wrestling with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Inspired by Jim Thorpe, Kazmaier tried to branch out into other sports, including a tryout with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in 1981, but did not make the team.

He later trained in wrestling with Verne Gagne and Brad Rheingans, making his pro wrestling debut in 1986 with a WWF match in Calgary, where he defeated David Barbie. He also competed in Japan for Fighting Network RINGS in early 1991.

Before joining WCW in 1991, Kazmaier wrestled for smaller promotions. Billed as the world’s strongest man, he got a few shots at the heavyweight title but never won it.

Life After Competition

He opened KAZ Fitness Center (1980s–2005) and SWAT Gym in Alabama, selling equipment via DynaKaz Inc. Kazmaier also became a motivational speaker, sharing his experiences and mindset with audiences.

For many years, he worked as a commentator and co-presenter for strongman competitions, including the World’s Strongest Man broadcasts on ESPN and Giants Live events.

Bill Kazmaier Today

A few years back, Kazmaier even launched his own coffee brand, called Kaz Koffee. These days, he offers online strength coaching. He has two children, including his son Eric, who lives in Texas.

In recent years, Kazmaier relocated to the Philippines. In January, it was reported that the 71-year-old had undergone angioplasty after suffering a heart attack.

As of now, he’s still scheduled for two more surgeries—a pacemaker and a valve replacement. A GoFundMe account was set up to help cover his medical and health expenses.

Personal Best Lifts

Powerlifting

Squat: 925.9 lbs (420 kg)
Bench Press: 661.4 lbs (300 kg)
Deadlift: 837.7 lbs (380 kg) raw, 886 lbs (402 kg)
Total: 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg)

Strongman

Deadlift: 915 lbs (415 kg)
Silver Dollar Deadlift: 1,055 lbs (478.5 kg)
Hungarian Farm Cart Deadlift: 1,124 lbs (510 kg)
Car Deadlift: 2,555 lbs (1,159 kg)
Cement Block Squat: 969 lbs (439.5 kg) on Smith Machine
Log Lift: 375 lbs (170 kg)
Wheelbarrow Carry: 600 lbs (272 kg) for 40m in 14.4 seconds

Other Notable Feats

Inch Dumbbell Press: 172 lbs
Seated Military Press: 448 lbs x 3 reps
Barbell Cheat Curl: 400 lbs

Best Titles

World’s Strongest Man (United States)
- Champion: 1980, 1981, 1982
- Third Place: 1979
World’s Strongest Man (Iceland)
- Runner-up: 1988
World’s Strongest Man (United Kingdom)
- Fourth Place: 1989
Pure Strength Team Challenges (United Kingdom and Scotland)
- Winner: 1988 (UK Pure Strength 2), 1990 (UK Pure Strength 4)
- Second Place: 1989 (Scotland Pure Strength 3), 1987 (Scotland Pure Strength – Ultimate Challenge)
Scottish Power Challenge
- Winner: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
World Muscle Power Championships
- Winner: 1988
- Third Place: 1985
World Strongman Challenge
- Third Place: 1988
Le Defi Mark Ten Challenge (Canada)
- Winner: 1987
Strongbow Contests (United Kingdom)
- Strongbow Superman Contest Winner: 1981
- Strongbow Strongman Contest Winner: 1980

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Bill Kazmaier: FAQs

Q: How strong was Bill Kazmaier at his peak?

A: At his 1981 prime, Kazmaier held:

Raw bench press: 661 lbs (300 kg) - first ever human
Powerlifting total: 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg)
Strongman feats: Deadlifted 1,055 lbs, squatted 969 lbs on Smith machine

Q: Why was Bill Kazmaier banned from World's Strongest Man?

A: While there is no official reason, organizers excluded him from 1983-1987 competitions for being "too dominant" after 3 consecutive wins. The controversial decision was allegedly meant to make events more competitive.

Q: Is Bill Kazmaier the world's strongest man ever?

A: Metrics suggest he's top-5 all-time:

Held 40+ world records
3x WSM champion (tied for most consecutive wins)
First 300kg raw bench
Flex Magazine ranked him 3rd

Q: How many world records did Bill Kazmaier set during his career?

A: Bill Kazmaier set over 40 world records across powerlifting and strongman events. His records included feats like the raw bench press of 661 lbs and the car deadlift of over 2,500 lbs, and more.

Q: Did Bill Kazmaier ever win the World Muscle Power Championship?

A: Yes, Bill Kazmaier won the World Muscle Power Championship in 1988. He also placed 3rd in the same event in 1985.

Final Thoughts

Bill Kazmaier’s career was defined by raw strength, relentless work, and undeniable impact on strength sports. His achievements—like the first 300kg raw bench press and three WSM titles—remain legendary.

Over the years, he faced challenges like injuries, but continued to compete at a high level. His records and performances remain part of strength sports history.

Beyond numbers and titles, Kazmaier’s career reflects the reality of pushing physical limits and adapting through tough times.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Kazmaier
https://thebarbell.com/bill-kazmaier/
https://giants-live.com/athlete/bill-kazmaier/
https://theworldsstrongestman.weebly.com/bill-kazmaier.html
https://strongman.org/athletes/bill-kazmaier/

Photo Credits:

Bill Kazmaier Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kazmanaught

Written and Sponsored by Leonard Shemtob

Leonard Shemtob is President of Strong Supplements and a published author. Leonard has been in the supplement space for over 20 years, specializing in fitness supplements and nutrition. Leonard appears on many podcasts, written over 100 articles about supplements and has studied nutrition, supplementation and bodybuilding.

Leonard's articles have been published in many top publications around the web. Leonard enjoys weight training, playing basketball and yoga, and also enjoys hiking. In his free time he studies and works on improving himself. For more detailed information, visit his official blog.