View source for Bill Kazmaier

{{short description|American strongman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = William Kazmaier
| image              = Bill Kazmaier 1981.jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = Kazmaier at Green Bay Packers training camp in 1981.
| nationality        = 
| occupation         = [[Strongman (strength athlete)|Strongman]], [[powerlifting|powerlifter]], [[professional wrestling|wrestler]], [[sports commentator]]
| years active       = 1978–1992
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1953|12|30}}
| birth_place        = [[Burlington, Wisconsin|Burlington]], [[Wisconsin]], U.S.
| other_names        = Kaz
| children           = 1
| height             = 6 ft 2.5 in (189 cm)
| website            = 
| module             = {{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
|height= 6 ft 3 in<ref name=cagematch>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2630&name=William+Kazmaier|title=William Kazmaier Cagematch Profile|website=Cagematch.com}}</ref>
|weight= 326 lb<ref name=cagematch/>
|billed=[[Burlington, Wisconsin]]
|trainer=[[Brad Rheingans]]<ref name=cagematch/><br />[[Verne Gagne]]<ref name=cagematch/>
|debut=1986<ref name=cagematch/>
|retired=1992<ref name=cagematch/>}}
}}
{{CompetitionRecordTableTop}}
{{CompetitionRecordSport | [[Strongman (strength athlete)|Strongman]]}}
{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[World's Strongest Man]]}}
{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| [[1979 World's Strongest Man]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| [[1980 World's Strongest Man]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| [[1981 World's Strongest Man]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| [[1982 World's Strongest Man]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| [[1988 World's Strongest Man]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|4th| [[1989 World's Strongest Man]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[World Muscle Power Championships]]}}
{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 1985  | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1988  | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|4th| 1989  | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|4th| 1990  | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|6th| 1992  | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Le Defi Mark Ten International]]}}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1987 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 1990 | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Pure Strength]]}}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 1987 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1988 w/Stuart Thompson | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 1989 w/[[O.D. Wilson]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1990 w/[[O.D. Wilson]] | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[World Strongman Challenge]]}}
{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 1988 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 1990 | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Scottish Power Challenge]]}}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1984 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1985 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1986 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1987 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1988 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1989 | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Strongbow Strongman]]}}<ref>[http://www.strengthfighter.com/2011/12/1980-strongbow-contest.html The 1980 Strongbow Contest]</ref><ref>[http://www.strengthfighter.com/2013/01/bill-kazmaier-strongbow-superman.html Bill Kazmaier Strongbow Superman Contest 1981]</ref>
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1980 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1981 | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Iceland's Strongest Man]] }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1988 | }}
{{CompetitionRecordSport | [[Powerlifting]]}}
{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition| [[International Powerlifting Federation|IPF World Powerlifting Championships]]}}<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com">{{Cite web|url=http://en.allpowerlifting.com/lifters/USA/kazmaier-william-7202/|title=Bill Kazmaier Powerlifting statistics (incomplete)|access-date=2012-10-01|publisher=en.allpowerlifting.com}}</ref>
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1979 |+110kg }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1983 |+125kg }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition| [[Powerlifting|USPF National Powerlifting Championships]]}}<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/>
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1983 |+125kg }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition| [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU National Powerlifting Championships]]}}<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/>
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1978 Juniors |125kg }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1978 Seniors |125kg }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1983 Seniors |+125kg }}
{{CompetitionRecordBottom}}

'''William Kazmaier''' (born December 30, 1953) is an American former world champion [[powerlifting|powerlifter]], world champion [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] and [[professional wrestler]]. During his illustrious career, he set over 40 powerlifting and strongman world records, and won two [[International Powerlifting Federation]] (IPF) World Championships and three [[World's Strongest Man]] titles. In the 1980s, Kazmaier became famous for his claim to be "the strongest man who ever lived" by equaling and surpassing spectacular and versatile feats of strength of famous strongmen of the 20th century. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest strength athletes of all-time,<ref name="top ten">{{cite web|url=http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/history-of-wsm/the-top-ten-world%E2%80%99s-strongest-men-of-all-time/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028025955/http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/history-of-wsm/the-top-ten-world%E2%80%99s-strongest-men-of-all-time|archive-date=2011-10-28|title=The Top Ten World's Strongest Men of All-Time|date=2010-07-08|access-date=2012-10-06|publisher=[[World's Strongest Man]]|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was inducted into the [[International Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://sportshof.org/2017-hall-of-fame/ |website=www.sportshof.org |author=Dr. Robert Goldman | date=March 13, 2017 | access-date=July 14, 2023}}</ref>

==Early career==
Kazmaier is of [[German American|German ancestry]].<ref name="samson1">{{cite web|url=http://www.samson-power.com/ASL/kaz.html |title=American Strength Legends: Bill Kazmaier (main page) |publisher=Samson-power.com |date=1998-06-28 |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref> A star athlete in high school, he played [[American football|football]] for two years at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] before dropping out in 1974 to concentrate on lifting weights at the Madison [[YMCA]].<ref name="encyclopedia">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/bill-kazmaier/ |title=Bill Kazmaier |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Alabama |publisher=encyclopediaofalabama.org |access-date=October 7, 2012}}</ref> There he learned the fundamentals of powerlifting. Kazmaier then struggled to earn a living as an oil rigger, a bouncer, and a lumberjack.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

==Powerlifting career==
At the 1978 [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) National Championships in [[Los Angeles, California]], Kazmaier squatted {{convert|782|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}}, bench pressed {{convert|534|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}}, and deadlifted {{convert|804|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} in the 275-pound weight class, which immediately placed him in the top rank in his first national powerlifting appearance.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> In 1979 at age 25, he set a world record with a bench press of {{convert|622|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} on the way to winning his first [[International Powerlifting Federation|IPF]] World Powerlifting Championship in [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref name="encyclopedia"/> His winning lifts included an {{convert|865|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} [[squat (exercise)|squat]], the {{convert|622|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} [[bench press]] and an {{convert|804|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} [[deadlift]] for a {{convert|2291|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} total.<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/> He repeated the success in 1983 by first winning the United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF) National Powerlifting Championships in July and later the IPF World Championship in November for a second time.<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/> He won this IPF World Championship despite two major injuries. He had a severe [[Pectoralis major muscle|pectoral]] injury, from which he never recovered completely,<ref name="samson">{{cite web|url=http://www.samson-power.com/ASL/kazmore.html |title=American Strength Legends: Bill Kazmaier |publisher=Samson-power.com |date=1998-06-28 |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref> and shortly before the IPF Championships, had torn his [[hip flexors]] in the squat.<ref name="samson"/>

The world record [[bench press]] in early 1979 was {{convert|612|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}}, held by Sweden's [[Lars Hedlund]]. Kazmaier moved the world record stepwise up from {{convert|617.3|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} in July, 1979 to {{convert|622.8|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} in November 1979 to {{convert|633.8|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} in May, 1980 and finally to {{convert|661.4|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} at the USPF West Georgia Open Powerlifting Championships, held in [[Columbus, Georgia]] on January 31, 1981.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> In this competition, Kazmaier officially became the first human to bench press {{convert|300|kg|lb|abbr=on|1|}}<ref name="samson1"/> (raw) in an IPF-sanctioned meet{{Efn|[[Jim Williams (powerlifter)|Jim Williams]] had bench pressed {{convert|675.5|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} (raw) earlier than Kazmaier in 1972 just prior to the formation of the IPF. But his lift was performed with ace bandage elbow wraps, which were later outlawed so it wouldn't count as the official IPF world record.}} and recorded his lifetime best three-lift-total of {{convert|2425|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}},<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/><ref name="hickoksports">{{cite web|url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/powerlworldrec.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125075325/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/powerlworldrec.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-25|title=World Powerlifting Records|work=Powerlifting Watch|access-date=2012-10-01|publisher=Hickok Sports.com}}</ref> a powerlifting world record that remained unsurpassed for more than a decade.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> His winning lifts were: a {{convert|925.9|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} squat, the {{convert|661.4|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} bench press and an {{convert|837.7|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} deadlift.<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/> The bench press and deadlift were done raw (unequipped), while the squat was performed with wraps and a marathon squat suit.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> This powerlifting performance is regarded as one of the best of all time.

In November 1981, Kazmaier became one of the few lifters in history to hold world records in three of the four powerlifting events at the same time by setting a new deadlift world record at {{convert|886|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} in competition.<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/><ref name="samson"/> From 1981 onwards Kazmaier's career was affected by multiple muscle tears and injuries, preventing him from setting the bar even higher. He sustained chest, shoulder and triceps injuries, ruling out further records in the bench press.<ref name="samson"/>

==Strongman career==
Kazmaier competed in six [[World's Strongest Man]] contests. In [[1979 World's Strongest Man]], he came in third after leading throughout much of the competition and beating powerlifting icon [[Don Reinhoudt]] in the car lift by deadlifting a {{convert|2555|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} car. In the following years, he dominated the competitions in [[1980 World's Strongest Man|1980]], [[1981 World's Strongest Man|1981]], and [[1982 World's Strongest Man|1982]], winning all by significant margins.<ref name="WSM">{{cite web|url=http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/history/previous-winners/bill-kazmaier/|title=Bill Kazmaier – 3 WSM Titles|access-date=2012-10-01|publisher=[[World's Strongest Man]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204105018/http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/history/previous-winners/bill-kazmaier/|archive-date=2013-02-04}}</ref> He was the first man to win the WSM title three times and to this day, remains one of only two men ever to win it three times in a row.<ref name="WSM"/>

In his [[1980 World's Strongest Man]] title win, Kazmaier won five of ten events and tied for first in another. He won the log lift, engine race, steel bar bend, playboy bunny squat lift, silver dollar deadlift, and the final tug of war. The runner-up in the competition [[Lars Hedlund]], was over 28 points behind.{{Efn|The scoring system however was an anomaly in this contest where additional points were given for the final event (tug of war). Contrary to the standard 10 points for each event win, Kazmaier got 20 points, runner-up of the event [[Geoff Capes]] got 10 points while third place of the event and overall runner-up [[Lars Hedlund]] got only 5 points. None of the remaining athletes received a single point in this event.}}

During Kazmaier's title defense at the [[1981 World's Strongest Man]] he won the squat event with {{convert|969|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} (on a [[smith machine]]) for a world record, just after tearing his [[pectoralis major muscle]] while bending [[cold rolled steel]] bars in the bar bend event before.{{Efn|After this tear, he lost more than one-hundred pounds off his bench press, making his 1983 IPF world championship win all that much more significant.}} Kazmaier made the iconic quote '' "These legs, are the strongest legs, right here!" '' following the performance. In the next event he went on to win the silver dollar deadlift with a {{convert|940|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} lift. After his opponent [[Dave Waddington]] failed to make the final lift, Kazmaier lifted the weight for two consecutive reps despite needing only one rep to secure the win. Of 11 events he had five wins, two second places, one third and a fourth. His wins included the log lift, deadlift, squat, loading race and engine race. 

In the [[1982 World's Strongest Man]] competition Kazmaier won the first three events. A notable performance in this WSM was his {{convert|1055|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} joint-world record silver dollar deadlift alongwith Ernie Hackett.

Despite being the reigning 3x time champion, the organizers controversially decided not to invite Kazmaier to compete in the following four WSM competitions, with Kazmaier self-claiming the reason was because he was "too dominant".<ref name="interview">{{cite web |url=//www.strongestman.com/int/int2.html |title=An Interview with Bill Kazmaier |access-date=2012-10-06 |date=1997-10-11 |first=Bill |last=Henderson |publisher=Strongman Competition Page |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010617004229/http://www.strongestman.com/int/int2.html |archive-date=June 17, 2001 }}</ref><ref name="interview original">{{cite web|url=http://strongestman.billhenderson.org/int/int2.html|title=Interview with Bill Kazmaier|access-date=2012-10-06|date=1997-10-11|first=Bill|last=Henderson|publisher=strongestman.billhenderson.org}}</ref> His absence cleared the way for Kazmaier's main rival, [[Geoff Capes]], to win the title in 1983. Capes and upcoming [[Jón Páll Sigmarsson]] dominated the competition during the next several years. 

He returned to the World's Strongest Man Contest in [[1988 World's Strongest Man|1988]], where he won three of eight events: the log press, deadlift and sack race; and took two second places including the truck pull, but was disqualified for moving his hands in the sausage forward hold, so the time was stopped prematurely. With two events to go, he was leading the field by 1 point over Jón Páll, and was the favorite to win the following [[Weight over bar]] event, in which a {{convert|56|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} weight has to be thrown over a bar. He was the reigning world record holder of this event from 1987 [[Pure Strength]] with a height of {{convert|5.34|m|ftin}}. The event took place on water with boats floating around and Kazmaier's concern about his orientation on water was borne out. Although he threw the weight way higher than the bar, he failed to get the trajectory right, failing at {{convert|4.60|m|ftin}}. Jón Páll won the event with a clearance of {{convert|5.05|m|ftin}} and with four contestants coming in-between the two, Kazmaier was trailing Jón Páll by four points, a deficit which cost him too much to catch up at the final event [[Lifting stone#Scotland|McGlashen Stones]], eventually emerging runner-up to Jón Páll.<ref name="WSM"/> 

In Kazmaiers' final WSM appearance at the [[1989 World's Strongest Man]], he severely injured his ankle in the first event and already had a ripped biceps. He came in fourth.<ref name="WSM"/> In addition to WSM contests, Kazmaier also competed in the second and third most prestigious contests [[World Muscle Power Classic]] and [[Le Defi Mark Ten International]] alongwith several other tournaments, such as the Scottish Power Challenge, Strongbow Strongman Challenge and Pure Strength. He ended his career as a competitive strongman in 1990.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

With three Worlds Strongest Man titles, Kazmaier is one of the most successful competitors in the history of the contest. Strength historian [[David P. Webster]] called him "the greatest American strength athlete of all time", and a 2008 poll of experts rated him as top superheavyweight lifter of all time and "one of the strongest men who ever lived."<ref name="encyclopedia"/> He was featured in [[Flex (magazine)|Flex magazine]] in May 2008, in which a top ten list of the strongest men in history was published where Kazmaier was voted "the third strongest man that ever lived", just behind [[Mark Henry]] and [[Žydrūnas Savickas]].<ref name="flexonline.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.flexonline.com/STRENGTH_IN_NUMBERS.pdf|title=Strength in Numbers|last=Perine|first=Shawn|date=2008-05-01|access-date=2012-09-25|publisher=[[Flex (magazine)|Flex magazine]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010214343/http://www.flexonline.com/STRENGTH_IN_NUMBERS.pdf|archive-date=2008-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.starkcenter.org/static/igh/articles/igh10.3.34.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-10-06 |archive-date=2017-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811104810/http://www.starkcenter.org/static/igh/articles/igh10.3.34.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional wrestling career==
Inspired by [[Jim Thorpe]], Kazmaier sought to transfer his talents to other sports, trying out for the NFL's Green Bay Packers in 1981.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> He also trained as a wrestler with [[Verne Gagne]] and [[Brad Rheingans]], and entered professional wrestling in 1986, with a [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWF]] match in Calgary, Alberta on November 10, 1986, defeating David Barbie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/86.htm |title=1986 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com}}</ref> During the 1980s, he had wrestled for promotions such as [[Stampede Wrestling]] in Canada and [[Continental Championship Wrestling]] in America. He would also wrestle for [[Fighting Network RINGS]] in Japan in early 1991.

His biggest national exposure came when he debuted for [[World Championship Wrestling]] in the summer of 1991. He received several shots at [[Lex Luger]]'s [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] but failed to win the title. He also briefly teamed with [[Rick Steiner]], only to lose to [[The Enforcers (professional wrestling)|The Enforcers]] in a tournament final for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]]. At [[Halloween Havoc (1991)|Halloween Havoc 1991]], in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], he beat [[Kevin Nash|Oz]] by submission. At the 1991 [[Starrcade (1991)|Starrcade Battlebowl: The Lethal Lottery]], Kazmaier and his partner [[Jushin Liger|Jushin "Thunder" Liger]] defeated [[Diamond Dallas Page]] and [[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. While in WCW, Kazmaier also wrestled for [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]. In NJPW, his theme music was "[[Poundcake (song)|Poundcake]]" by [[Van Halen]].

==Life after competition==
Kazmaier opened a [[fitness club]], Kaz Fitness Center, in [[Auburn, Alabama]] in the early 1980s. The gym closed in 2005. Kazmaier then opened, and continues to operate, S.W.A.T. gym in [[Opelika, Alabama]].<ref name="encyclopedia"/> Both served as a place for him to train and as headquarters for DynaKaz Inc., Kazmaier's own exercise equipment import-export company,<ref name="samson1"/> which markets fitness products worldwide.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

On retiring from active competition in the 1990s, Kazmaier was hired as a co-commentator for the American [[ESPN]] broadcast of the annual [[World's Strongest Man]] competition along with Todd Harris and [[2006 World's Strongest Man]] winner [[Phil Pfister]].<ref name="encyclopedia"/> He also comments in the [[United Kingdom|British]] broadcast.

Kazmaier considers his most important contributions to public life to be his work as a motivational speaker for 3D Sports Tech, addressing school and YMCA groups. "I can and I will" is the message he conveys to inspire young people to lead healthier and more productive lives.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

==Personal life==
Bill Kazmaier's nickname is "Kaz". He is the youngest child of William Bartholomew and Florence Louise Steinhoff Kazmaier. He had one brother, two sisters, and a half brother. His father owned soda water bottling plants in [[Burlington, Wisconsin|Burlington]] and [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]].<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

In 1974 Kazmaier read a [[Bible]] verse in Psalm 40 while at the Madison YMCA<ref name="encyclopedia"/> and subsequently became a devoted [[Christians|Christian]], crediting much of his success and exceptional strength to "the power of [[Jesus Christ]]."<ref name="samson"/><ref name="Bill Kazmaier Testimony">{{cite web|url=http://vimeo.com/38339728|title=video: Bill Kazmaier Testimony|work=Unalaska Christian Fellowship|publisher=vimeo|access-date=2012-10-06}}</ref> 

He lives in [[Auburn, Alabama]] and has a son, Eric.<ref name="samson2">{{cite web|url=http://www.samson-power.com/ASL/kazacceptance.html |title=American Strength Legends: Bill Kazmaier (Acceptance Speech) |publisher=Samson-power.com |date=1998-06-28 |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>

==Personal records==
===Powerlifting===
''performed in official powerlifting full meets''
* [[Squat (exercise)|Squat]] – {{convert|925.9|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''equipped in 80s marathon squat suit'' (Jan, 1981)<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/>
* [[Bench press]] – {{convert|661.4|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''raw'' (Jan, 1981)<ref name="Soong">[http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/Records-08-26-12.pdf ALL TIME HISTORICAL MEN AND WOMEN'S POWERLIFTING WORLD RECORDS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603124709/http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/Records-08-26-12.pdf |date=2013-06-03 }}</ref><ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/>
:→ former IPF world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) {{small|(stood until [[Ted Arcidi]]'s {{convert|666.9|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} in 1984)}}
* [[Deadlift]] – {{convert|837.7|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''raw'' (Jan, 1981)
* [[Deadlift]] – {{convert|886|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''equipped'' (Nov, 1981)<ref name="Ipfequipped">{{Cite web |url=https://en.allpowerlifting.com/federations/IPF/records/38371/cronology/ |title=Chronology of the record - Deadlift (equipped) |author=IPF |website=allpowerlifting.com |date=16 May 2004 |access-date=25 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/>
:→ former IPF world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) {{small|(stood until Lars Norén's {{convert|892.9|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} in 1987)}} 
:→ former all-time world record deadlift in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) {{small|(stood until Dan Wohleber's {{convert|904|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} in 1982)}} 
* Total – {{convert|2425|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} {{small|({{convert|925.9 + 661.4 + 837.7|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}})}} ''raw except for the squat {{small|which was equipped}}'' (Jan, 1981)<ref name="en.allpowerlifting.com"/> 
:→ former IPF world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) {{small|(stood until John Ware's {{convert|2427|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} in 1989, which was equipped with an 80s marathon squat suit and also a bench shirt)}}

===Strongman===
* [[Deadlift]] – {{convert|915|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''Raw, with wrist straps'' (1981 Highland Games)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2009/Apr/Jakabol_Magnus_Ver_Magnusson_Launches_New_Gym.html|title=Jakabol: Magnus Ver Magnusson Launches New Gym|work=ironmind.com|access-date=6 May 2015}}</ref> (Unofficial World Record)
:→ ''Initially measured {{convert|891|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} but later declared to be the above mentioned weight. Judged by [[Douglas Edmunds]].''<br>{{small|This lift was not surpassed until [[Jón Páll Sigmarsson]] did {{convert|942.5|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} in 1987. However both were not considered official deadlift records because the weights and setup used did not allow the bar to stay at the standard 9 inches off the floor, making them slightly elevated deadlifts}}
* Silver Dollar Deadlift – {{convert|1055|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} ''18 inches off the floor'' (1982 World's Strongest Man) (Former Joint-World Record)
* Hungarian Farm Cart Deadlift – {{convert|1124|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} (1988 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)
* Car Deadlift – {{convert|2555|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''lifting two tires off the ground'' (1979 World's Strongest Man) (World Record) 
* Cement Block [[Squat (exercise)|Squat]] (on [[Smith Machine]]/ not to parallel depth) – {{convert|969|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} (1981 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)<ref name="srsquats">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S2 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 02 - Squats |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref>
* Log lift (with vintage irregular V.1 log) – {{convert|375|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} (1988 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)<ref name="sroverhead1">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S3 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 03 - Overhead presses |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> 
:→ ''Kazmaier held this record a total of 3 times ever since he did it first with {{convert|346|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} in 1980 World's Strongest Man.''<br>{{small|These wooden logs of the era were awkward in shape with a larger circumference than what are used today in mainstream Strongman. They were not machined and were highly unbalanced in weight. Kazmaier pressed these logs strict, without using leg drive}} 
* Dumbbell press – {{convert|120|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} dumbells x 17 reps (1980 World Strongbow)
* Wheelbarrow carry (no straps) – {{convert|272|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (40m course) in 14.40 seconds (1980 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)<ref name="srarm">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S10 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 10 - Arm carries |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref>
* [[Weight over bar]] – {{convert|56|lb|kg|abbr=on|1|}} over {{convert|5.34|m|ftin}} (1987 Pure Strength) (Former World Record)
* [[Stone put|Stone block throw]] – {{convert|55|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|7.86|m|ftin}} (1987 Le Defi Mark Ten International) (World Record)<ref name="srthrowing">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S6 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 06 - Throwing |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref>
* Sack carry – {{convert|200|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} for 200m course in 42.63 seconds ''(1987 Le Defi Mark Ten International)'' (World Record)<ref name="srstawal">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S12 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 12 - Stairs & walks |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref>

===Other===
* [[Thomas Inch#Thomas Inch dumbbell|Inch dumbbell press]] – {{convert|172|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''first man to press the legendary dumbbell overhead'' (World Record) ''and also the fifth man to lift it above the knee'' (1990)<ref name="samson"/>
* [[Lifting stone#Scotland|Inver Stone press]] – {{convert|260|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} ''first man to press the original Inver stone overhead'' (World Record)<ref name="srlandmark">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/landmark-feats-and-other-records/ |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Landmark Feats and others Records |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>
* Seated military press – {{convert|448|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 3 reps (1988) (Unofficial World Record) {{small|''Previous record was {{convert|407|lb|abbr=on|0|}} by Chuck Ahrens''}} 
* Dumbbell shoulder press – {{convert|165|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} dumbbells x 5 reps and {{convert|155|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} dumbbells x 10 reps (1981)<ref name="samson3">{{cite web|url=http://www.samson-power.com/ASL/kazstats.html |title=American Strength Legends: Bill Kazmaier (Career Statistics) |publisher=Samson-power.com |date=1998-06-28 |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>
* [[Snatch (weightlifting)|Snatch]] – {{convert|286|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}}
* [[Clean and jerk]] – {{convert|374|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}}
* Barbell cheat curl – {{convert|400|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (1985) (Unofficial World Record)<ref name="strengthuni">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAedcUp4hsw |title=The World Record That May Never Be Broken! |publisher=Strength Universe |date=2023-09-27 |access-date=2025-04-16}}</ref><ref name="srlandmark"/><ref name="samson3"/> 
* Side laterals with miniature Louis Cyr dumbbells (with a slight hold) – {{convert|100 + 90|lb|abbr=on|0|}} dumbbells x 6 reps (1988)<ref name="samson3"/>

====Combined lifts====
* Career aggregate powerlifting total – {{convert|2473.3|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} {{small|({{convert|925.9 + 661.4 + 886.0|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}})}} (1981)<br>''(equipped except for the bench press which was performed raw)''

*Career aggregate Supertotal (Individual 5 lift PR weightlifting & powerlifting total):<br>{{convert|286|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} + {{convert|374|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} + {{convert|925.9|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} + {{convert|661.4|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} + {{convert|886|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} = {{convert|3133.3|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}}

==Achievements==
'''Professional Competitive Record – [1st (18),2nd (4), 3rd (4) – Out of Total(29)]'''<br />
'''International winning percentage of 44.5%'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Professional
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! INJ
! DNQ
! Total
|-
| '''American or other Nationals'''
| 10
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 11
|-
| '''International'''
| 8
| 4
| 3
| 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 18
|-
| '''Combined'''
| 18
| 4
| 4
| 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 29
|}

'''COMPLETED CONTESTS'''

*{{flagicon|UK}} '''Pure Strength 4 Team Challenge''' – winner (1990)
*{{flagicon|UK}} '''World's Strongest Man''' – 4th place (1989)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Pure Strength 3 Team Challenge''' – 2nd place (1989)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scottish Power Challenge''' – winner (1989)
*{{flagicon|Iceland}} '''World's Strongest Man''' – 2nd place (1988)
'''World Strongman Challenge''' – 3rd place (1988)
*{{flagicon|UK}} '''Pure Strength 2 Team Challenge''' – winner (1988)
'''World Muscle Power Championships''' – winner (1988)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scottish Power Challenge''' – winner (1988)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Pure Strength – Ultimate Challenge''' – 2nd place (1987)
*{{flagicon|Canada}} '''Le Defi Mark Ten Challenge''' – winner (1987)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scottish Power Challenge''' – winner (1987)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scottish Power Challenge''' – winner (1986)
'''World Muscle Power Championships''' – 3rd place (1985)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scottish Power Challenge''' – winner (1985)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scottish Power Challenge''' – winner (1984)
*{{flagicon|USA}} '''World's Strongest Man''' – winner (1982)
*{{flagicon|USA}} '''World's Strongest Man''' – winner (1981)
*{{flagicon|UK}} '''Strongbow Superman Contest''' – winner (1981)
*{{flagicon|UK}} '''Strongbow Strongman Contest''' – winner (1980)
*{{flagicon|USA}} '''World's Strongest Man''' – winner (1980)
*{{flagicon|USA}} '''World's Strongest Man''' – 3rd place (1979)

==See also==
* [[List of strongmen]]
* [[Progression of the bench press world record]]

==References==
{{Notelist}}{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bill Kazmaier}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216200302/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/bill-kazmaier.html Online World Of Wrestling profile]
*[http://napalmjedd.blogspot.com/2007/04/04-apr-07-kazmier-in-ring.html Video of Kazmaier competing in WCW #1]
*[http://napalmjedd.blogspot.com/2008/05/kaz-in-wrestling-part-iii.html Video of Kazmaier competing in WCW #2]
*[http://napalmjedd.blogspot.com/2007/08/more-kaz-in-wrestling-ring.html WCW Tag-Team Championship Tournament Final]
*{{YouTube|NhbzB73TLjY|Video of the World's Strongest Man competition 1980 featuring Kazmaier as the winner}}
*{{YouTube|A05pepVqjGg|Video of the World's Strongest Man competition 1988 featuring Kazmaier as the runner-up}}
*{{YouTube|Tf78aNerxag|Video of Kazmaier deadlifting 1055&nbsp;lbs at the World's Strongest Man competition 1982}}
*{{YouTube|gCm0uCTZMVE|Video of Kazmaier performing in strongman competitions}}
*{{YouTube|fbyqePBs4Zg|Video of the 1983 IPF World Powerlifting Championships featuring Kazmaier as winner in SHW class part 1/2}}
*{{YouTube|pLbQAUYTTd0|Video of the 1983 IPF World Powerlifting Championships featuring Kazmaier as winner in SHW class part 2/2}}
{{World's Strongest Man champions}}
{{World Muscle Power champions}}
{{Iceland's Strongest Man champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kazmaier, Bill}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American powerlifters]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American strength athletes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Auburn, Alabama]]
[[Category:People from Burlington, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Badgers football players]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]