Odd Haugen Explained

Odd Haugen
Birth Date:16 January 1950
Birth Place:Tingvoll, Norway
Known:Grip strength
Alma Mater:McDaniel College
Occupation:Strongman
Height:193 cm
Website:https://www.oddehaugen.com/

Odd Erling Haugen (born January 16, 1950) is a Norwegian-born American strongman and a grip strength specialist.[1] [2] He has also competed in bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting.[3]

Career

Haugen developed a passion for size and strength at a very young age. He used barbells and dumbbells made out of birch trees and took metal shop courses to gain knowledge on how to build strength training equipment.[4] By 1970, Haugen became the Norwegian national bodybuilding champion by winning Mr. Norway title at the age of 20. Around this time, he also held the Norwegian junior deadlift record with 265abbr=onNaNabbr=on. He then moved to the United States and earned a bachelor's degree in sports physiology and a master's degree in Business Administration. Haugen played football, wrestled, and threw shot put and discus at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). Haugen earned three NCAA All-American accolades in the shot put (1971, 1972, 1973). Shortly after graduating from Western Maryland in 1973, Haugen had a short stint in the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins and then the San Francisco 49ers. However, he played in preseason games only. In the 80s, Haugen invested in combining his interests in sport and business by opening health and fitness clubs in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and Marin County. In the 90s he moved to Hawaii and continued with his sports business.

In 1995 and 1998 respectively, Haugen started his journeys in powerlifting and strongman. He squatted 280abbr=onNaNabbr=on, deadlifted 320abbr=onNaNabbr=on,[3] won 1997 USPF Masters National Powerlifting Championship, won the 1999 AFSA Strongest Man in America,[4] and podiumed twice in the America's Strongest Man and four-times in the Norway's Strongest Man.[1] Even in his 50s, Haugen competed in the World's Strongest Man competition three times in 2001, 2002 and in 2006 set a record as competitions' oldest ever athlete at 56.[5]

However, Haugen is most noteworthy for his exceptional grip strength.[2] [6]

Feats of grip strength

Other ventures

Haugen is the President of Mas-wrestling USA and owns 'The Training Hall' sports club in Thousand Oaks, California where he often mentors his students, most notably 2019 World's Strongest Man Martins Licis.[4]

He is also the owner of the 186abbr=onNaNabbr=on Odd Haugen's Tombstone, a natural stone which had been featured at the stone-to-shoulder strongman event of the Arnold Strongman Classic.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Odd Haugen. 15 August 2023. Strongman Archives. 26 August 2013.
  2. Web site: Grip Hall of Fame. David. Horne. davidhorne-gripmaster.com. November 30, 2016.
  3. Web site: Odd Haugen (M). Openpowerlifting.org . Team OPL . November 15, 2007 . August 15, 2023.
  4. Web site: Odd Haugen Strongman Training Secret. Coach Exergenie . ODD HAUGEN . April 16, 2020 . August 15, 2023.
  5. Web site: Strongman Odd Haugen has a practical formula for strengthening your grip. Jim . Carlisle. Ventura County Star. January 20, 2016.
  6. Web site: "An Absolute Beast": 73-Yo GOAT OF GRIP SPORT's Unbridled Strength Leaves Fitness World Stunned. SARTHAK . KHANNA. Essentially Sports. June 27, 2023.
  7. Web site: Odd Haugen Deadlifts Millenium DB. Randall J.. Strossen. IronMind Enterprises, Inc.. June 26, 2006.
  8. Web site: Odd Haugen Lifts Inch Dumbbell 65 Times. Logan . Christopher. www.legendarystrength.com. July 2, 2015.
  9. Web site: Odd Haugen Double Inch Deadlift for reps. Riccardo . Magni. Garage Gym Life Media. October 3, 2014.
  10. Web site: 73-Year-Old Strongman Odd Haugen Outlasts Larry Wheels In Grip Strength Challenge. Greg . Patuto. www.generationiron.com. June 29, 2023.
  11. Web site: Visegrip Viking 2016 Anaheim. 4 October 2024. www.strengthresults.com. 28 August 2016.
  12. Web site: Masters Records. 15 August 2023. David Horne. 6 November 2011.
  13. Web site: ODD E. HAUGEN Breaking Muscle Podcast with Tom MacCormick . 15 August 2023. www.breakingmuscle.com. 20 December 2020.
  14. Web site: Odd Haugen's Tombstone. 15 August 2023. liftingstones.org. 3 November 2022.

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