Skúli Margeir Óskarsson (3 September 1948 – 9 June 2024) was an Icelandic powerlifter and weightlifter, who became the first Icelander to deadlift 300 kg and 700 lb.[1] He was a pioneer of strength athletics in Iceland[2] and was the first Icelander to break a world record in any strength sport.[3]
Skúli grew up in Fáskrúðsfjörður as a fisherman[2] and started Olympic weightlifting as a hobby in the late 1960s. Then he switched to powerlifting. He competed in his first tournament in 1970. Within a few years he broke multiple Icelandic records and won Silver in lightweight (under 75 kg) category at the 1978 IPF World Championships in Turku, Finland by totaling 722.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on in single ply equipment.[1] For that performance, he was elected the Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1978.[4] He also won Bronze in the same weight class in 1975 and 1981 World Championships held in Birmingham and Calcutta respectively. Skuli was famous for his lively celebrations during powerlifting tournaments.[2] In 1980, he broke the Raw Deadlift world record in the under 75 kg weight class with 315.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on[5] and for the 2nd time got elected as the Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1980.[4]
In his career, Skúli won a silver medal and two bronze medals in World championships, three gold medals in Nordic championships and multiple gold medals in National championships.[2] In 2016 he was awarded the KRAFT gold medal by Icelandic Powerlifting Federation[6] and on 28 December 2017 was inducted into the ÍSÍ Hall of Fame.[4] [7]
Skúli passed away on 9 June 2024 from heart failure at the Landspitali University Hospital, aged 75.[8]
Single-ply[1]
Raw[1]