Abu Dhabi: A Polish schoolteacher who became "the world's strongest man" after squashing rival bids for the title in Abu Dhabi this week said he binges on fast food and doesn't party to stay fit.
Krzysztof Radzikowski, 30, beat 25 rivals in the gruelling three-day World's Strongest Man showdown in Khalifa Park on Tuesday night.
The unmarried high-school sports teacher from Lodz in central Poland said: "I eat everything and anything, I love burgers and cola. You want to be strong? No disco, no alcohol, no party — only gym.
"When you do weightlifting, power training, you can eat like that. Don't [abuse] steroids, there's no secret to strength — only very hard training."
The 145kg strongman works out for about four hours a day, six days a week, taking a breather on Sunday. The Polish champ can pull trucks, lift four-wheelers, and lift logs.
Radzikowski, who has 22-inch arms, won cheers from crowds — and points from judges — for his speedy performance throughout the contest.
The event included gut-wrenching truck pulls, log lifts, tyre flips and farmer's walk, a lap while carrying 160-kg weights — in each hand. The six-foot-one powerhouse was swamped by fans seeking photos ops after his win. "It's OK, it's OK," he said in his low bass voice as security tried to manage admirers and reporters jostling to rub shoulders with him.
Radzikowski is also winner of the 2011 Giant Live strength competition in Poland and second runner up in Poland's Strongest Man in 2009 and 2008. "Strongman sport is specialised, it's not just bodybuilding or weightlifting. You've to be good at everything," he said.
To unwind, Radzikowski hops on his 186-mph Suzuki Hayabusa superbike. "I like fast bicycles."
The fitness fanatic won $6,000 (Dh22,000) for notching up the highest 35 points in the event.
- Radical Radzikowski: Dead-lift: 420kg | Squat: 400kg | Bench-press: 300kg
- 22,000 dirhams: the prize money won by Radzikowski
