Cookeville Resident 15th In Strongman

A Cookeville resident placed fifteenth out of seventy-three competitors from around the world in this year’s “Strongest Man on Earth” competition.

Cody Lindsey said he had hoped to place higher in order to qualify for the “World’s Strongest Man” competition. Lindsey said the event included activities using a 325-pound log, atlas stones ranging from 350 to 450 pounds, and a deadlift where competitors lifted as much as they possibly could.

“I’ve always been naturally strong,” Lindsey said. “I did high school and college football and I just, you know, after college rugby I just said hey, I need to compete in something, back in 2022. And I just jumped in here and then I started excelling. And I would just say hey, told my coach I wanted to give it a shot and then he said, ‘I think you’re ready.’ And this shows I’m almost there, at that level.”

Lindsey said the biggest challenge when preparing for the event was finding the proper training equipment as he often works out-of-state in an area with gyms that are not suited for his level of lifting. He said he will continue to compete in other strength competitions and will return to place even higher next year.

“In December, I’m going to be doing Official Strongman Games World Final as well as, if I win the one in December, I’ll be doing World’s Strongest Man in May,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey said the event also included a circus dumbbell where competitors lifted 230 pounds over their head with one hand, a farmer’s carry where they had to carry 400 pounds in each hand, and a bag carry with weights up to 350 pounds.

“There’s something called power stairs,” Lindsey said. “Which is where you pick up a square implement by the handle and you actually pick it up and run upstairs with it but you have to place it on each stair so you’re kind of jumping.”

Lindsey said he wants to show everybody what people are able to do without using the drugs and steroids that are so common in the sport.