assessed (Fig. 5B). BFsh volume (135 cm3)o ft h eW S Mw a sa
modest 26% greater than that of our pool of untrained control
participants (107 ± 31 cm3; Fig. 5E) but smaller than that of
both long-term resistance-trained individuals (/C0 1%; 136 ± 27
cm3) and elite sprinters (/C0 19%; 167 ± 26 cm3; Fig. 5E).
Patella Tendon Cross-Sectional Area and Moment Arm
The patellar tendon mean CSA of the WSM (133.8 mm2)w a s
larger than that of average untrained (þ 30%; 103.2 ± 12.5
mm2) and long-term resistance-trained individuals (þ 27%;
105.4 ± 13.0 mm2; Fig. 6A)b u tw a ss m a l l e rt h a nt h el a r g e s t
individual we have measured from these groups (149.5 mm2).
The WSM’s patellar tendon moment arm (51.5 mm) was also
larger than that of average untrained (þ 18%; 43.8 ± 2.7 mm)
or long-term resistance-trained groups (þ 12%; 45.8 ± 2.5 mm;
Fig. 6B) as well as being 3% greater than the highest individ-
ual moment arm we have previously assessed within these
groups (49.9 mm).
DISCUSSION
This study is theﬁrst to document the lower-body muscle
and tendon morphology of a World’s Strongest Man and
deadlift champion (i.e., an exceptionally strong individual),
and these are presented alongside functional whole body
assessments, which exceeded the highest IMTP force (gross
and net) and CMJ power values previously reported by 54%,
100%, and 164%, respectively. The WSM had overall lower-
b o d ym u s c u l a r i t ya p p r o x i m a t e l yt w i c et h a to fu n t r a i n e dc o n -
trols (þ 96%) and 32% greater than that of elite 100-m sprint-
ers. However, there was substantial anatomical variability in
the magnitude of the differences, ranging from the plantar
ﬂexors (þ 120% vs. untrained) to the hipﬂexors (þ 65% vs.
untrained). Similarly, some speciﬁc muscles, such as the guy
rope muscles that stabilize the femur and pelvis, were 2.5– 3.0
times the volume of untrained individuals (gracilisþ 140%,
semitendinosusþ 157%, and sartoriusþ 202%) but others dis-
played more marginal differences (BFsh þ 23%, iliopsoas
þ 32% vs. untrained). Considering the knee extensors, the
WSM had both quadriceps femoris volume greater than or
equal to twofold that of untrained controls and a greater pa-
tella tendon moment arm than we have previously measured
( þ 18% vs. untrained), which would be expected to combine
to facilitate extraordinary strength. Furthermore, despite the
WSM’se x t r e m e l yl a r g eq u a d r i c e p sf e m o r i s ,t h e i rp a t e l l a rt e n -
d o nC S Aw a so n l y3 0 %g r e a t e rt h a nt h a to fu n t r a i n e dc o n t r o l s
and not outside the range of tendons we have previously
assessed. The results of this study provide novel insights into
the muscle and tendon characteristics, as well as the strength
and power capabilities, of an extraordinarily strong individual
that may be toward the upper limit of human variation in
these characteristics.
Table 2.Muscle volume of all muscles, 5 functional muscle groups, and 22 individual muscles/compartments of a
World’s Strongest Man and deadlift champion and comparative elite sprinters, subelite sprinters, and untrained
control participants
Muscle Group/Muscle or Compartment
Muscle Volume, cm3
WSM Elite Sprinters ( n 5 5) Subelite Sprinters ( n 5 26) Untrained ( n 5 11)
All muscles 14,922 11,323 ± 1,328 9,164 ± 1,207 7,628 ± 1,548
Hip ﬂexors 1,704 1,620 ± 200 1,314 ± 216 1,031 ± 151
Hip extensors 4,724 4,002 ± 489 3,029 ± 422 2,257 ± 220
Kneeﬂexors 3,060 2,304 ± 178 1,859 ± 301 1,460 ± 196
Knee extensors 4,386 3,218 ± 400 2,636 ± 401 2,202 ± 315
Plantar ﬂexors 1,888 1,112 ± 181 943 ± 156 860 ± 172
Iliopsoas 681 702 ± 97 618 ± 101 514 ± 75
Sartorius 429 306 ± 46 209 ± 50 142 ± 25
Tensor fasciae latae 142 135 ± 41 86 ± 25 73 ± 24
Adductor magnus 1,334 1,056 ± 83 828 ± 128 624 ± 81
Gracilis 235 180 ± 37 142 ± 37 98 ± 23
Gluteus maximus 1,980 1,797 ± 376 1,257 ± 197 931 ± 108
Gluteus medius and minimus 1,172 626 ± 129 575 ± 97 583 ± 76
Rectus femoris 453 476 ± 45 401 ± 78 303 ± 55