Chasing Kaz Interview: Karl Gillingham - September 6, 2007
Every professional sport has their family legacies. In baseball, it's the Bonds' and Griffeys. In auto racing, it's the Pettys or Andrettis. In the world of strength, one name and one name alone is synonymous with legacy, and that name is Gillingham. Today, Karl Gillingham took time out of training and running Jackal's Gym to sit down with us and answer some questions as he prepares to head to Anaheim, CA to make his 4th bid for the title of World's Strongest Man.
Chasing Kaz: Thanks for taking time out of your training to answer a few questions for us. For the newcomers, what is your experience in strongman, and more specifically, the WSM competitions?
Karl Gillingham: No problem Ben. I have been competing as a Professional Strongman for over 10 years. I had a career goal of surpassing six figures in career earnings which I finally reached this year. Now I will be able to retire! I have competed as long or longer than everyone as a pro strongman except Magnus [Samuelsson] and [Mark] Philippi. Some of the highlights:
• 8 Professional Strongman Victories • IFSA World Championship Finalist • 4-time World's Strongest Man Competitor • 2-time Arnold Classic Strongman Competitor • World Strongman Super Series Competitor • US Pro National Strongman Champion • Former National Powerlifting Competitor • Team GNC Pro Performance
CK: Now that the heats and events for prelims have been announced, which events are you looking forward to? Which ones aren't to your advantage?
KG: All of the events will be a challenge. There are no easy victories. It will be a battle from start to finish! I am looking forward to the challenge!
CK: Is this the year we see you in the finals?
KG: I made the IFSA finals in my last world's appearance and I feel like I am at that conditioning level again, although I am now two years older, so we shall see. If I place in the top two in my heat I will advance to the finals. That's all I can guarantee.
CK: You suffered a few injuries at The Arnold this spring and carried a few injuries into the WSM Super Series event in Venice Beach earlier this year. How is your body feeling right now?
KG: A little better. The Arnold Classic takes a toll on the body that can take up to a year to recover from!
CK: How prepared do you feel you are this year compared to other years?
KG: Equally prepared to 2002 and 2005. Better than 2001. My training is constantly evolving. I am not quite a strong as I was at the Arnold in 2005 but I may be a little better all around.
CK: Even with the exclusion of the IFSA athletes, it's being said that this is one of the most stacked WSM's in years. Do you agree with this assessment?
KG: It's tough to top Zydrunas [Savickas], Vasyl [Virastyuk], [Mikhail] Koklyaev, and [Andrus] Muramets. I do feel that Phil [Pfister] and Mariusz [Pudzianowski] are in that top six in the World. That being said, from top to bottom this is the toughest group I have seen other than that messed up year in '04 where they reduced the competitors.
CK: Slight change of pace: You've been in the strongman game for quite some time and have seen the sport progress over the years. In your opinion, what are some of the more positive changes you see currently taking place?
KG: The Arnold Classic came along and quickly became the best Strongman contest on the planet. That was a big boost to the sport. Our online store at Jackal'sGym.com has helped to get equipment and products out to the masses to help competitors' performance, which has been a plus. Remember, I come from the era where there wasn't tacky available.
CK: Good luck in the upcoming WSM. Hopefully this is the year we get to see Minnesota well represented in the finals and on the podium.
KG: Thanks Ben. Thanks for helping me with the training this year as well!
Posted by Ben Hanson at 3:16 PM
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