Bio

Champion, Arnold Strongman Classic, 2011

First Place, TWI World’s Strongest Man, 2011 & 2013

Hometown: Fort Lupton, Colorado

Profession: Professional Strongman

Family: Jay and Bonnie Shaw (parents)

Coach: Justin Willis

Shaw emerged as the dominant strongman in the world in 2011, winning both the Arnold Strongman Classic and the TWI World’s Strongest Man Contest that year.   Brian was born, and continues to live in Fort Lupton, Colorado, and he began his athletic career there as a basketball player in high school.   He also played basketball at Black Hills State University at a bodyweight of about 240pounds (110 kilos)  during most of his college career.    After graduation, Shaw needed something else to compete in and became interested in strongman contests.   He entered a local competition--Denver’s Strongest Man in 2005—and won, with no formal training.  Shaw explained the career move, stating, “I always had unusual strength, even before I really started training. The biggest tire, the heaviest stone, I've always been able to walk up and lift it. Odd strength is what it is, not weight-room strength; it’s brute strength, brute power.   Like lots of young guys I enjoyed watching strongman shows on TV and so when basketball was over I did some research on how I could start doing competitions.  I had always been very into training and strongman came very naturally to me.”  Shaw, who wears a size 16 shoe and has exceptionally large hands, believes strongman competitions represent the best test of overall body strength.  “It is great to be able to test my strength against the strongest men in the world,” Shaw said.