Bio

First Arnold Strongman Classic Appearance

Hometown: Hanford, California

Profession: Home Care Giver

Family: Wife Kristin Oberst; Father Jim Oberst; Mother Kathy Oberst; Brothers – Dave, Mike, Sean, James;

Sisters – Wendy, Amanda, Emily, Julia, Jamie; and 23 nieces and nephews.

Hobbies: Spending time with his family.

 Robert Oberst is a relative newcomer to the sport of strongman having competed in his first contest as a pro only one and a half  years ago.  Once turning pro, however, Oberst has quickly made his way into the higher ranks of the sport with an impressive win at the MetRx Odd Haugen Strength Challenge last summer and a top ten finish in the 2013 World’s Strongest Man.  The long-bearded Californian is known inside the sport as the holder of the American record in the log lift, for his habit of wearing pink whenever possible (to represent his mother’s battle with breast cancer), and for his prodigious appetite.

Before heading to China for the World’s Strongest Man Contest, Oberst told a reporter, "I eat three-and-a-half pounds of meat a day, six cups of rice, a bunch of pasta, and no cheese or dairy. It's just all high protein, low fat stuff.”  As for his long term goals, Oberst continued, “All I want is to the strongest man to ever walk the earth.”    

Before competing in strongman, Robert played football and then worked security for a night club/concert hall. He was introduced to the sport by a friend who competed as an amateur.  Reported Robert, “The first time I ever touched a log, I broke the amateur record.  I then asked him, ‘Is that good?’  He told me to ‘piss off,’ but I was hooked after that day.”