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Mark Felix

Competing at The World’s Strongest Nation 2023
Date of birth 17/04/1966 Country England Height 1.93m (6ft 4in) Weight 140kg (310lbs)
About Mark Felix

Life

Mark Felix is a Grenadian born, English strongman who is best known for his huge grip strength and deadlifting ability, as well as his ability to seemingly defy the effects of age, which has earned him the nickname of “The Miracle Man.”

Mark lives in Blackburn, Lancashire and works as a plasterer when he is not travelling the world competing. Mark is a firm fan favourite, due to his unassuming nature, which belies his incredible natural strength.

Felix’s hands are considered to be the strongest and largest in the world. With a span of 13 inches (33cm) he has been able to break numerous grip world records, most notably in the Hercules Hold, where he has set several world records.

Career

Moving to England at 23, Mark was an avid bodybuilder who didn’t even begin his strongman career until he was 37 – an age many athletes would consider retiring. Felix’s early professional contests were with the newly launched IFSA federation, although he did qualify for the 2004 World’s Strongest Man finals.

In 2006 Felix won the IFSA British Championship and placed 4th at that year’s World’s Strongest Man grand final. He has still to eclipse that result, despite making 16 appearances at World’s, more than any other man in the contest’s history.

Mark has been a prolific competitor on the Giants Live circuit, making numerous podium finishes at both Europe’s and Britain’s Strongest Man. There is a ten-year gap between Mark’s first and last runner-up performance at the British champs, the first coming in 2006 and the last in 2016.

Felix’s reputation has been based on his remarkable deadlifting ability, particularly for multiple reps. In his prime he was considered virtually unbeatable and still regularly beats the world’s best athletes, half his age.

Grip contests, such as the Rolling Thunder World Championships and the Dinnie Stone Challenge, have been a further source of success for Mark, where he has established numerous world records. In recent years he has delighted huge crowds at Giants Live arena events by repeatedly breaking his own Hercules Hold world record, which now stands at 92.37 seconds.

Best Title

Mark’s greatest competition result remains his 2006, 4th place finish at World’s Strongest Man in Sanya, China. Mark finished behind winner Phil Pfister (USA) and Mariusz Pudzianowski (POL), with Don Pope (USA) 3rd. In customary fashion, Felix won the deadlift for repetitions event, pulling 16 reps to tie with Pudzianowski.

Competition Results

Strongman

  • World’s Strongest Man
    • Finalist: 4th in 2006, 7th in 2007, 8th in 2015
    • Qualified: 2004, 2008 – 2011, 2013 – 2014, 2016-2021
  • Europe’s Strongest Man
    • 3rd place: 2015 & 2010
  • Britain’s Strongest Man
    • Runner-up: 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016
    • 3rd place: 2008, 2013
  • Giants Live
    • Runner-up: Viking Challenge, Iceland, 2015, Poland 2009
    • 3rd place: North American Open 2019 & 2016, Scandinavian Open 2016 & 2015, Ukraine 2011, London 2010
  • Arnold Strongman Classic:
    • 6th place 2011 & 2013
  • Strongman Super Series:
    • 3rd place, Uncasville 2007
  • IFSA British Championship:
    • Winner, 2015
  • Ultimate Strongman Masters World Championships:
    • Runner-up 2018, 5th place 2019

Grip Contests

  • Rolling Thunder World Championships: Winner 2008 & 2009
  • Vice Grip Viking Challenge: Winner 2011
  • Arnold Strongman Classic Dinnie Stones Challenge: Winner 2020

Best Lifts

Competition Lifts

  • Deadlift: 420kg/926lb
  • Hummer Tyre Deadlift: 511.5kg/1,128lb
  • Silver Dollar Deadlift: 515kg/1,135lb (without lifting suit)
  • Log lift: 160kg/353lb
  • Axle press: 165kg/364lb
  • Hercules Hold: 92.37sec (current world record)
  • Rolling Thunder: 146.7kg/323.5lb (world record)
  • Dinnie Stones hold: 31.4sec (world record)

Training lifts

  • Squat: 350kg/770lb
  • Bench: 240kg/530lb
  • Deadlift (without straps): 405kg/893lb

Present Day

Despite his age Mark still believes he is capable of improving and is showing little sign of slowing down. He is due to compete at the 2022 World’s Strongest Man in Sacramento, California and will be 56 years old when his heat begins.

Mark will extend his own record of most appearances at World’s Strongest Man, which is currently at 16. What is even more impressive is that he attended his first World’s at 38!

Felix will not become the oldest ever competitor just yet, however. That honour will stay with Norway’s Odd Haugen, who attended his final contest in 2006, in Sanya, China, aged 56 years and 8 months.

Media

Mark Felix has graced the public’s television screens for nearly two decades with his performances at World’s Strongest Man and the Giants Live Arena Tour, among other contests. His exploits this year will be aired on Channel 5 during the Christmas period.

Mark’s social media presence has been steadily growing and his Instagram account, @markfelixwsm has attracted 155k followers. On Facebook, Mark’s account is called Mark Felix and he has close to 100k followers keen to keep up with his content.

Some of Mark’s contest appearances have gone viral on YouTube, with his Giants Live Wembley Hercules Hold world record, set in 2019, being viewed over 62 million times.

Videos of Mark Felix

16:46

IRON BIBY broke AXLE PRESS World Record

IRON BIBY broke AXLE PRESS World Record
24.43

Arnold Strongman Classic UK 2021 – Events 1 & 2

Arnold Strongman Classic UK 2021 – Events 1 & 2
4:07

Mark FELIX the Squad King

Mark FELIX the Squad King
5:12

UNBELIEVEABLE 882 Pound Frame Carry WORLD RECORD

UNBELIEVEABLE 882 Pound Frame Carry WORLD RECORD
8:09

Tom Stoltman wins 1st Britain’s Strongest Man Title! 💪

Tom Stoltman wins 1st Britain’s Strongest Man Title! 💪
4:59

WORLD RECORD! Thor vs Felix | Hercules Hold

WORLD RECORD! Thor vs Felix | Hercules Hold
42:25

Europe’s Strongest Man 2014 – FULL SHOW

Europe’s Strongest Man 2014 – FULL SHOW
49:21

Giants Live: FULL TV SHOW: #1st-ever World’s Strongest Man Qualifying Contest

Giants Live: FULL TV SHOW: #1st-ever World’s Strongest Man Qualifying Contest
8:37

New GIANT Castle Stone causes upset!

New GIANT Castle Stone causes upset!
4:49

The Strongest Hands on Planet Earth…

The Strongest Hands on Planet Earth…
4:53

African GIANT beats GRIP GOD Mark Felix in the HERCULES HOLD!

African GIANT beats GRIP GOD Mark Felix in the HERCULES HOLD!
2:54

10 MUST FOLLOW Strongman Gym Rules for 2022!

10 MUST FOLLOW Strongman Gym Rules for 2022!
7:21

Can ANYONE beat 8 reps!? Deadlift MONSTERS attempt 350kg Axle

Can ANYONE beat 8 reps!? Deadlift MONSTERS attempt 350kg Axle
3:50

55-year-old Felix attacks HERCULES HOLD!

55-year-old Felix attacks HERCULES HOLD!
1:28

STRONGMEN try impersonate ARNOLD!

STRONGMEN try impersonate ARNOLD!
7:36

Mark Felix previews the World Tour Finals

Mark Felix previews the World Tour Finals
6:01

Mark Felix, OMG he is the Grip King!

Mark Felix, OMG he is the Grip King!
3:50

Felix ATTEMPTS his HERCULES HOLD record! 🏆

Felix ATTEMPTS his HERCULES HOLD record! 🏆
22.15

STRONGMEN vs RUGBY! London Irish take on THE GIANTS!

STRONGMEN vs RUGBY! London Irish take on THE GIANTS!
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