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
Grip Contests
Best Lifts
Competition Lifts
Training lifts
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.
