Retired strongman Brian Shaw dominated the World’s Strongest Man during the last decade. Weighing 445 lbs during his prime, the strongman recently reminisced about his journey in the sport. The four-time winner sat for a conversation with 2000s bodybuilding icon, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler. During their conversation, Cutler recounted how he got into bodybuilding.

Cutler said that, unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger, he didn’t plan on becoming a bodybuilder. It wasn’t until he won his first contest that he realized his potential. Shaw could relate to the former Mr. Olympia as his journey had been similar. The 6’8 strongman recounted how he gradually transitioned from basketball to professional strongman.

How Brian Shaw fell in love with strongman

The former World’s Strongest Man told Jay Cutler that he also didn’t plan to become a professional strongman. Instead, he wanted to succeed in basketball. However, his 6’8” height broad frame, and natural strength gave him an advantage in the gym. Shaw fell in love with lifting weights in tandem with basketball practice. Like Jay Cutler, however, he discovered he was quite strong.

“I loved the process of lifting, and then lifting more… trying to eat to grow, to get bigger,” said the former champion. However, Brian Shaw didn’t attribute his success to just his strength. Instead, the four-time WSM winner said some experienced people helped his budding strongman career. “I got really lucky,” said the strongman.

The 41-year-old said without the help of more experienced lifters, he wouldn’t have developed the “right habits,” around training. Thanks to the help and natural talent, the once lean basketball bulked up and made his mark on the sport. Besides winning the WSM four times, he is also a four-time bronze medalist and three-time Arnold Strongman Classic winner. Yet, it looks like basketball is the thread that ties some of the most elite professional strongmen.

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The 2018 World’s Strongest Man winner

In 2018, Hafthor Bjornsson from Iceland defeated Brian Shaw and his best friend, Eddie Hall, to win the WSM title. Bjornsson had showcased immense talent and had been knocking at the door for a while. The Icelander also had aspirations to make it big in basketball. However, he suffered an ankle injury and, while recovering, fell in love with bodybuilding during rehab.

Just like Brian Shaw, another four-time WSM winner, Magnus Ver Magnusson, realized Bjornsson’s talent and took him under his wing. Since then, Bjornsson has established himself among the strongman greats like Brian Shaw, Eddie Hall, and others.

Brain Shaw, Jay Cutler, and Hafthor Bjronsson had dreamed of a different future. However, they didn’t hesitate to grab the opportunities after realizing their potential.

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