Svend Karlsen
| Svend Karlsen | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Svend Ødegård Karlsen October 6, 1967  Kristiansand, Norway
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| Other names | "The Viking" |
| Occupation | Strongman, Powerlifter, Bodybuilder |
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 130 kg (290 lb) |
| Spouse(s) | Eun Lene Ekrem Karlsen 2002-2009 (her death) |
| Children | Svend Alexander Karlsen |
Svend Viking Karlsen (born October 6, 1967) is a Norwegian former strongman, powerlifter, and IFBB professional bodybuilder. He is well known for shouting his catch phrase "Viking Power!" during competitions.
Karlsen started out as a powerlifter in 1986, winning a number of titles and setting 30 Norwegian records, 3 European records, and 1 world record. Soon after, Karlsen began pursuing a career in bodybuilding. He traveled on the road doing posing exhibitions with some bodybuilding friends to help pay the bills. Karlsen won the Mr. Norway title, and took second place at the World Games. This victory earned him his IFBB pro card and he could now compete as a professional. Karlsen moved to California to focus on his bodybuilding career, and his first pro show was the IFBB Night of Champions. Karlsen suffered a severe muscle tear that forced him to retire from bodybuilding, and in 1996 he quickly moved on to strongman competitions.
Karlsen competed in one of the 1996 World's Strongest Man qualifying heats and narrowly missed qualifying for the finals. In the 1997 World's Strongest Man contest, Karlsen qualified for his first of 7 consecutive finals from 1997, 1999-2004 (did not compete in 1998). Karlsen was leading the finals on points, but during the warm-up for the squat event, he tore his hamstring and had to withdraw from the rest of the contest. Karlsen returned in 1999, finishing in third place, and finished in second place in 2000. Karlsen finally became victorious at the 2001 World's Strongest Man competition in Victoria Falls, Zambia.
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