Jarno Hams, strongman from the Netherlands

Jarno Hams (born 1974, Hengelo) is a strongman from the Netherlands. He was six times Holland's Strongest Man. And participated in the World's Strongest Man in 2002 and 2003 but failed to qualify for the finals both times. On July 12, 2008 Hams did win the Holland's Strongest Man title for the fifth time in a row.

Hams was born in Hengelo, Overijssel and grew up in Vroomshoop. One of his greatest hobbies is soccer, he played 19 years for the local soccer club VV Vroomshoopse Boys. The first strongman contest he competed in was the ‘Sterkste man van Oost-Nederland’ (Strongest man of east Netherlands) in 1996 where he finished third after this he followed some trainings lessons from Berend Veneberg then the Strongest man of the Netherlands. He managed his first podium finish at the Strongest man of the Netherlands in 1999 where he finished third. In 2001 he placed second behind Wout Zijlstra. It would take him till 2004 to finally win the tournament for the first time a feat he would repeat till 2008. He was invited for the World's Strongest Man competition in 2002 and 2003 but did not managed to get past the qualifying heats. Hams competed together with Wout Zijlstra in the World's Strongest Team competition in 2001 where they finished third. In 2006 he would win the tournament with Edwin Hakvoort. He competed in the World Championship of the IFSA in 2005 and 2007 where he placed twelfth. Due to an injury he could not defend his title during the Holland's Strongest Man 2009 on July 12 in Vroomshoop. In 2010 he once again was the strongest man of the Netherlands This time his brother Eric Hams also competed at the Strongest man of the Netherlands. Jarno worked as truck driver and as doorman for a Discothèque in Hengelo.

Top Strong Man - Wout Zijlstra (Wolsum, Friesland)

Wout Zijlstra (born August 4, 1964, Wolsum) is a former strongman and Highland Games athlete from the Netherlands. He competed in the World's Strongest Man competition on two occasions.

Zijlstra was born in Wolsum, Friesland. He managed his first podium finish at the Strongest man of the Netherlands in 1991 where he finished second after Ted van der Parre. It took him till 1994 to reach the podium again. This time he finished third after Ted van der Parre and Berend Veneberg. After this he finished several more times on the podium but it would take him till 2001 to finally win the tournament. After this victory he would not compete again and started focusing on Highland Games. He was invited twice to compete in the World's Strongest Man on both occasions he reached the final. In 1998 he competed together with his rival from the Netherlands Berend Veneberg and would finish third in the final. In 2001 he finished eight in the World's Strongest Man competition. Zijlstra competed together with Berend Veneberg on several occasions in the World's Strongest Team competition and won the tournament in 1998. After this they reached the podium several more times but did not win again. He finshed the Elfstedentocht twice. Wout won the NK Highland Games in 2003 and 2004 and held the world record for the 56 lb. weight for height. Zijlstra works as an inspector of meat and does security jobs He is married and has 3 children.

Strong Man: Berend Veneberg (Netherlands)

Berend Veneberg (1963, Den Ham) is a former strongman from the Netherlands. He finished 5th at the World's Strongest Man games in 1993, 9th in 1998, 6th in 1999, 1st at Europe's Strongest Man in 2000 and won Holland's Strongest Man 7 times.

Veneberg was born in Den Ham, Overijssel. He managed his first podium finish at the Strongest man of the Netherlands in 1991 where he finished third behind Ted van der Parre and Wout Zijlstra. The next year he placed second behind Ted van der Parre. In 1993 he would win the tournament for the first time a feat he would repeat six times. The same year he was invited for the first time at the World's Strongest Man in witch he finished fifth.

Strong Man: Ted Van Der Parre (Holland)

Ted van der Parre (born September 21, 1955, Amsterdam) is a former strongman from the Netherlands who won the World's Strongest Man contest in 1992 and was 4th in 1991. He also participated in 1994 when he finished 8th, having to drop out after the second event due to a calve injury. At 7' (213 cm) and 350 lbs (159 kg), Van der Parre is the tallest man ever to compete in the World's Strongest Man contest, and also has the lowest WSM BMI of 35. He also won the Netherlands Strongest Man contest in 1991, 1992, and 1994.