I am glad to have the opportunity to interview one of the biggest (literally) things in strongman today.  John Connor has been on the strongman scene  for a brief time, relatively speaking, but his impact has been huge.  HE is 6'7, and 380 pounds, and is taking the strongman World by storm.  Let's welcome Big John Connor!

ET-How long have you been in the sport of strongman, and how did you first get involved?

John Connor-I have been competing/ training for a little over two years. I was watching a 05 WSM rerun and really thought it looked like a cool sport so I looked up Jesse Marunde and found his web page. From there I got in contact with Scott Tully and have been training with him ever since





ET- I have heard that you did not compete in any sports prior to strongman. First of all, how did coaches miss getting you out? Secondly, how do you think this has affected you in strongman, if at all?

John Connor-Oh they tried; I just never liked the running aspect of football. I think it has been for the best and worst. I came into the sport with out much athleticism and really got crushed on all of the moving events but at the same time I don't have the common injuries associated with most sports. Looking back I would like to have tried to get more into football. I really love strongman but the money a pro offensive lineman makes would be nice.





ET-You recently won your ASC Professional card in Iowa after trying at several Pro/Ams, platinum plus shows, and National contests.  When did you figure out that you had the tools to be a pro strongman?

John Connor-I never really figured it out as much as it was pointed out to me, and since my first workouts I have always been told I was strong and gained strength fairly easy. I never really had anything to compare it too so I just figured it was average because most of my training partners were quite a bit smaller. I would say the first time I came out to train with Scott is when I thought I could do good things in the sport; he was so encouraging and thought I could really take it all of the way that it made me believe it too. I will never forget that first day!

ET- Describe your contest experiences from start to before Iowa's. Successes and failures. Describe anything learned.

John-It has been a bumpy rid to say the least. Every time I thought I would be close I just found more weaknesses. The most important thing I discovered it to be the most well rounded athlete as possible. I have always had a good overhead and liked working it but once I put my good events on the back burner and focused on my worse ones I became much better. I don't have any really good events anymore, everything has leveled out and I prefer it. Like I always tell my self do I want a record or do I want to win.

ET-What was your training like leading up to Iowa's strongest man? How was it different than for other Pro am or national contests?

John-It may sound dumb but this is the contest I actually had a plan for. Scott pretty much planed out all of my event training with a few tweaks from me. Training from the start was right on track, everything was actually ahead of schedule then the worst happen. About three weeks before Iowa I had a sever strain in my lower back and could not carry an 800 yoke more than a couple steps. So from then on I had to rest up it up and hope it would heal in time. The week before I went light on everything and the yoke felt better so things were looking up, some how at the meet I had the run of my life and still haven't done as good on the yoke since.






ET- Describe the several weeks following the Iowa's Strongest Man. Sounds like you were pretty busy.

John-It would not stop, after Iowa I took a week to recover, trained Saturday. Then took the next week off for asm, and then took the week after off for recovery. Then I got married and went two weeks without training from getting everything together and the honeymoon. When I got back I thought it was finally time to train then I found out I had a meet in the Ukraine in three weeks so I trained for two then rested the next. After that meet I thought it was finally hard training time, wrong again, had north Americas strongest man in two weeks so I trained for one then rested for the next. It was one crazy summer I don't even know how I maintained the strength I did but I am so happy to get back and focus on the fit expo.





ET- Describe your experience at America's Strongest Man

John-It was great, I loved the opportunity to go and see how I stood against the top guys in the us, had a low placing but still very pleased since I didn't have a chance to train for the competition. I truly feel as If I had adequate training I could have really done well. Even going in cold I realized the gap between me and them was no where near what I thought and I can't wait for another chance to close it.

ET-Describe your experience at World's strongest Nation.

John-It was so awesome; I hope to get an invite next year. The toughest thing I have ever done in my life and loved every minute. Just the chance to meet and compete against the top in the world was a dream and I can't believe it is here already. The competition was brutal and it was really weird being in the Ukraine but I feel as if we did a great job with two rookies and only one guy that had been there before. The events were really odd, alone it would be fine but working in unison with others is always harder and the log was a night mare. It was me dunn and brugal they are both 5'11 and I am 6'6 so I had to squat on the lockouts but we still managed to place well on that event.





ET-Who is your inspiration in the sport of strongman?

John-That is a tough one, I would have to say just watching someone give it their all inspires me. Anytime I see effort I get worked up and want to jump in and lift something.









ET-Describe your training group/facility.

John-As far as the commercial gym goes it is pretty normal a few free weights and lots of machines. I don't have a training partner but I sometimes catch friends there and try to get spots and motivation from them. But strong man is the complete opposite. Big als dino gym has to be the best place in the world to train, just being there I feel so much stronger. Got some of the best partners out there, Scott and I have been pushing it hard for a while and matt is new but keeping up with us, Great bunch of guys with great motivation.





ET- What is next for you, what do you think your next year will look like competition wise?

John- I hope to do a few small comps just to keep me in the game but my main focus is the fit expo. I plan on going and qualifying for the super series. With the mind set I have right now I will be hard to beat. I have never been more motivated or focused than now; I am making it my goal to make it to the 09 WSM.





ET- Is there anything else you would like to share?

John- Just like to add that kcstrongman.com has the best group of guys out there and I look forward to seeing competing and training with everyone every chance I get!