Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.10.2008, Page 18

18 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 16—2008
ARTIClE BY eIRIK SöRDAL
our attention has been brought to a growing number of scam e-mails
stemming from iceland following the increasing financial instability on
the domestic front. the unsolicited e-mails are being sent to foreigners,
seemingly in order to lure them into giving away enough personal infor-
mation for the dishonest senders to be able to transfer foreign money to
icelandic accounts. the grapevine has received one such letter from a
watchful nigerian, where the unscrupulous sender, using a false identity,
claims to be a former assistant to mr. Björgólfur thor Björgólfsson, one
of icelands richest businessmen. We wish to warn against these hoax
letters, especially since there is such a fine line between truth and lies,
laughter and tears and belief and naïvety in moments of crisis such as
the one we are currently going through in iceland.
Spam Alert!
Icelandic criminals may try to defraud you
ARTIClE BY JAMeS cRugnALe
When it comes to feats of strength, Iceland rules the
world. With a world-leading eight World’s Strongest
Man championships, the country is internationally
renowned for its formidable bodybuilding fortitude
and virility. Many Icelanders proudly remember
when burly Jón Páll Sigmarsson lifted the coun-
try up to become an international powerhouse in
strength athletics. A master of the dead lift, Sig-
marsson won the World’s Strongest Man competi-
tion a groundbreaking four times (1984, 1986, 1988
and 1990).
Throughout most of the 1980s, Sigmarsson
was a larger-than-life figure with an ostentatious Vi-
king persona. After bountiful powerlifting sessions,
Sigmarsson became well known for busting out in-
timidating, heavily Icelandic-accented one-liners.
According to legend, during the 1985 WSM compe-
tition, a heckler called him an Eskimo; Sigmarsson
turned around, confronted the man and bellowed
“I am not an Eskimo! I AM A VIKING!” This authori-
tative catchphrase, often imitated by WSM fans,
would forever be associated with Sigmarsson.
He also, to this day, holds the record for dead-
lifting at the knees, lifting a gargantuan 523 kg at
the 1987 Pure Strength Ultimate Challenge Com-
petition. In 1989, Sigmarsson famously crushed a
bicycle with his bare hands on Icelandic television;
the twisted metal remains are now on prominent
display at the Iceland Sports Museum in Akranes.
Tragically, Sigmarsson died in 1993 at age 32 from a
heart attack while attempting a dead lift in his gym,
doing the thing he loved to do best.
In the years that have passed since his un-
timely death, Sigmarsson has remained a largely
influential figure in the pantheon of Icelandic
sport. Iceland’s other World’s Strongest Man, Mag-
nús Ver Magnússon, fondly reflected back upon his
old friend, rival and fellow countryman. He vividly
remembered how Sigmarsson motivated him to get
involved in the sport.
“He’s what you’d call a pioneer; the sport
wasn’t so big back then. I was inspired by him,”
said Magnússon. “When I started training out on
the east coast, I watched him on TV, I said to my
friends, one day, like Jón Páll, I’ll be there.”
He remembered competing amicably with
Sigmarsson at many events such as the Highland
Games and recollected on how he loved to inter-
act with his fans. “I remember that he was lively, he
loved to play with the crowd,” said Magnússon.
Iceland’s
First World’s
Strongest Man
Great Moments
in Icelandic History