Remember after he wins he says- "I did it my way, and no one can stop you if you want to do it your way too" (with a little wink)- I always took that as a subtle nod to his natty status, without the classlessness of throwing fellow competitors under the bus by being super vocal about it
I would like to point out that just because a person doesn't look like they are on steroids doesn't mean they are not using steroids. Not all steroid users are big and ripped.
Great vid. We will never know but what Id like to point out is that he is training for a comeback and to this day he retained absolutely ridiculous calves and forearms, he didnt completly deflate after retiring.
@@moa3821 nah.. he was 375, but is wanst like he was chisled out of stone.. He was big, and did have an impressive and imposing physique, but he was built like a bear more than anything.
@@DGS_1992 BS. This video is total BS. Waste of time to discuss whether WSM competitors are using steroids or not. They are ALL using steroids. Period.
Janne Virtanen was probably the ONLY natural WSM winner. Phil had enormous traps and shoulders which are the main side effect of steroid usage. Strongman and powerlifters we all use steroids. Virtanen was only about 130 kg at 6'5 or 6'6 high possibility he's the only natural wsm winner. Phil went from 130 kg to 165 kg no chance he wasn't using steroids.
I mean you say no chance like it’s absolutes, he’s a large bloke with insane genetic potential, I’m not saying he is natural for certain but vica versa , you can’t say he definitely isn’t 100% using, hence why I thought be an interesting topic! Only he knows for sure
Which current strongman trains differently to most others… Paul Smith? Coincidence?? 😂 Incidentally, I didn’t like Phil Phister, because he didn’t look like a beast. How wrong is that. 😆
It matters less in dynamic events for sure. In absolute muscle recruitment ie 500 kg dead there is no way a natural could do it. In all the years of wsm 1979 to 2011 no one could straight bar dead more than 400 kg or thereabouts. After that ped use became much more evolved and strongman became more serious and the static strength went mental
Great video and totally agree with Shane here ! He was just a very large man with natural farmer strength ! The dynamic events of this comp was perfect for him. From what I’ve read Phil did mainly events training throughout most of his career and then started training with Brian siders to bring up his static strength later on. I’ve heard a rumours he had 5x180kg stones which he used to train his stone runs with lol wether it’s true or not who knows but a fun fact anyway !
Good you mentioned Brian siders. People always say ‘ah yeah but they never invite the best powerlifters to wsm’. He did absolutely nothing. Also some people are just better at some events. Big Z vs tel hollands axle press. Different league.
Pfister was 35 in 2006 and yet he was way more massive than any of his earlier appearances, obviously a 6’6 pfister isn’t going to look as muscular as 6ft Eddie hall, if he truly was training like he was training in that video then it’s even more probable he’s on PEDs
Its well know that PEDs are used in WSM and everyone is fine with that. Lets face it, it just wouldn't be as exciting without them. So if someone wants to compete natty then that's fine but they don't need to get up on their high horse and act like they are better than the other guys. If you can compete natty in WSM then you were born with a freakish advantage and the guys on PEDs are just leveling the playing field.
I belive he juiced but not much in 2006. But few inteviews of his make my question my opinion. Like saying things that “he want to win it but not at the cost that some of the other athletes are paying”
I think he probably used a low dose test but that’s it. I refuse to believe anyone wins worlds natty. Very good analysis and points on events. Just my 2p
Research Virtanen... he always had a similar bodyweight, quite slim for 6'5. Phil on the other hand put on 35 kg during his strongman career very obviously on steroids.
Definitely agree! That performance is what you get when you have a bloke with innate mong strength who has trained very hard and smart, and is a proper athlete
I believe he said he made the wsm finals natty in his first year, I don’t think he was claiming natty later on, especially not with that tren cough lul
@@tabascojoe77 I watched a live stream from about 2 months ago, and he got real upset when someone asked about steroid use and he said he was natural in world's strongest man. Maybe that was in reference to his first, or overall.
@@neal520 right? Like I mentioned below, I watched a live stream about 2 months ago and someone asked about it during it and he got real upset saying he was natural during world's strongest man. Could have been overall, could have been his first like you're saying
I find it extremely unlikely he would come 4th at world's as a natural and not think to himself "if I just take a little gear I'll surly win" and then still not take any gear
I sorry to say that... But I was asked in the video of what I think... He was on juice, but not much of it. Mostly because his training seems to be really whacky
I don’t know the man’s history and don’t know him closely. But I’ve met him several times. He’s a really nice guy and really personable when kids want to meet him. And he’s a naturally very massive man. My 2 hands together barely makes up one of his hands. To me he just has never had the build of someone on PED’s. He’s got a very natural build. However he is a very massive individual. And he is a corn-bred hillbilly 😂so there’s that.
15:14 it absolutely is possible... There's no clinical scientific research which states the natural limits for human strength without PED usage. You'd have to factor in a shit tonne of variables, but from an overview it definitely seems possible because there's nothing other than anecdotal evidence to argue against that possibility.
@@MSTSystems no problem at all. thank you for responding. he's possibly the nicest gent in the sport isn't he. I still maintain he will look 35 when he is 410.
if you can win WSM natty youd be the greatest ever with a a moderate cycle. you wont even survive the training for all these events. Peds are for strength AND recovery.. if youre 6'6 375 natty your body fat would be 45%, delusional to think hes natty versus guys with better genetics who are juicing.
I always thought it was possible in his case and believed him. I think he preferred not to use gear, he had a lot of experience in the competition and felt he could win it naturally, he had a high IQ for what he'd have to place in each event to win, and it all came together in 2006. WSM was also more strength endurance than pure strength like, say, The Arnold. He was made for that type of competition, the guy is a giant and the events then, as a whole, didn't require the best gym lifter in order to win the competition. If you were a huge, naturally strong guy who trained the events and grip strength with massive hands, and were a good athlete for your size, it could be tailor made for you. As the video said, he didn't have the out of proportion tell-tale signs, he never had a cartoonish out of proportion look. He never looked like his blood pressure was through the roof, his cardio for a nearly 400lb guy was great. To this day, he kept his base of size. With no way of knowing for sure, I'd say I believe he was natural. Back then the field was split and a lot of talent was competing for IFSA and could not do WSM. Pudzianowski had been dominant and while he was great, Pfister had almost half a foot and 100lbs on him and was more naturally suited to the type of competition. The pool got much larger since back then and it might be harder for someone today. But, it would need to be someone like Pfister, just a giant with long limbs, big hands even for his size, country strength and a lot of experience in that competition who was smart and trained to prevent injuries and be conditioned, who a high strongman IQ and patience and competed for a min place in each event and conserved energy for ones they had a chance to win 16:34 . I don't believe a 6'2-6'5 guy could win it naturally or a guy with normal sized hands or levers for their height.
I mean I have much more experience in this level of competition than you, so my view is more accurate. I openly talk about PEDS on my channel. There have been many naturals at WSM, Ben Kelsey, Terry Hollands, Paul smith to name a few. Phil is the only one who I think won it natural though.
@@MSTSystems Total BS. If WSM competitors and top strongmen are natural then lifts would go way down. Even performance in endurance events would go way down.
@@qewr4231 yeah I said I’d name a few haha, and that it is possible to get there natural still, have to be a genetic monster and have some luck with events (like Phil did here) but it’s possible.
Very stupid reasons for why Phil is supposedly natural honestly, so not having rounded delts means you’re natural? It’s as stupid as Rob Riches saying he’s natural because he has small wrists compared to the interviewer. Given he was WSM & as strong as he was, not to mention beating a clear steroid user like Pudzianowski, he most likely wasn’t natural. But even so, who gives a fuck? Being natural or enhanced doesn’t take away from their achievements as if we were to take all the drugs they do, we wouldn’t be at their level no matter how long we train.
Remember after he wins he says- "I did it my way, and no one can stop you if you want to do it your way too" (with a little wink)- I always took that as a subtle nod to his natty status, without the classlessness of throwing fellow competitors under the bus by being super vocal about it
He was natty. His father was a heart surgeon and honestly his deadlift wasn't high enough which to me means natty.
I would like to point out that just because a person doesn't look like they are on steroids doesn't mean they are not using steroids. Not all steroid users are big and ripped.
Ironically that's the fastest speed the Citroen AX has ever done
Great vid. We will never know but what Id like to point out is that he is training for a comeback and to this day he retained absolutely ridiculous calves and forearms, he didnt completly deflate after retiring.
I just love these videos. The history, the training methods, the PED use in Strongman. So many things in one video. Keep it up Dragon!
Thank you!
geared to the gills
Go to gym.
Not a chance in hell, maybe in his earlier years
At the start of phils career 1998 or 1999 he looked natural, he put on way too much size to be natural by 2006.
@@brutalcummer6308 that’s 6 years that’s definitely possible to think it’s not it’s weak minded
@@brutalcummer6308 imagine thing 375 while not being fat is natty. insane. you cant beat mariusz pudinowski at his peak without 'pEds
@@moa3821 nah.. he was 375, but is wanst like he was chisled out of stone..
He was big, and did have an impressive and imposing physique, but he was built like a bear more than anything.
@@DGS_1992 BS. This video is total BS. Waste of time to discuss whether WSM competitors are using steroids or not. They are ALL using steroids. Period.
Natty the same way Derek poundstone and Ronnie Coleman are.. Work in public service so they have to claim drug free
The video is complete BS. No one at the world's strongest man is steroid free.
Janne Virtanen was probably the ONLY natural WSM winner. Phil had enormous traps and shoulders which are the main side effect of steroid usage. Strongman and powerlifters we all use steroids. Virtanen was only about 130 kg at 6'5 or 6'6 high possibility he's the only natural wsm winner. Phil went from 130 kg to 165 kg no chance he wasn't using steroids.
I mean you say no chance like it’s absolutes, he’s a large bloke with insane genetic potential, I’m not saying he is natural for certain but vica versa , you can’t say he definitely isn’t 100% using, hence why I thought be an interesting topic! Only he knows for sure
magnus samuelson was pretty normal looking when he won, and claimed to be natural for a time. I would expect that he isn't natural now.
Which current strongman trains differently to most others…
Paul Smith? Coincidence?? 😂
Incidentally, I didn’t like Phil Phister, because he didn’t look like a beast. How wrong is that. 😆
His mom was a bigass lady too. I'd bet on him being natural.
I agree with you. This video is total BS.
It matters less in dynamic events for sure. In absolute muscle recruitment ie 500 kg dead there is no way a natural could do it. In all the years of wsm 1979 to 2011 no one could straight bar dead more than 400 kg or thereabouts. After that ped use became much more evolved and strongman became more serious and the static strength went mental
Great video and totally agree with Shane here ! He was just a very large man with natural farmer strength ! The dynamic events of this comp was perfect for him.
From what I’ve read Phil did mainly events training throughout most of his career and then started training with Brian siders to bring up his static strength later on.
I’ve heard a rumours he had 5x180kg stones which he used to train his stone runs with lol wether it’s true or not who knows but a fun fact anyway !
That he had 5 stones of 180 kg to train with is much more likely than him being natty when he won.
@@chriskolenberg4155 👍🏻
Good you mentioned Brian siders. People always say ‘ah yeah but they never invite the best powerlifters to wsm’. He did absolutely nothing. Also some people are just better at some events. Big Z vs tel hollands axle press. Different league.
Great video! Watched this DVD frequently growing up.
Pfister was 35 in 2006 and yet he was way more massive than any of his earlier appearances, obviously a 6’6 pfister isn’t going to look as muscular as 6ft Eddie hall, if he truly was training like he was training in that video then it’s even more probable he’s on PEDs
Yes Phil put on 35 kilos from 1999 to 2006. 130 kg to 165 kg definitely from steroids .
6’2 Eddie
@@brutalcummer6308 so every fat guy out there thats puts 35kg in 7 years is using steroids, its not like he gained 35kg of only muscle
@@brutalcummer6308 absolutely correct. 5kg a year is absolutely a sign of PEDs.
@@BenjieMoggs in his dreams
he could be natty.. just genetic mutant with massive frame. similar to magnus samuelson
I think magnus is the strongest man to ever live.
@@averycamden4730Magnus was quite skinny when he first came on the scene then he blew up.
Really interesting topics shane 🍻🍻
Its well know that PEDs are used in WSM and everyone is fine with that. Lets face it, it just wouldn't be as exciting without them. So if someone wants to compete natty then that's fine but they don't need to get up on their high horse and act like they are better than the other guys. If you can compete natty in WSM then you were born with a freakish advantage and the guys on PEDs are just leveling the playing field.
Great show by the way
Do you think Mark Henry did his whole strength journey natural?
I will be you 2 million dollars that Phil Pfister is not natural. He is using anabolic steroids. Now give me my money.
Keep em coming mate! Brilliant analitical video.. We need more videos on this topic on other athletes in the sport
Shane bud, do you have any footage or details on that oxygen tank cheat curl event? Looks mad - wonder how different athletes did at it....
Was Lance Armstrong natural?
Lets see more natty or nots of current strongmen from years ago. Like 2016 bish, mateusz, martins
Just found this channel. As a former strongman competitor the tips are so useful. I agree re Phil and Smith. Well done this is brilliant
Natty or not? Is that even a question?
Do you think someone like Kelvin De Ruiter is natural? Statically not great but fantastic at moving and truck pulls?
De ruiter looks more natural than any strongman ever. Noticeably so. Discuss
Juiced.
Great analysis sir! Thanks so much for this video.
I belive he juiced but not much in 2006. But few inteviews of his make my question my opinion. Like saying things that “he want to win it but not at the cost that some of the other athletes are paying”
love it, just a good brainteaser
Excellent breakdown.
I think he probably used a low dose test but that’s it. I refuse to believe anyone wins worlds natty. Very good analysis and points on events. Just my 2p
I wonder if Paul Smith could do it one day
Young Brian shaw I could believe was natty. 100%
Yes I can guarantee that when Brian Shaw was 2 years old he was not on steroids.
im 100% natty and deadlift near 700lb so i think its possible
I think he is, he has Paul smith kind of physique
Research Virtanen... he always had a similar bodyweight, quite slim for 6'5. Phil on the other hand put on 35 kg during his strongman career very obviously on steroids.
Did anybody actually ask Phil?
Definitely agree!
That performance is what you get when you have a bloke with innate mong strength who has trained very hard and smart, and is a proper athlete
Big loz always claims he was natty, and he never got further than 4th at WSM. He did however, win BSM ESM AND UKSM
Be interested in your analysis.
He said his first WSM was natural
I believe he said he made the wsm finals natty in his first year, I don’t think he was claiming natty later on, especially not with that tren cough lul
Yeah in one of his live streams I remember him saying he made his first wsm natty. Implying he took steroids after this point in his career
@@tabascojoe77 I watched a live stream from about 2 months ago, and he got real upset when someone asked about steroid use and he said he was natural in world's strongest man. Maybe that was in reference to his first, or overall.
@@neal520 right? Like I mentioned below, I watched a live stream about 2 months ago and someone asked about it during it and he got real upset saying he was natural during world's strongest man. Could have been overall, could have been his first like you're saying
Phil natty IMO, deserves big respect.
Just a 6’6 375lb natty
@@neal520 Erm... Yeah? It's possible
@@Lickmabumbum Ermmm.......No
@@neal520 Erm... Yeah? So severely obese people don't exist?
@@neal520 yes it is
I'd guess a little GH?
No strongman are natty
Very interesting!
People seriously need to understand a lot is possible natty especially over time
yes alot is possible but not versus guys with better genetics who are juicing
Mitchell hooper natty or not ???
Hahaha
I find it extremely unlikely he would come 4th at world's as a natural and not think to himself "if I just take a little gear I'll surly win" and then still not take any gear
Phil phister made this contest looks like crossfit.
I sorry to say that... But I was asked in the video of what I think... He was on juice, but not much of it. Mostly because his training seems to be really whacky
That’s fair! Don’t need to be sorry, everyone is entitled to their opinion and on this subject no one knows but Phil, fun to speculate haha
@@MSTSystems it's just that I want to believe that it is possible to win wsm natty and this is probably one of the closest cases
I don’t know the man’s history and don’t know him closely. But I’ve met him several times. He’s a really nice guy and really personable when kids want to meet him. And he’s a naturally very massive man. My 2 hands together barely makes up one of his hands.
To me he just has never had the build of someone on PED’s. He’s got a very natural build. However he is a very massive individual. And he is a corn-bred hillbilly 😂so there’s that.
15:14 it absolutely is possible... There's no clinical scientific research which states the natural limits for human strength without PED usage. You'd have to factor in a shit tonne of variables, but from an overview it definitely seems possible because there's nothing other than anecdotal evidence to argue against that possibility.
Would love you to do one on mark Felix. Competed in natural bbing before strongman and more recently done tested PL. What do we think?
I actually coach mark Felix for the last 3 years so it wouldn’t be possible for me to due to client coach confidentiality 🙌
@@MSTSystems no problem at all. thank you for responding. he's possibly the nicest gent in the sport isn't he. I still maintain he will look 35 when he is 410.
if you can win WSM natty youd be the greatest ever with a a moderate cycle. you wont even survive the training for all these events. Peds are for strength AND recovery..
if youre 6'6 375 natty your body fat would be 45%, delusional to think hes natty versus guys with better genetics who are juicing.
I always thought it was possible in his case and believed him. I think he preferred not to use gear, he had a lot of experience in the competition and felt he could win it naturally, he had a high IQ for what he'd have to place in each event to win, and it all came together in 2006.
WSM was also more strength endurance than pure strength like, say, The Arnold. He was made for that type of competition, the guy is a giant and the events then, as a whole, didn't require the best gym lifter in order to win the competition. If you were a huge, naturally strong guy who trained the events and grip strength with massive hands, and were a good athlete for your size, it could be tailor made for you. As the video said, he didn't have the out of proportion tell-tale signs, he never had a cartoonish out of proportion look. He never looked like his blood pressure was through the roof, his cardio for a nearly 400lb guy was great. To this day, he kept his base of size. With no way of knowing for sure, I'd say I believe he was natural.
Back then the field was split and a lot of talent was competing for IFSA and could not do WSM. Pudzianowski had been dominant and while he was great, Pfister had almost half a foot and 100lbs on him and was more naturally suited to the type of competition.
The pool got much larger since back then and it might be harder for someone today. But, it would need to be someone like Pfister, just a giant with long limbs, big hands even for his size, country strength and a lot of experience in that competition who was smart and trained to prevent injuries and be conditioned, who a high strongman IQ and patience and competed for a min place in each event and conserved energy for ones they had a chance to win 16:34 . I don't believe a 6'2-6'5 guy could win it naturally or a guy with normal sized hands or levers for their height.
Myself I believe Phil wasn't juiced.
That's comedy
What about Shaw and Tom stoltman. Do you think they are natural?
Juiced. Steroids.
Really nice video! Valid points. I think by the physique he's natty
No chance..... Jane Virtanen was probably the only natural strongman
Janne
Are you trying to fool beginners into thinking that anyone at that level of competition does not use steroids? This video is complete BS.
I mean I have much more experience in this level of competition than you, so my view is more accurate. I openly talk about PEDS on my channel. There have been many naturals at WSM, Ben Kelsey, Terry Hollands, Paul smith to name a few. Phil is the only one who I think won it natural though.
@@MSTSystems Total BS.
@@MSTSystems Total BS. If WSM competitors and top strongmen are natural then lifts would go way down. Even performance in endurance events would go way down.
@@qewr4231 yeah I said I’d name a few haha, and that it is possible to get there natural still, have to be a genetic monster and have some luck with events (like Phil did here) but it’s possible.
@@qewr4231 I agree for the most part it’s difficult without but not impossible .. hence why i named a few who got there natural 🤷♂️
Very stupid reasons for why Phil is supposedly natural honestly, so not having rounded delts means you’re natural? It’s as stupid as Rob Riches saying he’s natural because he has small wrists compared to the interviewer. Given he was WSM & as strong as he was, not to mention beating a clear steroid user like Pudzianowski, he most likely wasn’t natural. But even so, who gives a fuck? Being natural or enhanced doesn’t take away from their achievements as if we were to take all the drugs they do, we wouldn’t be at their level no matter how long we train.
You say “we” like you’re talking to me haha, I’m actually statically stronger than Phil in his prime 🤔🤯
@@MSTSystems No, we as in the general population.
@@MSTSystems my delts are naturallly developed. Never done roids. 90kg overheadpress at 85kg bw.
@@D9Wx congrats haha
HE'S ALL NATURAL AND I Don't Care What ANYONE ELSE THINKS.
HA HA HA
Totally agree I alway thought he only man to do it natty
HA HA HA this video is total BS