In a country known for its vibrant culture and passionate people, it is only fitting that an embodiment of strength emerges to capture the nation’s attention. This extraordinary athlete has claimed the coveted title of the Philippines Strongest Man, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s athletic landscape and carving his name into the annals of strength sports history.
Welcome to an electrifying encounter with the epitome of sheer power and unyielding determination. Today, we embark on a riveting journey into the life and mind of the current reigning Philippine’s Strongest Man – Carlos Lanzona (@phstrongestchef)
INTERVIEWER: What motivated you to pursue a career as a strong man?
CARLOS: Strong man was coming up as a sport. Uh, I was very interested in it specifically because I didn’t like bench pressing, and also I thought of powerlifting as a one-sided thing. That it’s kind of boring to see the nominations, and you already know who’s gonna win because everyone knows everybody else’s lifts already.
Strong man, it introduces a more dynamic component to the sport in which you don’t know what will happen. So it’s more interesting in that way.
INTERVIEWER: How do you maintain your physical strength and conditioning? Can you describe your training routine?
CARLOS: I attribute a lot of my conditioning to working manual labor. So I’ve been working in the kitchen for 11 years, always on my feet, I walk about like 10 to 13k steps every day. So it helps a lot, especially since I’m a super heavyweight.
INTERVIEWER: Can you describe your training routine?
CARLOS: I train three times a week strictly. I don’t do more than that to maintain my recovery protocols. Usually, I do whole-body exercises every day, and then I walk backward or sideways at around midnight for some cardio. Common misconceptions about strongman athletes is that were heavy, not flexible, or mobile –because to be good at this sport, you have to have big athletic capacity and also good kinesthetic awareness. I would say you have to know where your body is at all times.
INTERVIEWER: What is the most challenging feat of strength you have accomplished and how do you prepare for it?
CARLOS: I think the 2019 Philippines Strongest Man, when I won over the three times champion, was the most fulfilling thing.
I prepared for it by doing a lot of lateral movements, which I think isn’t stressed enough in dynamic sports. So I did a lot of side hops, skater jumps to the side, ankle plyo, stuff like that, athletic stuff.
INTERVIEWER: Have you ever faced any injuries or setbacks in your career as a strong man? And if so, how did you overcome that?
CARLOS: I have two torn rotator cuffs and a tear in my groin. I was able to recover just through trial and error and learning from Polarity Physiotherapy Center and just going back and forth with my physiotherapists and troubleshooting –and just not stopping moving. So any injury I get, I try to move it around as much as I can to improve my range of motion and blood flow.
INTERVIEWER: How do you handle the pressure and expectations that come with being a strongman?
CARLOS: Being the strongest man since 2019 and with the pressure of being the current champion and the pandemic hitting. It really messed things up for me. I don’t mind losing. I actually welcome defeat, so I’m really excited to lose if ever I do. And I’m looking forward to this year’s competition and I hope someone can beat me and show up, so I’m not really pressured or anything because you get what you’re given to the sport.
INTERVIEWER: How do you handle disappointments or setbacks in your career, and what steps do you take to bounce back and stay motivated?
CARLOS: I’ve been lifting since 2016 and the biggest setbacks and disappointments would be like recovering from substance abuse and my house burning down. And I think people should just put things into perspective that you shouldn’t beat yourself up when you’re in a rut or like you have to reprioritize things like take care of yourself first, family, money, and all that.
Sports can always take a backseat and it doesn’t mean anything. Strongman in any sport does not dictate your self-worth. It’s not your identity, so you have to put things into perspective and it’s not a make-or-break thing.
INTERVIEWER: In addition to physical strength, what other quality qualities or skills do you think are important for a strongman to possess?
CARLOS: Well, you have to be smart. You have to understand how the body works, and how to minimize mechanical tension, like why would you lift things a certain way that would make it harder for your body. So just finding shortcuts to things. I’m not the strongest person around, but I do believe I move very well. You have to think on your feet and you have to be very athletic to survive and not gas out.
From his humble beginnings to the pinnacle of strength sports, Carlos Lanzona has exemplified what it means to push beyond limits and strive for greatness.
Through his remarkable story, we have witnessed the power of perseverance, the importance of unwavering discipline, and the ability to turn dreams into reality. The Philippines Strongest Man stands not only as a testament to physical strength but also as a symbol of inspiration for all those who dare to defy expectations and pursue their passions relentlessly.
