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1978 World's Strongest Man

The 1978 World's Strongest Man was held. 10 athletes competed across 10 events were contested.

Date: Date unknown
Location: Location unknown
Type: World's Strongest Man
Division: Men
Bruce Wilhelm
1st Place

Bruce Wilhelm 🇺🇸

Total Points: 64.3

Events (10 total)

  1. 1. Barrel Lift
  2. 2. Bar Bend
  3. 3. Tire Toss
  4. 4. Max Deadlift
  5. 5. Wheelbarrow Carry
  6. 6. Max Squat
  7. 7. Wrist Roll
  8. 8. Tram Pull
  9. 9. Fridge Carry
  10. 10. Tug of War

Results

Place Athlete Country Points
1 Bruce Wilhelm 🇺🇸 USA 64.3
2 Don Reinhoudt 🇺🇸 USA 58.0
3 Lars Hedlund 🇸🇪 SWE 38.9
4 Jon Kolb 🇺🇸 USA 23.4
5 Gus Rethwisch 🇺🇸 USA 16.7
6 Boris Djerassi 🇮🇱 ISR 15.2
7 Brian Oldfield 🇺🇸 USA 12.0
8 Ivan Putski 🇵🇱 POL 5.4
9 John Matuszak 🇺🇸 USA 4.0
10 Jack Wright 🇺🇸 USA 0.0

Event-by-Event Results

Bar Bend

# Athlete Result Points
1 Bruce Wilhelm - 8.5
1 Lars Hedlund - 8.5
3 Don Reinhoudt - 4.0
4 Jon Kolb - 2.0
5 Gus Rethwisch - 1.0
- Boris Djerassi - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Barrel Lift

# Athlete Result Points
1 Don Reinhoudt - 10.0
2 Bruce Wilhelm - 5.5
2 Boris Djerassi - 5.5
4 Gus Rethwisch - 2.0
5 Lars Hedlund - 1.0
- Jon Kolb - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Fridge Carry

# Athlete Result Points
1 Lars Hedlund - 10.0
2 Bruce Wilhelm - 7.0
3 Jon Kolb - 4.0
4 John Matuszak - 2.0
5 Boris Djerassi - 1.0
- Don Reinhoudt - 0.0
- Gus Rethwisch - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Max Deadlift

# Athlete Result Points
1 Don Reinhoudt - 10.0
2 Bruce Wilhelm - 7.0
3 Lars Hedlund - 1.4
3 Jon Kolb - 1.4
3 Gus Rethwisch - 1.4
3 Boris Djerassi - 1.4
3 Ivan Putski - 1.4
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Max Squat

# Athlete Result Points
1 Don Reinhoudt - 10.0
2 Bruce Wilhelm - 4.3
2 Gus Rethwisch - 4.3
2 Boris Djerassi - 4.3
5 Lars Hedlund - 1.0
- Jon Kolb - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Tire Toss

# Athlete Result Points
1 Brian Oldfield - 10.0
2 Don Reinhoudt - 7.0
3 Bruce Wilhelm - 4.0
4 Boris Djerassi - 2.0
5 Gus Rethwisch - 1.0
- Lars Hedlund - 0.0
- Jon Kolb - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Tram Pull

# Athlete Result Points
1 Don Reinhoudt - 10.0
2 Bruce Wilhelm - 7.0
3 Lars Hedlund - 4.0
4 Jon Kolb - 2.0
- Gus Rethwisch - 0.0
- Boris Djerassi - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Tug of War

# Athlete Result Points
1 Bruce Wilhelm - 10.0
2 Don Reinhoudt - 7.0
3 Lars Hedlund - 4.0
4 John Matuszak - 2.0
- Jon Kolb - 0.0
- Gus Rethwisch - 0.0
- Boris Djerassi - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Wheelbarrow Carry

# Athlete Result Points
1 Bruce Wilhelm - 10.0
2 Gus Rethwisch - 7.0
3 Jon Kolb - 4.0
4 Lars Hedlund - 2.0
5 Boris Djerassi - 1.0
- Don Reinhoudt - 0.0
- Brian Oldfield - 0.0
- Ivan Putski - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0

Wrist Roll

# Athlete Result Points
1 Jon Kolb - 10.0
2 Lars Hedlund - 7.0
3 Ivan Putski - 4.0
4 Brian Oldfield - 2.0
5 Bruce Wilhelm - 1.0
- Don Reinhoudt - 0.0
- Gus Rethwisch - 0.0
- Boris Djerassi - 0.0
- John Matuszak - 0.0
- Jack Wright - 0.0
Last updated: February 22, 2026

See Also

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About 1978 World's Strongest Man

Strongman competitions test athletes across multiple events in a single contest, combining static strength, moving events, and endurance challenges. Results are typically scored using a points-based system where athletes earn placements in each event, and the overall winner is determined by the lowest cumulative score or highest total points.

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