Berend Veneberg (born 5 November 1963 in

Den Ham Den Ham ɛn ɦɑmis a village in the Netherlands, Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Twenterand, about 15 km northwest of Almelo. Den Ham was a separate municipality until 2001, when it became a part of V ...

) is a former

strongman Strongman is a competitive strength sport which tests athletes' physical strength and endurance through a variety of heavy lifts and events. Strongman competitions are known for their intensity, pushing athletes to their physical and mental limit ...

and

powerlifter Powerlifting is a competitive strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight singl ...

from the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

. He finished 5th at the

World's Strongest Man The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...

games in 1993, 9th in 1998, 6th in 1999, 1st at

Europe's Strongest Man Europe's Strongest Man is an annual strength athletics competition which began in 1980. The event is held in various locations throughout Europe, and features exclusively European strongman competitors. Mariusz Pudzianowski holds the record for mo ...

in 2000 and won Strongest man of the Netherlands 7 times.

Biography

Veneberg was born in

Overijssel Overijssel (; ; ; ) is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the eastern part of the country. The province's name comes from the perspective of the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht, Episcopal principality of Utrecht ...

. He managed his first podium finish at the Strongest man of the Netherlands in 1991 where he finished third behind

Ted van der Parre Ted van der Parre (born 21 September 1955) is a former strongman from the Netherlands, who won the World's Strongest Man contest in 1992. He also participated in 1994 when he finished 8th, having to drop out after the second event due to a calf ...

and

Wout Zijlstra Wout Zijlstra (born 4 August 1964, in Wolsum) is a former strongman and Highland Games athlete from the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands ...

. The next year he placed second behind Ted van der Parre. In 1993 he would win the tournament for the first time a feat he would repeat six times. The same year he was invited for the first time at the

in which he finished fifth. He competed several more times the following years and reached the final of the tournament on two more occasions. In 1998 he was injured in the final and finished ninth. In 1999 he competed for the last time and finished sixth. Veneberg competed together with Wout Zijlstra on several occasions in the

World's Strongest Team World's Strongest Team is an annual strongman Strongman is a competitive strength sport which tests athletes' physical strength and endurance through a variety of heavy lifts and events. Strongman competitions are known for their intensity, pus ...

competition and won the tournament in 1998. After this they reached the podium several more times but did not win again. In 2000 Veneberg won

. Berend has won the

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

National Powerlifting Championships 6 times. He also runs his own gym in the Netherlands, and has trained some top strongmen such as

Jarno Hams Jarno Hams (born 1974) is a Strongman (strength athlete), strongman from the Netherlands. He participated in the World's Strongest Man in 2002 and 2003, but failed to qualify for the finals both times. Hams is a ...

. Berend competed on American Gladiators.

Honours

*1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (1993) *5th place

(1993) *1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (1995) *1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (1996) *1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (1998) *9th place

(1998) *1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (1999) *6th place

(1999) *1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (2000) *1st place

(2000) *1st place Strongest man of the Netherlands (2002) *1st place

(1998)

Personal records

Keg toss Keg-tossing (or keg toss) is a traditional strength sport that involves the heaving of a standard half-barrel beer keg or a similar implement. The basic technique involves swinging the keg in a pendulum like manner and releasing when it is at its a ...

– over (1999 IFSA Hungary Grand Prix) *

Weight over bar Weight over bar (or Highland games 'one arm' weight over bar) () is a traditional strength sport derived from ancient Scottish Highland games that involves the heaving of a (half hundredweight) weight, over a bar using one hand. Unlike its oth ...

– over (2000 Europe's Strongest Man)

References

External links

Berend Veneberg on realdutchpower.nl
{{DEFAULTSORT:Veneberg, Berend 1963 births Living people Dutch strength athletes People from Den Ham Contestants on American game shows Sportspeople from Overijssel