Dave Mihalov

Dave Mihalov is a former college football player who has only been competing in strongman competitions for about three years, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to short change his goals.

"My main goal for the future is to make a World’s Strongest Man telecast," said the 25-year-old from Bridgeport, Conn. "And I am planning to make a serious run at that in 2010 and 2011."

Mihalov is a professional strongman in the 105-kilogram class (231 pounds) who won the 105K World’s Strongest Man competition in Bangor, Maine in July. That performance earned him an automatic spot in the inaugural Arnold Amateur Strongman at the 2010 Arnold Sports Festival.

Professional in the 105K class are considered amateurs in the open division, and Mihalov now plans to bulk up to make a run at his professional card in the unlimited weight class division that is more familiar to those who watch the Arnold Strongman Contest at the Arnold Sports Festival or the World’s Strongest Man telecasts on ESPN.

"I am planning weigh around 275 to 280 pounds by next March for the Arnold Amateur and a solid 285 or 290 pounds by the end of the year," said Mihalov, who celebrated his July victory with a vacation in Mexico.

Mihalov played college football at Sacret Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and was never a big on lifting weights. He did not start working out seriously until six years ago, and his first competition was the Massachusetts State Championships in 2006, where he won the 231-pound weight class.

"At first I was like NO WAY, I am not strong like those guys you see on TV," he said. "But a friend convinced me to take a training trip to CTStrength (in upstate Connecticut) and I went there for one day and competing the following weekend. So I obviously did not train too much at all. But I won and I was instantly hooked."
Mihalov won several local shows before earning his pro card in June 2007.

"I pretty much have not rhyme or reason behind how I train. Each day or week I do not have things mapped out," he said. Mihalov spends the week working on his upper body, lower body and back before working on Strongman events on Saturdays at CTStrength.He used to spend two days a week working on cardio activities to keep his weight at 231 or below, but that is no longer a concern.

"I train hard and fast. I am always moving in the gym," he said. "I feel like you need to train like you compete and I always try to be tired. That will definitely get you stronger. I also get a lot of advice from Derek, who helps me a lot on exercises and diet and especially on days when we have competitions."

Mihalov also takes cues from Poundstone when it comes to promoting the sport.

"I think Strongman in general can be larger than it is. It is growing day by day and more people are getting into the sport. Just check out amateur nationals and see how many people are going.  It’s absurd," he said. "I have seen first-hand how much media attention Derek has been getting and the sport has no place to go besides up."

"I think I could be a key component in helping the sport because I am very good with people, especially at shows. Also, adding the competition to the Arnold Sports Festival is HUGE!  I was so excited to hear that news and it was by far the big driving force in my training the last eight weeks. I am looking to competing on that large stage against some of the best competitors across the world."