Three-time World’s Strongest Man champion Bill Kazmaier shared an update on his health after heart surgery. As of Jan. 14, 2025, Kazmaier was in a hospital in the Philippines, preparing to undergo another surgery to help him recover from a life-threatening heart condition that affected him while traveling.
Kazmaier’s son, Eric, created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds to cover his father’s medical expenses, as he lacks healthcare. Eric Kazmaier also shared updates from his father, including the YouTube video shown in its entirety below:
“I just want to thank everybody for reaching out and donating and helping me to continue my mission to do the things I’ve done for years, try to help other people,” Kazmaier said in the video.
In a previous update, Eric shared that in his father’s next surgery, Bill will receive an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) with pacemaker functionality.
“Together, these devices will help regulate his heart rhythm and provide emergency support should his heart go into a dangerous rhythm,” Eric wrote. The GoFundMe page has a listed goal of $100,000, and over $46,000 had been raised at the time of this article’s publication. Those interested in donating can do so through that page.
About Kazmaier
Many strongman fans view Kazmaier as the first legend of the sport. He won the World’s Strongest Man three times in 1980, 1981, and 1982, becoming the first man to three-peat in that competition. Before his dominance in strongman, he was a well-respected powerlifter.
Kazmaier won two IPF World Championships in 1979 and 1983 and was the first athlete to bench press 300 kilograms (661 pounds) in competition in 1981. Kazmaier also worked as a professional wrestler in the late 1980s and early 1990s, most notably as a part of World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Kazmaier was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Since retiring from competition in 1992, he has remained involved in strength sports through work as an announcer, official, and ambassador for various events. He was making an appearance in the Philippines when he had to be admitted to a hospital for his current condition.
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Featured Image: @kazmanaught on Instagram
