• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • HYROX
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workout for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
      • Individual Supplement Reviews
    • Cardio Equipment
      • Best Treadmills
      • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
    • Strength Equipment
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Leg Extension Machines
      • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
    • Apparel
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Running Apps
      • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Workout Apps
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Daily Protein Needs
    • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
    • Foods With Creatine
    • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
  • Community Forum
Home » Strongman News » Derek Poundstone Set to Make Strongman Return

Derek Poundstone Set to Make Strongman Return

Written by Dane Curley
Last updated on August 5th, 2023

Renowned American strongman Derek Poundstone is back! But to what extent?

In an official video announcement (embedded below), Ultimate Strongman broke news that three-time America’s Strongest Man Derek Poundstone would be participating in their Team World Championship.

Poundstone enters the competition under somewhat ironic circumstances. He is joining as a late replacement for fellow American strongman Jerry Pritchett, who found himself unable to heal quickly enough from a torn bicep to fulfill his commitment to the June 4th event in England.

Strongman fans may recall that Poundstone himself chose retirement in 2015, two years after he sustained his own slow-to-heal bicep tear, at the 2013 Arnold Classic Australia.

Poundstone has not competed in strongman since that calamitous performance at the March 2013 event, but only indirectly blamed the injured bicep for his retirement. Rather, he said, “…I just got tired of the constant abuse on my body.”

That abuse included four disk injuries, fractured vertebrae, a torn quadricep, a torn pectoral, and, finally, the infamous torn bicep.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Derek Poundstone (@derekpoundstone)

Yet, though Poundstone’s list describes a ton of wear and tear, his statement suggests his injuries did not force his retirement – if even his healing process lasted so long as to significantly atrophy his strength.

It cannot be said, then, that his return to strongman is completely unexpected. After all, the two-time Arnold Strongman Classic winner and four-time World’s Strongest Man finalist is only 36-years-old. Connecticut’s Poundstone has worked as a personal trainer and police officer ever since leaving the sport behind, and that resume proves him a long way from some deleterious life as a couch potato.

Two months after his strongman retirement, he was still competing as a powerlifter. Unfortunately, his dedication to strength sports resulted in another torn quad (video of that attempt embedded below).

After more than four years outside of strongman competition – and two years removed from competitive strength athletics entirely – it is a bit strange to find Derek Poundstone suddenly thrust into a “world championship.” And though team-based strongman hasn’t quite earned the same respect its one-on-one forefather has, the athletic demands placed on each individual remain significant.

I suspect, while he is probably not in world championship shape, Derek Poundstone is at least capable of placing at the Ultimate Strongman Team World Championships. For starters, his partner on “Team Yankees,” Martins Licis, is a reigning WSM finalist, currently competing in Botswana. Furthermore, the Big Four (Brian Shaw, Zydrunas Savickas, Hafthor Bjornsson, and Eddie Hall) will not be participating.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Derek Poundstone (@derekpoundstone)

With no statement from the man himself, fans cannot be certain if Poundstone intends on a full-scale return to the most elite realms of the sport, or if he is just doing his patriotic duty for a fellow countryman. The fact that his social media is absent of training footage makes speculation difficult, but does not suggest that he hasn’t been training. In fact, Poundstone has gone on record with a negative opinion of selfies and modern fitness culture in general.

“Once upon a time, I had a bright idea to build a gym with the best equipment in the world. The goal was to provide an affordable place for people to use equipment which was usually reserved for the best athletes in the world. Well, that didn’t work out too well. It seems people that frequent most gyms care more about selfies and checking themselves out in the mirror. After 3 years and 11 months I closed my gym, Poundstone Performance…”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Derek Poundstone (@derekpoundstone)

If the American strength legend is indeed in fighting shape, I wish him luck avoiding re-injury and trust he will disregard the naysayers. His contemporary, Zydrunas Savickas has had some big injuries, too – and, impressively, he is competing in the 2017 World’s Strongest Man at 41-years-old.

I approached Derek Poundstone for comment through social media, but he did not respond and his pages are not especially active. I hoped to hear from the man himself about how far he was taking this journey outside of retirement.

Time will tell.

Editors note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein are the authors and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been sourced exclusively by the author.

Featured image: @derekpoundstone on Instagram

About Dane Curley

Dane Curley is a professional actor (SAG-AFTRA) and writer with degrees in Broadcasting and Political Science. A life-long performer and dedicated learner, Dane brings clear and concise language to the many fields of his interest, from music and sports journalism to songwriting, creative, and copywriting. Dane has published over 1000 articles and hosted or produced more than 200 live events. He currently writes for The World's Strongest Man (IMG Media) conducting interviews with strongmen and creating pre and post-event copy.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

Featured image for the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review

Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review (2025): Our Expert’s New Favorite FID Bench

Titan T3 Power Rack Review

Titan T3 Power Rack Review (2025): An Expert-Approved Rig Beckoning to Budget-Minded Athletes

Our tester works out at the beach in preparation for the Rogue Resistance Bands Review

Rogue Resistance Bands Review (2025): Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer

Barbend tester Jake Herod works out on a Force USA Trainer

Force USA G3 Review (2025): Our Experts Tested This Compact All-In-One Rack for Small Home Gyms

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap