Building Functional Strength with Former Professional Strongman Ryan Green



On this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, we discussed the world of functional strength. We talked about the core principles of training for elite athletes and how these same principles can be applied to reducing joint pain and functioning at a high level as we age. Our guest was former professional strongman, Ryan Green. For three years, Ryan competed across the world representing Canada in dozens of international competitions. At his strongest, Ryan pulled a 100,000lb tractor 30m!

Ryan’s career came to an unfortunate end in 2004 when he was sprinting with nearly 1000lbs on his back, got tripped up in a pothole, and broke his back. Since then his mentality has shifted towards training for longevity and coaching others to do the same.

In our chat, Ryan revealed some of his training and nutrition strategies while he was competing and how those strategies look today in pursuit of his new goal of living to 150.

Here is the full list of Ryan’s impressive career achievements…

2004

8th WSC Championship, Edmonton
6th Canada’s Strongest Man
27th All Strength World Cup, Riga Latvia
1st Belleville Waterfront Festival
2nd 2004 Ontario Strongest Man – Provincials

2003

2nd 2003 Ontario Strongest Man – Provincials
4th 2003 Canadian Strongest Man – Nationals
11th 2003 Super Series – North Bay, Ontario
7th 2003 Gatineau Balloon Festival Strongman (Pro)
3rd 2003 All Strength Nations Challenge (Team Canada) – St. Maarten, Caribbean
8th (inj.) 2003 North American Solid Strength Classic – Regina, Saskatchewan

2002

1st 2002 Met-Rx Midwest Strongman Challenge (Amateur Heavyweight)
14th 2002 Ohio Valley Strongman (Open Pro division – t 13th)
6th 2002 All Strength Challenge – Halifax
4th 2002 Clinton Invitational
2nd 2002 Ontario Strongest Man – Provincials
2nd 2002 All Strength Challenge – Wasaga Beach
5th 2002 All Strength Nations Challenge (Team Canada White)
4th 2002 All Strength Challenge – Canadian Final (t 3rd)
7th 2002 Canadian Strongest Man – Nationals
6th 2002 Gatineau Balloon Festival Strongman (Pro)

2001

6th 2001 Ontario Strongest Man Provincials
2nd 2001 All Strength Challenge – Trenton
3rd 2001 All Strength Challenge – Port Colborn
8th 2001 All Strength Challenge – Canadian Final