Simon Sulaiman Wins Holland's Strongest Man
by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind Enterprises, Inc. © 2009
“A new Dutch strongman champion is crowned,” Marcel Mostert told IronMind®. “His name is Simon Sulaiman.”
“I am happy Simon [Sulaiman] took this title,” Marcel Mostert said. “He competes already 9 nine years in Dutch strongman, so he deserved it!” IronMind® | Courtesy of Marcel Mostert.
The Dutch National Championships in strongman enjoyed “a good athmosphere with sunny weather and 4,000 visitors,” Mostert reported to IronMind®. “We had a great, exciting match on Saturday, July 11.” Changing the field, Jarno Hams was out due his recent injury, and since Harms has “taken the Dutch title for the past 5 years in a row, Simon Sulaiman had a big chance to win his first Dutch Championship ever,” Mostert said. “But it was not an easy job.
“There was a field of 12 finalists, who came out of 4 qualifiers earlier in the year. More than 100 athletes had fought this year to come into this finals. In the finals, there where a few strong newcomers, who are promising for the future.”
The contest had 7 events: Medley, Deadlift , Atlas Stones, Log Lift , Truck Pull, Hercules Hold and Power Stairs.
After winning the first event, the Medley, Sulaiman then stood in second or third place for the rest of the contest, Mostert said. “Four times there was another leader, so it was very exiting and [the competitors were] close to each other! In the very last event, the Power Stairs, Simon attacked and won the Power Stairs (blocks of 175, 225, 275 kg). He beat Alex Moonen, until then in first place overall, and took the title: Dutch Strongest Man 2009 in the last seconds,” said Mostert.
Final results:
1. Simon Sulaiman 61.5 points
2. Alex Moonen 59.5
3. Jan Wagenaar 56.5
4. Tom Jansen 56
5. Richard van der Linden 54.5
6. Dennis Gort 46,5
7. Maikel Bagerman 43.5
8. Rick van der Torre 40
9. Gijs Boeijen 39.5
10. Peter de Jong 34.5
11. Arno Louwsma 29.5
12. Johan Langhorst 24.5