Jouko_Ahola
Jouko Ahola
Finnish strength athlete and actor
Jouko Ahola (born 1 December 1970) is a Finnish former strongman, powerlifter and actor. He is a two time World's Strongest Man winner, a two time Europe's Strongest Man winner, and is regarded as one of the best pound for pound strongmen in history.
Jouko Ahola | |
|---|---|
Jouko Ahola in 2007 | |
| Born | (1970-12-01) 1 December 1970 (age 53) |
| Occupation(s) | Strongman, powerlifter, actor |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [1] |
| Title | 2× World's Strongest Man 2× Europe's Strongest Man Finland's Strongest Man |
| Website | Official website |
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Strongman | ||
Representing  Finland | ||
| World's Strongest Man | ||
| 1st | 1997 World's Strongest Man | |
| 2nd | 1998 World's Strongest Man | |
| 1st | 1999 World's Strongest Man | |
| IFSA | ||
| 1st | 1998 Finland Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 1999 Germany Grand Prix | |
| 1st | 1999 Finland Grand Prix | |
| 2nd | 1999 Czech Grand Prix | |
| 2nd | 1999 Holland Grand Prix | |
| 2nd | 1999 Hungary Grand Prix | |
| Europe's Strongest Man | ||
| 4th | 1996 | |
| 1st | 1998 | |
| 1st | 1999 | |
| European Hercules | ||
| 1st | 1995 | |
| 1st | 1996 | |
| 2nd | 1997 | |
| Atlantic Giants | ||
| 1st | 1999 | |
| World's Strongest Viking | ||
| 4th | 1996 | |
| World Muscle Power Championships | ||
| 1st | 1998 | |
| World Strongman Challenge | ||
| 1st | 1995 | |
| 1st | 1999 | |
| World's Strongest Team | ||
| 1st | 1997 w/Riku Kiri | |
| 2nd | 1998 w/Sami Heinonen | |
| 1st | 1999 w/Janne Virtanen | |
| Finland's Strongest Man | ||
| 2nd | 1996 | |
| 1st | 1997 | |
| Strongest Man Alive | ||
| 1st | 1998 | |
| 1st | 1999 | |
| Powerlifting | ||
| Representing Finland | ||
| IPF Junior World Championships[2] | ||
| 5th | 1993 | 125kg |
Jouko is best known for winning both the 1997 and 1999 World's Strongest Man, and finishing second in 1998.[3] Ahola also won the Europe's Strongest Man contest twice, in 1998 and 1999, and finished fourth in 1996.[3] Jouko won the World's Strongest Team in 1997 and 1999, and was second in 1998.[3]
Ahola set world records for the Hercules hold (45.7 sec, 197 kg) and Atlas Stones (215 kg).[4]
He is one of only ten men to be a repeat champion in the World's Strongest Man competition.[4]
Jouko was a very successful strongman competitor, at 6' 1" (1.85 m) and 275 lbs (125 kg), corresponding to a BMI of 35.8, which is low by WSM standards.[4]
After his strongman career, Ahola has directed his focus towards films. So far, his most notable roles have been in Kingdom of Heaven, Bad Day to Go Fishing, War of the Dead and Invincible.[6]
Ahola starred in Werner Herzog's 2001 film Invincible as early 20th century Jewish strongman Zishe Breitbart.[6] Jouko played a former world wrestling champion in Alvaro Brechner's 2009 film Bad day to go fishing, (Mal día para pescar). The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival.
Jouko appeared in the music video for Robin's "Faija skitsoo" in 2012.[7] He also made a cameo appearance on the second season of The Dudesons TV series, which aired worldwide in 2008.
Jouko also serves as a judge and event organizer for the World's Strongest Man contest.[8]
In 2013 he appears in the new History Channel series Vikings.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Invincible | Zishe Breitbart | |
| 2005 | Kingdom of Heaven | Odo | |
| 2006 | 7 miljonärer | Jerry | |
| 2009 | Bad Day to Go Fishing | Jacob van Oppen | |
| 2011 | War of the Dead | Captain Niemi | |
| 2012 | Basement Perspective | Short | |
| 2013 | Vikings | Kauko | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Ella ja kaverit 2 - Paterock | Paten turvamies | |
| 2015 | Wendyeffekten | Yeton | |
| 2018 | Veljeni vartija | Oululainen portsari #3 |
- He regards Arnold Schwarzenegger as his role model.[4]
- His nickname is "Jokke."[4]
- His name is often misspelled as Juoko Ahola, Finnish for "Does Ahola drink?"[4]
- HITstrongman (2012-01-11). "1997 World's Strongest Man". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-08-18.[dead YouTube link]
- "Ahola Jouko - powerlifting and bench press performances, records, bio, photo, video". En.allpowerlifting.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- "David Horne's World of Grip". Davidhorne-gripmaster.com. 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- "Jouko Ahola's Official Home Page". Dlc.fi. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- Sami Koskinen. "Powerbuilding WSM - Workout with Jouko Ahola". Samson-power.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- "Tässä on teinipoppari Robinin uusi musavideo". Findance. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- "Jouko's Back!". Ironmind.com. 2005-05-02. Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- "Jouko Ahola vaihtoi työkalut järeään sotakirveeseen | Hämeen Sanomat" (in Finnish). Hameensanomat.fi. Archived from the original on 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2014-08-18.