The world’s strongest man of 1979, Don Reinhoudt, has died.
Don Reinhoudt was a strong pioneer of powerlifting. Illustration picture. PDO
Legendary strongman and powerlifter Don Reinhoudt has died at the age of 78.
British Daily Mail says Reinhoudt died in a car accident Monday morning in upstate New York.
According to local police, Reinhoudt’s Jeep hit a tree. The strongman was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
American Reinhoudt won the world’s strongest man title in 1979. The year before the championship, he finished second in the same competition.
In powerlifting, Reinhoudt won four consecutive World Championship golds at the IPF Federation World Championships in 1973–1976. He also set numerous world records in the sport.
Reinhoudt was ennobled in the powerlifting hall of honor in 2016. He is considered one of the most significant people who made powerlifting popular.
Among other things, a British strongman Laurence Shahlaei posted a memory of Reinhoudt on Instagram.
– I was lucky to be able to talk to Don a few times. He was truly kind and a true gentleman with many stories to share, Shahlaei wrote.
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