Hulking strongmen showcase their power and might in the first qualifier event at Mohegan Sun
Many of the world’s strongest men will return to southeastern Connecticut for the World’s Strongest Man Qualifier.  These mountains of muscle and brawn will attempt to press, lift and carry thousands of pounds at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, May 17th starting at 4:00pm.  This event is part of the 2009 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competition, the qualifier to the World’s Strongest Man championship event.
Tickets are $30.00 and are on-sale now at the Mohegan Sun Box Office and through Ticketmaster.  Ticketmaster customers may log onto ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.
Athletes from around the world will battle in such feats of strength as the Giant Timber Frame Carry, the Car Deadlift and the Atlas Stone competition.   The American contingency features Derek Poundstone (Waterbury, Connecticut), 2007’s America’s Strongest Man and 2nd place at 2008’s WSM; Travis Ortmayer (Cypress, Texas), 2008 WSM finalist and Brian Shaw (Denver, Colorado), 2008’s Hawaii’s Strongest Man.
Meanwhile, the roster of international competitors includes: Mark Felix (Grenada), fourth place at 2006’s WSM; Sebastian Wenta (Poland), second place at 2007’s WSM; Terry Hollands (United Kingdom), WSM finalist and third place at the 2008 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix; Jimmy Marku (United Kingdom), 2008’s Britain’s Strongest Man; Hugo Girard (Canada), 2002 WSM and five-time Canada’s Strongest Man; Misha Koklyaev (Russia), six-time Russian weight-lifting champion; Richard Skog (Norway), 2008 WSM Qualifier and Johannes Arsjo (Sweden), 2008 WSM Qualifier.
In the Giant Timber Frame Carry, the athletes will each attempt to lift and carry a 750-pound timber frame and carry it for 30 meters/100 feet.  Furthest or fastest time to complete course wins. The athlete will have a 60-second time limit to complete the course.
In the Car Dead Lift, the athletes will attempt to lift the rear end of a compact car with their bare hands for as many repetitions as possible in a 60 second time limit.
During the Atlas Stones portion, the athletes will attempt to lift, carry and load six stones weighing 285 – 420 pounds onto platforms. Fastest time to load all six stones (or the most stones) wins.  The athlete will have a 60-second time limit to complete all six stones. 
For more information on the World’s Strongest Man Qualifier: Giants Live! and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com.  For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.