Editing World's Strongest Man (section)

===1970s–1980s===
The concept behind "The World's Strongest Men", as it was originally named, was developed in 1977 for [[CBS]] by Langstar Inc. [[David Webster (World's Strongest Man organizer)|David Webster]], a Scot who later received an [[OBE]] for his services to sport, was the head coordinator of the competition from its inception. [[Douglas Edmunds]], seven-time Scottish shot and discus champion and twice world caber champion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/bring-on-the-war-games-1.858177|title=Bring on the war games|website=The Herald|date=19 May 2007 |location=Glasgow|access-date=9 October 2009|archive-date=1 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401102235/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12777931.bring-on-the-war-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> worked with Webster and when Webster retired, Edmunds took over. These two men were responsible for inviting the competitors and choosing the events. In the meantime, in 1982, CBS sold the rights to the [[BBC]], who in turn sold the rights to [[Trans World International|TWI]]. In 1987, the WSM was not held for the only time since its inception. In that year, the first and only non-team [[Pure Strength]] competition was held, but it was not part of the WSM franchise.

For the first several contests, American color commentators and analysts were used on the network broadcast. These included [[Brent Musburger]], [[Tom Brookshier]], and acknowledged strength authority, journalist and author [[Terry Todd]]. Todd was a former powerlifting world record holder himself and went on to establish the [[H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports]] in 1990. He also was asked to establish the [[Arnold Strongman Classic]] in 2002 by [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]].

During this early period, the contest ranks consisted mostly of American football players, powerlifters, and bodybuilders and were held in American locations until it was moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1983. Two-time winner [[Bruce Wilhelm]] (USA) retired and was succeeded by [[Don Reinhoudt]] in 1979, a 162.1&nbsp;kg (357&nbsp;lb) heavyweight powerlifter of the US. Reinhoudt still holds several unequipped world records in powerlifting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.strength-oldschool.com/blogs/news/interview-with-strength-legend-don-reinhoudt|title=Interview with Strength Legend Don Reinhoudt|website=Strength Oldschool|access-date=6 December 2019|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114032613/https://www.strength-oldschool.com/blogs/news/interview-with-strength-legend-don-reinhoudt|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In 1979, newcomer and powerlifter [[Bill Kazmaier]] (USA) made his appearance, coming in 3rd after leading much of the competition. He dominated the sport to such an extent from 1980 to 1982, winning by a record 28 points in 1980. He reportedly was excluded from the competition for five years, after becoming the first man to win three consecutive WSM titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.strongestman.com/int/int2.html|title=An Interview with Bill Kazmaier|date=17 June 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010617004229/http://www.strongestman.com/int/int2.html|archive-date=17 June 2001}}</ref> He set prodigious marks with a 478.6&nbsp;kg (1055&nbsp;lb) silver dollar coin deadlift, 439.6&nbsp;kg (969&nbsp;lb) squat (smith machine), and a then-record 165.6&nbsp;kg (365&nbsp;lb) log lift with a rough, unbalanced log. This eventually earned him a place in the WSM Hall of Fame.

After Kazmaier left, his nearest rival, former Olympian [[Geoff Capes]] from the UK, traded wins with the Icelandic powerlifter [[Jón Páll Sigmarsson]], with Capes winning in 1983 and 1985, and Sigmarsson in 1984 and 1986. Sigmarsson raised the popularity and awareness of the event to new levels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ironmind.com/news/Jon-Pall-Sigmarsson-Its-His-Charisma/|title=Jon Pall Sigmarsson: "It's His Charisma"|website=ironmind.com|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=1 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401102149/https://ironmind.com/news/Jon-Pall-Sigmarsson-Its-His-Charisma/|url-status=live}}</ref> He died three years after winning his 4th and final WSM in 1990. In 1987, Sigmarsson defeated Capes and Kazmaier in Pure Strength. Kazmaier returned to WSM in 1988, but could not dethrone Sigmarsson, who won his 3rd title. The only other man to claim the title in this era was [[Jamie Reeves]], which he did in 1989. Reeves was injured in 1990, as Sigmarsson narrowly claimed his 4th title ahead of [[O.D. Wilson]], who was leading by 5.5 points going into the final event, a controversial 200m race with 100&nbsp;kg on the back. Sigmarsson won the event, and the much larger Wilson finished way down the field, meaning Jon Pall became the first man to claim four titles.