Patrik Baboumian
bodybuilder powerlifter strong vegan strongman/strongwoman world #1
Patrik was born in Iran and lives in Germany. He's competed in strongman and powerlifting, setting world records in three strongman events.
- 2012 European Powerlifting Champion
- World record breaker in three strongman events
- World record breaker for log lift for under 105kg athletes
In 1999 aged 20 he won the German Junior Bodybuilding title.
He broke the world log lift record for under 105kg, with a 165kg lift, as well as the German heavyweight log lift record . His heaviest log lift is 200kg. In 2011 he won Germany’s Strongest Man, 105kg category.
By late 2012 he had continued to grow in size and strength and weighed 127kg, so no longer considered competing in the under 105kg category. In 2012 he competed in the European Powerlifting Championships and despite a number of setbacks squatted 300kg, bench pressed 200kg and deadlifted 330kg. This gave him the European title in the Open category. (Read more here)
Also in 2012 he set a World record by lifting a 150.2kg beer keg overhead. He also made an attempt at the fronthold record which involves holding a 20kg weight with straight arms in front of the body. He added 10 seconds to the World record, (read more here.) He finished the year with the first ever title of Vegan Athlete of the Year.
In 2013 Patrik was invited to compete in the FIBO Champions League against some of the sport’s elite. He proved he could compete at that level and even recorded a win in the crucifix hold (read more here).
His personal bests are: Bench 210kg, Squat 360kg, Deadlift 360kg.
Turning vegan
In 2011 Patrik turned vegan after a number of years vegetarian. “I just found myself thinking that if I would have to kill the animals I ate with my own hands I couldn’t because I was too compassionate. I felt that I was fooling myself eating meat considering my inability to kill an animal so I just thought I’d better be honest to myself and stop eating meat.”
In doing so he’s inspired athletes and other people to try veganism, something he is very proud of. He’s also found disbelief among people who discover what he eats, although most respect his decisions.
In 2014 he published a book on sports nutrition, and worked on translating it to English. This meant he took a break from competing, and in 2015 he made a comeback in a German national competition where he broke his own yoke world record (read more here).
In 2013 he set a world record in yoke walk by carrying a 550kg yoke at Toronto Veg Fest. After the amazing feat he told the audience:
“This is a message to all those out there who think that you need animal products to be fit and strong. Almost two years after becoming vegan I am stronger than ever before and I am still improving day by day. Don’t listen to those self proclaimed nutrition gurus and the supplement industry trying to tell you that you need meat, eggs and dairy to get enough protein. There are plenty of plant-based protein sources and your body is going to thank you for stopping feeding it with dead-food. Go vegan and feel the power!”
Patrik has also been featured in The Game Changers, where he discussed veganism and was filmed flipping a car (watch here).
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