Mark Henry's impressive achievements over the ropes

Before Mark Henry was The World's Strongest Man inside a WWE ring, the powerhouse was competing in weightlifting competitions all across the globe. With? Henry's induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame at the the Arnold Sports Festival, look back at the Superstar's impressive past, and check out WWE.com's photo retrospective of Henry's WWE career.

Silsbee High School: Mark Henry graduated from Silsbee High School in Texas. Already standing 6-foot-3 and weighing more than 300 pounds, he was voted the strongest teen in America. Henry was a three-time state champion weightlifter, breaking state records in squat, bench press and deadlifts.

In Henry's mind, records are made to be broken. In 1991 a young Henry did just that -breaking four national junior records. But the accolades would not stop there. He placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals and at the Junior World Championships came in sixth. His first year of competing was unprecedented, shattering records and becoming the top super-heavyweight in the United States.

1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics: In Barcelona, Mark Henry came in with the moniker "World's Strongest Man." Only 21 at the time, Henry would place tenth in the super-heavyweight class. He began to train even harder for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and was voted weightlifting team captain. ?

1995 Pan-American Games: Henry would excell in the Pan-American games held in Mar Del-Plata, Argentina. Here, he would sweep a each medal, winning a bronze, silver and gold. It was the United States' only gold in the weightlifting category that year.

2002 Arnold Classic Strongman competition: Besides being a world record holder in the squat (lifting more than 900 pounds), Henry came in first place at the Arnold Classic Strongman competition. He went home with a new Hummer and a cash prize. The lore of Mark Henry's strength only grew from this point.

Named No. 2 strongest man ever by Flex Magazine: In a list of the "Top 10 Strongest Men That Ever Lived," Henry is named No. 2. An impressive?achievement for the Texas native.?

Induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame:?The World's Strongest Man is joined by some high-profile names at this year's induction ceremony, to name a few; former California governor and seven-time Mr. Olympia?Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Godfather of Fitness" the late Jack LaLanne, and six-time Ms. Olympia Cory Everson.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/mark-henry-strongman-achievements

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