Magnus Samuelsson (born December 21, 1969), is a Swedish actor, former strongman and winner of the 1998 World's Strongest Man contest in Morocco. He has also made it to the World's Strongest Man podium 5 times and the finals 10 times and is regarded as one of the best strongmen in history. The son of a former Swedish arm wrestling champion, he has also been ranked among the best arm wrestlers in the world and was a European Arm Wrestling champion prior to becoming a professional strongman.

Career
Samuelsson held the record for reaching the World's Strongest Man finals 10 times, a feat which he achieved over a 13-year span from 1995 to 2007. He has also achieved a podium place in WSM on five separate occasions.

In 2001, Samuelsson became the overall champion of the Strongman Super Series. After competing in the IFSA Strongman World Championship in 2005, he returned to compete in the 2006 World's Strongest Man but failed to make it past the qualifying rounds due to a back injury. A year later, Samuelsson reached the 2007 finals, eventually finishing in 5th place. However, after failing to make the finals in the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest, Samuelsson announced his retirement from competition after 14 years competing in the sport. He achieved a 31 podium finish making him one of the all-time most successful strongman competitors.

Torbjörn Samuelsson (Samuelsson' brother) also competed in strongman competitions between 1996 and 2002, winning Sweden's Strongest Man twice and competing at the World's Strongest Man 2000–2002.

Breaking the arm of Nathan Jones
In 1995, Samuelsson accidentally broke the arm of Australian wrestler Nathan Jones during heats of the 1995 World's Strongest Man contest in Nassau, Bahamas. The injury occurred because Jones employed the novice technique of side twisting. The action combined with Samuelsson's own body strength resulted in a snapped humerus.

The World's Strongest Arms
Samuelsson is specially noted for his exceptional arm and grip strength. In the 2003 Colin Bryce documentary 'The World's Strongest Arms', together with fellow World's Strongest Man champion Svend Karlsen, Samuelsson demonstrated world class feats of strength such as performing bicep curls with 140 kg (309 lb) for 4 repetitions, bench pressing 270 kg (595 lb) for 2 repetitions, unofficially surpassing Andrus Murumets 121.1 kg (267 lb) rolling thunder world record, three times with lifts of 123.9 kg (273.2 lb), 126.1 kg (278.0 lb) and 129.6 kg (285.7 lb) and unofficially becoming the first and only man in history to close the Captains of Crush No. 4 gripper for two reps. The following year, Samuelsson officially closed the legendary gripper under official conditions and to this date remains the fifth and the final man to close it under official conditions.

Media
Magnus Samuelsson was offered a role in the film Gladiator, but declined. One of the reasons he declined was that he believed the film was going to be a B movie. The agent who had phoned him to offer the role had told him that he would "fight with swords and so", and also named a couple of actors in the cast, which Magnus Samuelsson did not recognize.

In 2009 Samuelsson won the Swedish version of the television series Dancing with the Stars, beating songwriter Laila Bagge in the final.

Samuelsson plays Gunnar Nyberg, a detective in the 2011 Swedish crime thriller series Arne Dahl. It has also been aired in Germany and UK. The series are now available on Amazon Prime.

Samuelsson plays Clapa in the BBC's The Last Kingdom. A hulking Danish warrior, Clapa becomes one of the main protagonist Uhtred's best fighters, but his savagery in battle belies a warm heart and loyalty to his comrades that holds no bounds.

Personal life
Samuelsson lives in Tidersrum in Östergötland. He and his brother, Torbjörn, are both full-time farmers. Throughout his career, he has been supported at every competition by his wife Kristin, a former two-time winner of Sweden's strongest woman. They have one son, David, and one daughter, Sara.

Samuelsson is also an automobile racing enthusiast. In 2010 he competed in Rally Sweden, part of the World Rally Championship, finishing in 35th position out of 55.

Personal records
Done in the gym (according to Samuelsson himself)
Squat: 280 kg (617 lbs) for 10 reps raw
Bench press: 300 kg (661 lbs) for 1 rep raw, 270 kg (595 lbs) for 2 reps
Deadlift: 385 kg (826 lbs)
 Barbell curl: 140 kg (308.5 lbs) for 4 reps
During strongman competitions
Deadlift: 330 kg (728 lbs) (2001 World's Strongest Man - Group 3)
Squat: 300 kg (661 lbs) (1997 World's Strongest Man)
Log press: 165 kg (364 lbs) (1999 Beauty and the Beast)
Axle press: 160 kg (353 lbs) (2001 Beauty and the Beast)
Bench press: 200 kg (441 lbs) for 15 reps (2004 Sweden Grand Prix)
Atlas Stones: 120-180 kg (264-397 lbs) (5 stones) in 27.13 seconds (2000 Europe's Strongest Man)
Húsafell Stone: 186 kg (410 lbs) for 30 metres in 16.88 seconds (2000 Europe's Strongest Man)
Húsafell Stone: 173 kg (381 lbs) (93% of the original) for 79.71 metres (1998 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)
Húsafell Stone: 163 kg (359 lbs) (87.5% of the original) for 89.68 metres (1997 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)
Crucifix hold: 20 kg (44 lbs) per hand for 43.45 seconds (2007 Viking Power Challenge)
Medicine ball toss: 23 kg (51 lbs) over 5.18 metres (2005 Arnold's Strongest Man)
Tyre flip: 520 kg (1,146 lbs) for 5 times (2004 Sweden Grand Prix)
Conan's Wheel: 300 kg (661 lbs) for 1022° (2004 Sweden Grand Prix)
Back lift: 1,190 kg (2,624 lbs) (2004 World Muscle Power Classic)

Contest history
1996  World Muscle Power - 2nd
1997  Glasgow Open - 1st
1998  Helsinki Strongman - 4th
1998  World Strongest Team Contest - 3rd
1998  Faroe GP - 1st
1998  World Strongman Challenge - 1st
1999  Faroe GP - 3rd
1999  Beauty and the Beast - 1st
1999  Iceland Viking of the North - 2nd
1999  World Strongest Team - 2nd
1999  Helsinki GP - 4th
1999  Czech GP - 1st
2000  Faroe GP - 3rd
2000  Ireland GP - 1st
2000  Europe Strongman Classic - 2nd
2000  Helsinki GP - 2nd
2000  Poland GP - 1st
2000  China GP - 1st
2000  Romanian GP - 1st
2001  Beauty and the Beast - 1st
2001  World Muscle Power - 2nd
2001  Europe's Strongest Man - 3rd
2001  Santo Domingo - 2nd
2001  Prague GP - 3rd
2001  Dutch GP - 2nd
2001  Stockholm GP - 1st
2001  Strongman Super Series - 1st
2003  World Muscle Power Canada - 3rd
2003  World Record Breakers Poland - 3rd
2004  World Strongman Stars Ukraine - 2nd
2004  Superseries GP Gothenburg - 1st
2007  Viking Power Super Series Norway - 3rd
2008  Sweden Super Series Sweden - 1st

References

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2NGbyg7vtBbQxw4ZfGp4stk/clapa

1969 births
Swedish arm wrestlers
Living people
Swedish strength athletes
Reality show winners
Swedish rally drivers
Swedish farmers
21st-century farmers
Sportspeople from Linköping