{{Short description|Burkina Faso weightlifter (born 1992)}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Cheick Sanou | image = | caption = | nickname = Iron Biby | native_name = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|4|20}} | birth_place = Burkina Faso | nationality = Burkinabé | height = 188 cm | weight = {{convert|170-185|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Cheick Sanou|url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewAthlete.php?id=352|access-date=12 April 2022|work=strongmanarchives.com|date=24 July 2021}}</ref> | sport = Strongman }} {{CompetitionRecordTableTop}} {{CompetitionRecordSport | Strongman}} {{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{BFA}} }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Giants Live}} {{CompetitionRecord|4th| 2017 World Tour Finals | }} {{CompetitionRecord|8th| 2018 World Tour Finals | }} {{CompetitionRecord|6th| 2019 Giants Live World Tour Finals | }} {{CompetitionRecord|3rd| 2021 Strongman Classic | }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|World's Ultimate Strongman}} {{CompetitionRecord|12th| 2018 World's Ultimate Strongman | }} {{CompetitionRecord|11th| 2019 World's Ultimate Strongman | }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Ultimate Strongman}} {{CompetitionRecord|8th| 2016 World Championships | }} {{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{CAN}} }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Giants Live}} {{CompetitionRecord|7th| 2017 North American Open | }} {{CompetitionRecordSport | Powerlifting}} {{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{BFA}} }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|WPC Junior Championships }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2014 | }} {{CompetitionRecordBottom}}
'''Cheick Ahmed al-Hassan Sanou''', also known as '''Iron Biby''', is a Burkinabe strongman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-26 |title=From bullied to beloved: Burkina Faso's strongest man |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20181126-bullied-beloved-burkina-fasos-strongest-man |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> He is five-time World Log Lift Champion and holds the Guinness World record for most overhead presses (of a person) in one minute.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Most overhead presses of a person in one minute (male) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/535888-most-overhead-presses-of-a-person-in-one-minute-male/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-gb}}</ref>
As the current world record holder in the log clean and press, axle clean and press (using a strict press), and numerous unofficial records for other forms of overhead presses, Sanou is regarded as one of the strongest overhead pressers of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHO IS THE STRONGEST OVERHEAD PRESSER OF ALL TIME? |url=https://giants-live.com/news/iron-biby-strongman/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Giants Live |date=18 December 2021 |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==Early life== Sanou was born in Burkina Faso. He was a large child who was frequently bullied at school for his size; he earned the nickname "Biby" at an early age. He had early interests in sprinting, gymnastics, and basketball.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-02-01 |title=Iron Biby: From fat-shamed boy to World's Strongest Man contender |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42782487 |access-date=2023-01-26}}</ref>
At age 17 he attended the University of Moncton in Canada, where he earned a business administration degree. During that period, he began his journey in weightlifting, showcasing exceptional talent early on.<ref>{{Cite web |last=English |first=Nick |date=2018-01-16 |title=Iron Biby "Strict" Presses an Insane 220 Kilograms (485 Pounds) |url=https://barbend.com/iron-biby-220kg-overhead-press/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=BarBend |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2013, at age 21, Sanou entered and won his first powerlifting competition.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.konbini.com/ng/lifestyle/cheick-sanou-guinness-world-record-holder-overhead-presses | title=Meet Cheick Sanou, the Guinness World Record Holder for Most Overhead Presses | access-date=2019-09-04 | archive-date=2019-09-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905065009/https://www.konbini.com/ng/lifestyle/cheick-sanou-guinness-world-record-holder-overhead-presses/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Following his achievements in strongman, he acquired the moniker "Iron Biby".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iron Biby |url=https://giants-live.com/athlete/iron-biby/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Giants Live}}</ref>
==Strongman career== Sanou entered his first strongman competition in 2016, the Ultimate Strongman Junior World Championships in Canada. There, he placed 3rd.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewAthlete.php?id=352 | title=Strongman Archives - Cheick Sanou }}</ref> He progressed quickly in the sport, entering his first two Giants Live shows the following year.
Although Sanou has not had any major wins in multi-event competitions, he has gained a reputation as one of the greatest pressers in the world. He has won the Giants Live World Log Lift Championship a record five times.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewAthlete.php?id=352 | title=Strongman Archives - Cheick Sanou }}</ref> He has set several world records in the log press and axle press—he has held the log press record three separate times, most recently improving it by lifting 231 kg (509 lbs) at the Giants Live World Log Lift Championship in 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://giants-live.com/news/hooper-wins-the-strongman-open-as-biby-breaks-log-record/ | title=Hooper Wins the Strongman Open as Biby Breaks Log Record! | date=9 September 2024 }}</ref>
Sanou has often struggled to train conventionally in his home country of Burkina Faso. He claimed to eat as many as eight chickens a day to maintain his weight throughout training.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/1458378 | title=Reuters Archive Licensing }}</ref> He has claimed that he does not use anabolic steroids.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhHNGU0okuA | title=This Guy Has the Strongest Grip in the World - Iron Biby | website=YouTube | date=20 October 2024 }}</ref>
While in Burkina Faso, Sanou often trains past midnight as it is too hot to train during the day.
==Personal records== *Log press – {{convert|231|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2024 Giants Live World tour finals) (World Record)<ref name="sroverhead1">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S3 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 03 - Overhead presses |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> :→ ''Sanou has broken this world record a total of three times, and has also done {{convert|233.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} during training''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-26|title=Watch Iron Biby Do Massive Military Press - Part III (233.5kg/ 514 lbs Unofficial all Time log lift World record was done this year during my prep for World log lift Championship) |url=https://generationiron.com/iron-biby-press/|access-date=2020-04-10|website=www.generationiron.com|language=en-US}}</ref> *Axle press (using strict press) – {{convert|217|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2021 Giants Live Strongman Classic) (World Record)<ref name="sroverhead1"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-26|title=Iron Biby Breaks Axle Press World Record with 217kg Lift|url=http://barbend.com/iron-biby-axle-press-world-record/|access-date=2021-07-26|website=BarBend|language=en-US}}</ref> :→ ''{{small|Even though it was surpassed in 2024 by Mitchell Hooper with {{convert|218|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}, he utilized a split jerk technique hence Sanou's lift remains the heaviest using a strict press.<ref name="sroverhead1"/>}}''<!-- Please refer the sourced www.strengthrecord.com where the Axle is recognized as having two different records for the strict press and split jerk .... --> *Barbell push press – {{convert|260|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (Unofficial World Record)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://barbend.com/iron-biby-260kg-push-press/|title = 260 Kilos – Did Iron Biby Just Make The Heaviest Push Press Ever?| work=BarBend |date = June 2018}}</ref> *Barbell strict press – {{convert|240|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (Unofficial World Record)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fitnessvolt.com/iron-biby-529lb-standing-military-press/|title = Iron Biby Records 240kg/529lb Standing Military Press|date = May 2020}}</ref> *Barbell seated shoulder press – {{convert|273|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (Unofficial heaviest overhead press of all time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4361hb1pkE|title = Biby is Unstoppable 273kg : 602lbs! Press| website=YouTube |date = 4 Jan 2023}}</ref> *Log press (for reps) – {{convert|180|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 5 reps (2019 World's Ultimate Strongman) (Joint World Record)<ref name="sroverhead1"/> *Deadlift (Equipped with straps) – {{convert|425|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2024 Giants Live USA Strongman Championships) (National Record)
==Career achievements== * 1st Place at the 2018 World Log Lift Championships - {{convert|213|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (tied with Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and Eddie Hall) (African record) * 1st Place at the 2019 World Log Lift Championships - {{convert|220|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.govamedia.com/2019/04/09/burkinabe-iron-biby-crowned-2019-world-champion-of-log-lift/ |title = Burkinabé Iron Biby crowned 2019 World Champion of Log Lift|date = 2019-04-09}}</ref> * 1st Place at the 2022 World Log Lift Championships - {{convert|218|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (tied with Luke Stoltman) * 1st Place at the 2023 World Log Lift Championships - {{convert|230|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (former world record) * 1st Place at the 2024 World Log Lift Championships - {{convert|231|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (world record) * 3rd Place at the 2021 Giants Live Strongman Classic * 3rd Place at the 2016 Ultimate Strongman Junior World Championships<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimatestrongman.tv/usas-hadge-fights-back-to-win-world-championship/#comment-11315|title = Ultimate Strongman » USA's Hadge Fights Back to Win World Championship|date = 3 October 2016}}</ref> * 4th Place at the 2017 Giants Live World Tour Finals * 5th Place at the 2019 Giants Live World Tour Finals<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-09-08 |title=A strong finish! World Tour Finals 2019 full results and round-up |url=https://giants-live.com/news/world-tour-finals-2019-full-results-and-round-up/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Giants Live}}</ref> * 1st Place in World Powerlifting Championship (junior class) (2014), both in bench press (217.5 kg) and deadlift (307.5 kg) at age 22<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 WPC Worlds Results |url=https://worldpowerliftingcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/results/archive/2014%20WPC%20Worlds.htm |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=worldpowerliftingcongress.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bllN69BBOX4 Video with interviews at Giants Live 2019]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanou, Cheick}} Category:Living people Category:1992 births Category:Burkina Faso strength athletes Category:21st-century Burkinabe sportsmen Category:Université de Moncton alumni Category:People from Bobo-Dioulasso