# Cheick Sanou

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{{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](/source/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](/source/Strongman_(strength_athlete))
}}
{{CompetitionRecordTableTop}}
{{CompetitionRecordSport | [Strongman](/source/Strongman_(strength_athlete))}}
{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{BFA}} }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[Giants Live](/source/Giants_Live)}}
{{CompetitionRecord|4th| 2017 World Tour Finals | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|8th| 2018 World Tour Finals | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|6th| [2019 Giants Live World Tour Finals](/source/2019_Giants_Live_World_Tour_Finals) | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|3rd| [2021 Strongman Classic](/source/2021_Giants_Live_Strongman_Classic) | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[World's Ultimate Strongman](/source/World's_Ultimate_Strongman)}}
{{CompetitionRecord|12th| [2018 World's Ultimate Strongman](/source/2018_World's_Ultimate_Strongman) | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|11th| [2019 World's Ultimate Strongman](/source/2019_World's_Ultimate_Strongman) | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Ultimate Strongman}}
{{CompetitionRecord|8th| 2016 World Championships | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{CAN}} }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[Giants Live](/source/Giants_Live)}}
{{CompetitionRecord|7th| 2017 North American Open | }}
{{CompetitionRecordSport | [Powerlifting](/source/Powerlifting)}}
{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{BFA}} }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[WPC Junior Championships](/source/World_Powerlifting_Congress) }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2014 | }}
{{CompetitionRecordBottom}}

'''Cheick Ahmed al-Hassan Sanou''', also known as '''Iron Biby''', is a [Burkinabe](/source/Burkina_Faso) [strongman](/source/Strongman_(strength_athlete)).<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](/source/The_World_Log_Lift_Championships) and holds the [Guinness World record](/source/Guinness_World_Records) for most [overhead press](/source/overhead_press)es (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](/source/Sprint_(running)), [gymnastics](/source/gymnastics), and [basketball](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/overhead_press) 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&nbsp;kg (509&nbsp;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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Haf%C3%BE%C3%B3r_J%C3%BAl%C3%ADus_Bj%C3%B6rnsson) and [Eddie Hall](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/World_Powerlifting_Congress) (junior class) (2014), both in [bench press](/source/bench_press) (217.5&nbsp;kg) and [deadlift](/source/deadlift) (307.5&nbsp;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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cheick Sanou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheick_Sanou) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheick_Sanou?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.