FORTISSIMUS

NEWS

DOMINIC FILIOU : A FORCE OF ONE

The Canadian giant drifted into strongman sport as he explains: "I never thought about competing. It is one of my friends who entered my name in a competition held in Dolbeau/Mistassini back in 1999. I was going on 22 and my dream, up to that moment, was to compete as a bodybuilder. Why so? Because my idol was Arnold Swarzennegger. I felt he was THE man, that he had it all. But from the moment I started strongman competitions, I never stopped afterwards."

What about that start? Was it worth the try? The answer is quite straight forward: "I did not win, I didn't even make it on the podium. Others were up there, such as Hugo Girard and Jessen Paulin. I finished 6 th . But I had a case. And I liked it".

The Ottawa born giant (6' and 5 ½'' with a 400 lbs + bobyweight), father of three, still has a case. It took him seven years to reach the top of the sport in Canada. And he did it with style, Along the rugged path he had help but no great support from sponsors. The man who believed in him from the start was Marc Lauzon, Canada's only international referee in the sport. And he still does.

But all in all, Dominic Filiou became a force of one. He kept up the drive and weathered all the storms, one by one, and at the end he was rewarded. In China, in 2005, he reached the podium at the World Strongest Man, thus becoming the only other Canadian, besides Ton McGee in the 80's, to enter the winner's circle. And, in 2007, after clinching the Quebec Strongman championship, edging out Hugo Girard, he then beat both Jessen Paulin and Hugo Girard in August of 2007, clinching the Canada's Strongest Man title. He had done it in great style, reaching the top spot with full credits.

And now, FORTISSIMUS. What's in his mind? Said Dominic Filiou : "It will be a great honor for me to represent Quebec and Canada and to stand proud in honouring the memory of the great Louis Cyr".

Used with permission of Annie Godin. www.photosunshine.blogspot.com