Frankie Scheun seems like a nice guy, well as the newly crowned Southern Hemisphere’s
Strongest Man, Im hardly going to call him otherwise.
Joking aside Frankie, is one of the nicest guys in the sport of strongman, and after winning this title we had to interview him.
Phil Burgess: How did you get into Strongman in the first place?
Frankie Scheun: I started doing strongman about 4 years ago.
I was doing bodybuilding at the time but didn’t like it very much, so I entered a strongman comp and it kind of stuck.
Phil Burgess: In the Melbourne Giant’s Live Event you won Southern Hemispheres Strongest Man, how does it feel to hold this title?
Frankie Scheun: It feels awesome to hold the title, as it is the goal I set for myself.
I would have liked to get into the top three, which I was after on day one,but the hip lift (Bill Lyndon’s Red Rocket) threw me a bit off course.
It is the biggest title I’ve ever won so I’m happy. I’ll take it.
Phil Burgess: Describe your fellow competitors at the Melbourne Giants Live 2012 event:
Frankie Scheun:
- Mike Jenkins – Very strong. I think he might be the best in the world. He stands a good chance of winning Worlds Strongest Man this year.
- Nick Best – Very funny guy. Also very strong and athletic, and to think he’s 43 years old.
- Mike Bourke – One of the toughest guys I’ve ever seen. He finished the comp with a broken rib..insane..
- Ed Hall – Ed is just hardcore. He goes very hard at everything. He’s only 23. A brilliant presser too.
- Gerhard Van Staten – A very good friend of mine. We always compete together.push each other to the max every time.
- Eben Le Roux– He actually is a secret South African.haha. Really impressed me at the comp, also a really nice guy.
- Jeremy Hogg – A really funny guy. Always cracking jokes. Strong legs and core. I would love to compete against him again.
- Mike Vrljic – Everyone likes H-bomb. That says it all…
- Jordan Steffens – He came in as a reserve, but also impressed me. He is still very young,but he is already strong. You will see this guy improve alot over the next year. That I can promise you.
Phil Burgess: You are a farmer in South Africa, tell us a little about it?
Frankie Scheun: Its actually very nice where we farm in South Africa. My wife and I, live in the western cape.about 80km from the nearest town.
I farm with sheep and lucern. I get up every day around 6am and we work from 7am to 6pm.
My training starts at about 6.30pm. As its a farm, there always something that needs lifting by hand and I am aways the lucky winner who has to do it.haha…
Phil Burgess: Tell us some more about your training?
Frankie Scheun: Training in the town every day is not an option.
Everything has to be done in our own gym on the farm. I prefer it that way. It gives me better focus and a much more organic lifestyle.
My training involves 4 days of gym training and 2 days of event training per week.
Everything is for 2-3 hours per day, but you have to be a bit flexible with your training so you don’t burn out.
Cardio training for the modern strongman is also very important.
Phil Burgess: What 3 tips would you give to someone new to strongman?
Frankie Scheun:
- Train hard and smart
- Eat big
- Believe in your ability.
Phil Burgess: What would you say are your areas of weakness which you need to work on?
Frankie Scheun:
There is only one area of weakness which needs sorting out and that is my grip strength. The other things are right on track.
I need to do even more grip work than ever before. There is no point in being strong if you can’t hold on to stuff, but I’ll get it strong don’t worry.
Its a promise…..!
Phil Burgess: What is your maximum Squat, Deadlift, Log lift and Bench Press
Frankie Scheun:
- Squat is 340kg raw
- Deadlift is 390kg
- Log is 190kg.
- Bench press is 265kg raw.
Phil Burgess: What is your favourite strongman event, and your least favourite and why?
Frankie Scheun: I like the stones the most. I’m a pretty fast loader.
I don’t know why, but from the beginning I just loved loading stones.
My least favourite are intense grip events like frames over 370kg or suitcases over 180kg. It’s a grip issue.
Phil Burgess: What are your goals for the next couple of years?
Frankie Scheun: To compete at Worlds Strongest Man, that’s everything I’m working for at the moment.
Also next year I want to defend my title as the Southern Hemisphere’s Strongest Man.
Phil Burgess: Who do you think was the “game changer”, in the world of strongman?
Frankie Scheun: I think Mariusz Pudzianowski was the game changer in strongman. He showed the guys the diversity a good strongman should have. You have to be good at everything.
Phil Burgess: Is the sport of strongman growing in South Africa?
Frankie Scheun: I think it is growing. Lots of young guys coming up who are mostly Afrikaans.
We are still in the begining stages, but I think we can produce a couple of good athletes over the next 10 years.
