Jesse Marunde (September 14, 1979 – July 25, 2007) was an American strongman athlete who placed second in the 2005 World's Strongest Man competition.[1] He is the brother of mixed martial artist Bristol Marunde.

Jesse Marunde
Personal information
Born(1979-09-14)September 14, 1979
Glennallen, Alaska
DiedJuly 25, 2007(2007-07-25) (aged 27)
OccupationStrongman
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
SpouseCallie Marunde-Best
Medal record

Early life edit

Originally from Glennallen, Alaska, he later moved to Sequim, Washington. He was a high-school athlete, playing several sports, including Olympic lifting. He received an athletic scholarship to Montana State University, to play football.[2] At age 18 he officially closed the No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper, a hand gripper with 280 lb (127 kg) of resistance, and is the youngest person to achieve certified "Captain of Crush" status.[3]

Strongman edit

In 2002, at age 22, Marunde was the youngest American ever to qualify for the 2002 World's Strongest Man.[4] His second-place finish in 2005 made him the first American to place in the top two competitors since O.D. Wilson finished second in 1990, behind Jón Páll Sigmarsson.

Death edit

On July 25, 2007 Marunde died following a workout in Sequim, Washington.[5] The cause of his death was a genetic heart defect, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.[6] Jesse's widow Callie Marunde is now married to professional strongman competitor Nick Best.

References edit

  1. ^ "World's Strongest Man". China Daily. 2005-10-08. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  2. ^ Gare Joyce (2007-12-27). "Jesse Marunde, 1979-2007". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  3. ^ "COC#3 Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  4. ^ "Strongman Jesse Marunde Tribute". Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  5. ^ Diane Urbani de la Paz (2007-07-27). "Death of noted Sequim strongman, 27, stuns his fans". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2007-08-02. Jesse Marunde, a world-renowned strongman contest competitor who moved to Sequim to be near his young son, died Wednesday following a workout. He was 27.
  6. ^ Randy Trick (2007-09-21). "Sequim strongman died of heart ailment, coroner confirms". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved 2008-01-01. Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Kelly, who serves as the county coroner, said that the official cause of death remains an enlarged heart and a condition called hypertrophic myocardium, a rare genetic disease that is characterized by a thickening of the heart muscle.

External links edit