IRON Biby is preparing to take the strongman world by storm.
Set to become the first athlete to represent Burkina Faso at the World’s Strongest Man this year, the 30-year-old will enter the competition with a leaner physique than fans are used to.
In a recent exclusive with The US Sun, Biby, real name Cheick Ahmed al-Hassan Sanou, explained how his recent call-up to the competition came amid his desire to lose weight.
Having received the offer about a month ago, although his participation was only recently made public, Biby said he was losing 40kg (88lbs).
He explained: “I’m not in my best shape because I lost it.
“It took me eight months to lose 40 kilograms and I was just doing like CrossFit training, like an assault bike, stuff like that.
I wasn’t really preparing for World Strongest Man. And then I got the call, I was like, ‘Okay, about time.'”
Biby’s weight loss can not only be attributed to her new exercise routine, but also to her drastically changed diet.
He explained: “So the shape I was before, you know, I was over 210 kilograms (463 pounds) and I was eating like two ribeye steaks in the morning with eggs and bread.”
In order to lose weight, Biby would not eat until 1 p.m., starting her day with a cup of “my Yorkshire tea”. I love my Yorkshire tea.
“And then I just had two eggs and chicken breasts. It was really, really like a low calorie diet.”
Now, preparing for Worlds, however, has meant another shift in his approach to food.
Biby said: “But in preparation for the strongest man in the world, my trainer Darren (Sadler) told me to eat more.
“And I find it hard to eat more, but I try, you know.
“Let’s say in the morning I can have three eggs and a rib eye, then every three or four hours I can have rice and chicken or rice and fish.
“I love, I love salmon, so my diet has been like that.
“I didn’t really like calculating how many calories I was getting.”
For Biby, 2023 will mark his second appearance in the competition, having been “dismissed” in 2018 after contracting malaria.
And while he may not be in his “best shape”, he is focused on using this as a learning experience in order to “come back stronger and stronger”.
But don’t expect Biby to be happy just going for a participation badge.
“I’m going with all my heart,” he said. “When I want to do something, I do it with all my heart and I will give my best at every challenge.”
WSM will take place in Myrtle Beach, SC from April 19-23.