Samuelsson holds the record for reaching the World's Strongest Man finals 10 times, a feat which he achieved over a 13-year span from 1995–2007. He has also achieved a podium place in WSM on five separate occasions. In 2001, Samuelsson became the overall champion of the Strongman Super Series. After competing in the IFSA Strongman World Championship in 2005, he returned to compete in the 2006 World's Strongest Man but failed to make it past the qualifying rounds due to a back injury. A year later, Samuelsson reached the 2007 finals, eventually finishing in 5th place. However, after failing to make the finals in the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest, Samuelsson announced his retirement from competition after 14 years competing in the sport. He achieved a 31podium finish making him one of the all-time most successful strongman competitors. Samuelsson also remains one of only five men to have successfully closed the No. 4 Captains of Crush hand-gripper under official conditions. Torbjörn Samuelsson also competed in strongman competitions between 1996–2002, winning Sweden's Strongest Man twice and competing at the World's Strongest Man 2000–2002. In 1995, Samuelsson accidentally broke the arm of Australian wrestler Nathan Jones during heats of the World's Strongest Man contest in Nassau, Bahamas. The injury occurred because Jones employed the novice technique of side twisting. The action combined with Samuelsson's own body strength resulted in a snapped humerus.
Media
Magnus Samuelsson was offered a role in the film Gladiator, but declined. One of the reasons he declined was that he believed the film was going to be a B movie. The agent who had phoned him to offer the role had told him that he would "fight with swords and so", and also named a couple of actors in the cast, which Magnus Samuelsson did not recognize. In 2009 Samuelsson won the Swedish version of the television seriesDancing with the Stars, beating songwriter Laila Bagge in the final. Samuelsson plays Gunnar Nyberg, a detective in the 2011 Swedish crime thriller series Arne Dahl. It has also been aired in Germany and UK. The series are now available on Netflix. Samuelsson plays Clapa in the BBC's The Last Kingdom. A hulking Danish warrior, Clapa become one of the main protagonist Uhtred's best fighters, but his savagery in battle belies a warm heart and loyalty to his comrades that holds no bounds.
Personal life
Samuelsson lives in Tidersrum in Östergötland. He and his brother, Torbjörn, are both full-time farmers. Throughout his career, he has been supported at every competition by his wife Kristin, a former two-time winner of Sweden's strongest woman. They have one son, David, and one daughter, Sara. Samuelsson is also an automobile racing enthusiast. In 2010 he competed in Rally Sweden, part of the World Rally Championship, finishing in 35th position out of 55.
