Meet Nicolai Myers | 90kg Worlds Strongest Man, Veteran, Pilot, Business Owner, Do-er of things

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicolai Myers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicolai, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk taking is necessary for growth. Whether it’s calculated or all caution is thrown to the wind. You either win or you learn at the end of the day.

What’s it really worth if no risk was involved. I’m not much of a gambler in the casino sense but, at it’s base level it’s a game of odds and risks. If you bet one dollar: best case scenario you come out a couple bucks ahead, worst case you lose a dollar. It’s rewarding, yes…but not fulfilling. You bet a thousand, it can either make your week or be devastating. So it’s what you’re putting in and putting on the line that’s really making the risk what it is..

I put 3 years of my life into winning a world championship. Every egg was in the basket. I gambled with my time, money, health, and relationships. I spent weeks of total time in the hospital from injury during the process. Between broken bones, heart arrhythmias and muscle tears. I also moved across the country to give myself a better shot at a World’s Strongest Man title. Literally, put it all on the line betting on myself.
Days, months and years of preparation coming down to a few days of competing….and I won.

Betting on yourself, forcing yourself to get comfortable with being uncomfortable to grow. Sometimes it just starts with a leap of faith. You either land on your feet, or fall on your face. But you get up, and keep chuggin.

In any context. Businesses or personal risk is necessary for growth in my opinion. Spend your whole life comfortable? For what? To die comfortable? I can sleep better looking back and saying “Well, I gave it a hell of a shot” after failing, rather than going “what if?”. I would lose sleep over that, that’s for sure.

Yea, failure sucks and it honestly terrifies me. But I would much rather fail knowing I went all in, rather than knowing I half-assed it and that’s the reason I failed. Risq it for the bisquit….

From the military to being a pro athlete, to recently starting a small Production company. Every step required risk.
It’s just part of the process. Adapt, overcome and stay the course.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a professional Strongman. I’m the Worlds Strongest Man @ 90kg.
I also hold a National title as a Middleweight Strongman and Americas strongest Veteran under 220lb
Im good at picking things up I guess! I grew up in a rural area, throwing hay, shoveling asphalt for my Dad, getting drug around by cattle on a farm. So I think I was getting my ass kicked on a daily basis by manual labor to be grimmer for a strength sport and I just didn’t know it😅
But I’m not someone who like to be a peg that only fits into one hole. I actually really enjoy learning. I just like learning my own way. For example, I was a door gunner on Blackhawk helicopters in the Army. I fell in love with aviation in the process. But I didn’t fall in love with the Army. I’m very proud of my service, deployment and the people I severed with (most of them anyway), And it’s a BIG part of who I am. Through the mistakes, good and bad leadership, and every experience in between, I learned. This is why I finished my contract got out and got a private pilot’s certificate for flying helicopters. Flying is fun! Just not at 3am when it’s 0 degrees. But as a civilian, I don’t have to do those flights anymore thankfully!
Because of flying, I found strongman. When I was in flight school I needed something to scratch my competitive itch. I was always an athlete in some capacity. Lacrosse, ice hockey, some sort of martial art/ combat sport. Well enter strongman….and because of my lack of doing things in moderation. Playing with an atlas stone, turned into competing very quickly. Learning every day. But strongman not only brought me the competition. It brought me into a network of REALLY awesome people. Other veterans, old friends (like my friend Smiles, with CP who went viral for his deadlifts and stone loads) and many new…including the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger..
Strongman has really shown me, more than anything, what surrounding yourself with the right people can do. My time at NEVERsate with Brian Alsruhe and that entire group which felt like a family. Groomed me into the coach and now athlete I am today. It showed me the power of the right people in your life. Now my current coach, Max, and nutritionist Quinten. They were the perfect combo for a world title win. Elevating myself started with surrounding myself with good people. It started with my family and close friends. They know who they are. It all starts at the ground level. Those are the people that have gotten me to where I am. I’m nothing without them. They are how I learned what a strong connection with the right people improves your life!
Yea, sure, my work ethic this, motivation that. It’s all redundant with out discipline and for me, the right people in my life is what keeps me on the right track. I am my own worst enemy. I promise you there isn’t a person out there that can be harder on me than I already am on myself., good or bad. They know that and know how to check it, and know how to spin me around when I’m on the wrong path.
Correction, isn’t usually easy. Check your pride, your ego, And whatever else stands in the way of what needs to be done. Growth can be an ugly internal battle, But it’s necessary. Listen, learn, and love those that are in your life for the right reasons And never let them go. As those people are hard to find, and irreplaceable.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man. I’ve only been in AZ for a short period of time at this point. In the couple months I’ve lived here, I would say probably hiking. Take them to camel back or Wind cave where you can see the superstitions. My best friend I don’t think is ever seen anything like that and to give him that experience would be amazing. You can’t return an experience, especially one that turns into a fond memory!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The list is long. My closest friend (they know who they are. My family and loved ones are relentless in support along the way.
My sponsors, coaches, and people I’ve met along the way.

Thank you.

Instagram: @uncle,nic

Facebook: Nicolai Myers

Youtube: Uncle Nic

Image Credits
Patrick Kirby Black Flag Production Co.