Oswego East High School physical education teacher Kim Baum shown competing at a tournament. (Oswego District 308 photo).

You’d think the woman ranked the third strongest in the world would spend her days lifting weights all day in a hot gym.

That’s not the forte of Kim Baum. Between workouts and pumping iron competitively she dedicates her days as a first-year physical education instructor at Oswego East High School.

“My whole family thinks that me being a strongwoman competitor is awesome and they back me 100 percent,” said Baum, who competed in the America’s Strongest Women competition earlier this month, in Denison, Texas. “There are not many women who can say they compete in a hardcore sport like I do. My family likes to brag about that a lot.”

This is the second year Baum competed at the national level. She went head-to-head as a middleweight in seven different “tough” categories, including axle clean and press for reps; 55lb axle clean and press for reps; 400+lb frame carry; 300+lb axle deadlift for reps; wheel barrel death medley (consisting of 3 keg carries, loading each into a wheel barrel, and then completing the medley by pushing the full wheel barrel); 520lbs yoke carry for 50 feet; press medley (consisting of a keg, log, “bigg dogg” dumb bell, and axle – each one rep for fastest time) and last but not least, the atlas stone carry and load (150, 175, and 200lb stones carried 15 feet and loaded over a 48-inch bar).

Baum also competed at the world championships March 2013 and placed 3rd in World’s strongest woman under 75kg class.

Baum said she is now 2013’s strongest middle weight American woman.

“By winning I have qualified to compete at the World Championships at the Arnold Classic again this year in March. I qualified and competed there last year for the first time and placed 3rd overall,” she explained. “The world championships are the highest level I can make it to as a strongwoman. There is no pro level for females yet unfortunately, but I would love to see that happen one day.”

The Arnold Strongman Classic is named for actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s one of the highest-profile events featuring strength athletes in the world and is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival, which takes places annually in Columbus, Ohio.

Baum, 24, trains five to six days a week. Her regimen includes cardio and strength conditioning.

“My strength, conditioning and cardio all have to be great if I want to excel as a strongwoman,” Baum said.

Baum began weight training six years ago in order to get in shape and get stronger.

“I really began lifting seriously three years ago,” Baum said. “I work out at Jakked gym in Montgomery. The people there got me involved in the sport of strongman and power lifting. It has been mostly uphill from there.”

To keep up with Baum, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/Strongwoman1228   

–Oswego District 308