Waterbury’s Derek Poundstone is in North Carolina this week competing in the World’s Strongest Man competition. Poundstone came in 2nd place three years ago, and 4th place two years ago. In the 2010 competition in South Africa, Poundstone was severely injured and didn’t place. This year Poundstone is healthy and looking to re-establish himself as a one of the top strongmen in the world. Derek, a three-time winner of America’s Strongest Man, has won every prestigious strongman title except the world championship. Poundstone is a police officer in Naugatuck, and is looking to open an old fashioned gym on Baldwin Street in the south end of Waterbury in October. Photograph by John Murray