Derek Poundstone, a police officer from Waterbury, Conn., is out to dominate Strongman in 2009 by winning all three of the sport's major championships in 2009.

Poundstone's quest begins at the Arnold Sports Festival, where he looks to improve on a second-place finish at the 2008 Arnold Strongman Classic, March 6-8 at the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival. The sport's other two major championships are the Fortissimus Strongman in June and the World's Strongest Man in September.

?I am going out to win all three events this year,? he said. ?That is the only way to be the undisputed ?world's strongest man.'?

Poundstone, 27, finished the 2008 season with a second-place finish at his debut at the World?s Strongest Man contest in Charleston, W. Va. He was narrowly beaten by Poland?s Mariusz Pudzianowski, who won his record fifth World?s Strongest Man event.

However, Pounstone will not have to battle six-time defending Arnold Strongman Classic king Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania Savickas is taking a year off before a planned return at the 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic.

?My only goal is to win all three events and I have to start my year off the right way to achieve the goal. First place is the only option,? Poundstone said. ?It is kind of sad that Zydrunas is not going to compete. The only hope to instantly put you in the realm of the great champions is to defeat them at the competition that they dominate.?

Poundstone joins a strong U.S. contingent at the 2009 Arnold Strongman Classic that also includes Phil Pfister (Charleston, W. Va.), Travis Ortmayer (Cypress, Texas), Brian Siders (Charleston, W. Va.) and Dave Ostlund (Edina, Minn.). International entrants include Mikhail ?Misha? Koklyaev (Russia), Andrus Merumets (Estonia), Vidas Blekaitis (Lithuania), Ervin Katona (Serbia) and Oleksandr Pekanov (Ukraine). Pudzianowksi has been invited to compete as well, but has not yet accepted.