Active in strongman from 2003 to 2011, Oleksandr Pekanov competed in multiple international events. He reached the finals of World’s Strongest Man twice, finishing 6th in 2007 and 7th in 2008. Pekanov deadlifted 410 kg at the 2007 Arnold Strongman Classic and set a personal best log lift of 185 kg at the 2008 Ukraine’s Strongest Man. He won Ukraine’s Strongest Man in 2007 and 2008, and was known for his speed in the atlas stones event.