Philippi (in Greek Φίλιπποι Philippoi) was a city in eastern Macedonia, established by Philip II in 356 BC and abandoned in the 14th century after the Ottoman conquest. The present municipality Filippoi is located near the ruins of the ancient city and it is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Greece.

Philippi was established by the king of Macedon, Philip II, on the site of the Thasian colony of Krinides or Crenides (Κρηνἱδες, "Fountains"), near the head of the Aegean Sea at the foot of Mt. Orbelos about 8 miles north-west of Kavalla, on the northern border of the marsh that in Antiquity covered the entire plain separating it from the Pangaion hills to the south of Greece.

The objective of founding the town was to take control of the neighbouring gold mines and to establish a garrison at a strategic passage: the site controlled the route between Amphipolis and Neapolis, part of the great royal route which crosses Macedonia from the east to the west and which was reconstructed later by the Roman Empire as the Via Egnatia. Philip II endowed the new city with important fortifications, which partially blocked the passage between the swamp and Mt. Orbelos, and sent colonists to occupy it. Philip also had the marsh partially drained, as is attested by the writer Theophrastus. Philippi preserved its autonomy within the kingdom of Macedon and had its own political institutions (the Assembly of the demos). The discovery of new gold mines near the city, at Asyla, contributed to the wealth of the kingdom and Philip established a mint there. The city was finally fully integrated into the kingdom under Philip V.

Stan Efferding (born November 6, 1967 in Portland, Oregon), is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and powerlifter.

Stan Efferding, born November 6, 1967 in Portland Oregon, graduated from Cambria Heights High School in Patton Pennsylvania in 1985. He had a college scholarship to play soccer for Warner Pacific College, but he decided to go to University of Oregon, where he studied Psychology.

Efferding competed in bodybuilding since 1988 winning the Mr. Oregon in 1991, placing 6th in the Jr. USA in 1992 and placing 2nd in the Emerald Cup in 1996 and 1997. Efferding started competing in powerlifting in 1996 totaling over 2,000 lbs in the Pepsi Region 8 challenge, deadlifting 782 lbs raw.

In 1997 Efferding stopped competing in both sports in order to pursue business opportunities, but continued lifting.

At the age of 38, Efferding came back to bodybuilding and competed in the 2006 Seattle Emerald Cup, winning the Superheavyweight class weighing 235 lbs. In 2008 he came back and won the Emerald Cup Heavyweight class and overall award. In February 2009 at the age of 41 Efferding totaled 2,070 lbs at the APA "All RAW" Northwest Regional Championships, setting 2 American records in the open category.

Mark Philippi (born 21 March 1963) – is a world champion powerlifter and strongman competitor. Mark is a multiple entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition, and former holder of the America's Strongest Man title.

As a young man, Mark saw the early strongman competitions featuring his soon-to-be hero, Bill Kazmaier. He has stated that having seen Kazmaier on television he said to himself "I want to be like Bill." A career in athletic events focused on strength including powerlifting and strength athletics followed.

After winning the title of America's Strongest Man in 1997, he went on to represent his country in the 1997 World's Strongest Man finals, the first of seven appearances. He made the final on 2 occasions, but his greatest success came in the World Muscle Power Championships where he placed in the top three on three consecutive occasions form 1997 to 1999. His progress to become the best in the field was hindered by two major injuries that required extensive rehabilitation. In 1998, Philippi was severely injured at the 1998 World's Strongest Man during the car flip event where he ruptured his patella tendon and also partially tore his biceps tendon when the car rolled back on him. Surgery and a long rehabilitation followed but when he returned to strongman contests in 2000 he ruptured a patella tendon again. Philippi returned to competition in 2001 and placed third in the America’s Strongest Man contest..

Mike Mahler is a vegan strength coach and kettlebell instructor based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike has trained many world class mixed martial arts fighters, such as former UFC light heavyweight champion, Frank Shamrock and is a leader in the field of strength and conditioning and the development of modern kettlebell lifting.

Mahler is the author of a several DVDs, including The Kettlebell Solution For Size and Strength and The Kettlebell Solution For Speed and Explosive Strength. He has also written the book, Mahler's Aggressive Strength Kettlebell Workshop Manual. Mahler is a regular contributor to Hardcore Muscle Magazine, Testosterone Magazine, Ironman, Ironman Magazine Japan, Industry Magazine, Vegsource and Exercise Magazine For Men.