Tag: Strongman
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2023 World’s Strongest Man Results — Day One Qualifiers [Live Updates]
After a long wait and much anticipation, the morning of 2023 World’s Strongest Man finally arrived in sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Taking place from April 19-23, the most prestigious Strongman competition features 30 athletes and three events on each of the four days. Today is the first day of qualifying, where athletes will perform the Loading Race, Deadlift Machine, and Log Ladder. A good start will be crucial for every athlete. Therefore, battles will be fought for each available point.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Day One Results And Point Standings [Live]
Group One
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 6 points
Tom Stoltman — 5 points
Bobby Thompson — 4 points
Konstantine Janashia — 3 points
Pa O’Dwyer — 2 points
Eddie Williams — 1 point
Group Two
Oleksii Novikov — 6 points
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — 5 points
Thomas Evans — 4 points
Luke Stoltman — 3 points
Gavin Bilton — 2 points
Fadi El Masri — 1 point
Group Three
Graham Hicks —
Mitchell Hooper —
Mateusz Kieliszkowski —
Mathew Ragg —
Spenser Remick —
Aivars Smaukstelis —
Group Four
Adam Bishop —
Kevin Faires —
Rauno Heinla —
Gabriel Rheaume —
Jaco Schoonwinkel —
Brian Shaw —
Group Five
Evan Singleton —
Trey Mitchell —
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted —
Paul Smith —
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf —
Mark Felix —
Related: Eddie Hall Reveals His Top 3 Predictions For The 2023 World’s Strongest Man
Day One Event Recap
Loading Race
For the first event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition, the athletes were tasked with picking up, carrying, and loading five awkwardly shaped implements. Time was measured in this event, which meant that the goal was to complete the task as quickly as possible.
Group One
The newly crowned 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man, Pavlo Kordiyaka, was the quickest in group one, finishing all implements in just 41.38 seconds. Tom Stoltman finished in second just two seconds behind Pavlo. Finally, Bobby Thompson claimed a valuable third place in what seems to be the worst event for him on day one.
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 in 41.38 s
Tom Stoltman — 5 in 43.84 s
Bobby Thompson — 5 in 56.56 s
Konstantine Janashia — 5 in 61.10 s
Pa O’Dwyer — 5 in 65.89 s
Eddie Williams — 5 in 66.44 s
Group Two
The 2020 World’s Strongest Man champion, Oleksii Novikov, came back ready to claim his second title, winning event one with a time of 52.15 seconds. Kristján Jón Haraldsson was the second man to cross the line, finishing almost exactly two seconds after Oleksii. Another surprising placing came from Thomas Evans, who outperformed some big names with a time of 57.40 seconds.
However, group two saw the withdrawal of Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou before the competition even started. He was replaced by Kristján Jón Haraldsson, who proved to be the right choice immediately.
Oleksii Novikov — 5 in 52.15 s
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — 5 in 54.18 s
Thomas Evans — 5 in 57.40 s
Luke Stoltman — 5 in 62.78 s
Gavin Bilton — 5 in 63.01 s
Fadi El Masri — 4 in 49.57 s
Group Three
Graham Hicks —
Mitchell Hooper —
Mateusz Kieliszkowski —
Mathew Ragg —
Spenser Remick —
Aivars Smaukstelis —
Group Four
Adam Bishop —
Kevin Faires —
Rauno Heinla —
Gabriel Rheaume —
Jaco Schoonwinkel —
Brian Shaw —
Group Five
Evan Singleton —
Trey Mitchell —
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted —
Paul Smith —
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf —
Mark Felix —
Deadlift Machine
The second event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man is the Deadlift Machine. It will feature seven progressively heavier weights,ranging from 290 to 385 kilograms (639 to 848.8 pounds). Once they get to the weight, the athletes will perform as many reps as possible, until the 75 second time limit concludes.
*The Deadlift Machine event is set to take place at 11:29 a.m. EST
Log Ladder
Concluding day one of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, the Log Ladder will feature a series of progressively heavier Logs, with the goal being to complete them in the shortest time possible. The time limit for this event will be 75 seconds as well.
*The Log Ladder event is set to take place at 4:49 p.m. EST.
Related: Brian Shaw Reveals How He Almost Lost His Leg In Preparation For 2023 World’s Strongest Man
2023 World’s Strongest Man Remaining Schedule
Day Two, April 20th — Qualifying
Event Four — Conan’s Wheel – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Kettlebell Toss – 1:20 p.m. EST
Special Event — Stone Off – 6:13 p.m. EST
Day Three, April 22nd — Finals
Event One — Fingal’s Fingers – 8 a.m. EST
Event Two — Knaack Deadlift – 10:41 a.m. EST
Event Three — Reign Shield Carry – 2:18 p.m. EST
Day Four, April 23rd — Finals
Event Four — Max Dumbbell – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Vehicle Pull – 10:10 a.m. EST
Event Six — Atlas Stones – 1:54 p.m. EST
Previous World’s Strongest Man Winners
Bruce Wilhelm (1977-1978)
Don Reinhoudt (1979)
Bill Kazmaier (1980-1982)
Geoff Capes (1983, 1985)
Jón Páll Sigmarsson (1984, 1986, 1988, 1990)
Jamie Reeves (1989)
Magnús Ver Magnússon (1991, 1994-1996)
Ted van der Parre (1992)
Gary Taylor (1993)
Jouko Ahola (1997, 1999)
Magnus Samuelson (1998)
Janne Virtanen (2000)
Svend Karlsen (2001)
Mariusz Pudzianowski (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Vasyl Virastyuk (2004)
Phil Pfister (2006)
Žydrūnas Savickas (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)
Brian Shaw (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Eddie Hall (2017)
Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson (2018)
Martins Licis (2019)
Oleksii Novikov (2020)
Tom Stoltman (2021, 2022)
Related: Every Winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition Since 1977
How To Watch
A live stream of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition is not available unless you are in Myrtle Beach, SC. We will, however, provide coverage of every aspect of the competition as it unfolds.
FAQs
How Does The Scoring System Work?
The resulting system is based on the number of competitors. Seeing that there are six athletes in each group, the winner of the event gets six points, with every following position receiving one point less.
Who Won Last Year’s World’s Strongest Man Title?
Tom Stoltman from Scotland is the reigning 2x World’s Strongest Man champion. He won two consecutive titles in 2021 and 2022.
Find complete coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, including exclusive interviews, event recaps, analysis, and results at our WSM coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 19 April, 2023 | 10:02 AM EDT
Eddie Hall Reveals His Top 3 Predictions For The 2023 World’s Strongest Man
As the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition approaches, taking place in Myrtle Beach, SC from April 19-23, anticipation is high among fans who are busy making their predictions for the event. However, who better to predict this year’s WSM champion than a man who has already won this prestigious competition in the past. So, Eddie Hall went to YouTube in order to give his thoughts on what this year’s final leaderboards could look like. He gave his thoughts on the competitors, events, format and, most importantly, the potential podium finishers.
In the beginning of his YouTube video, Eddie Hall addressed the significance of the World’s Strongest Man titles. To win this competition was his biggest goal in Strongman, and he managed to win it in 2017. He holds the view that even individuals who are not enthusiasts of Strongman would aspire to be referred to as the World’s Strongest Man.
“To be the World’s Strongest Man is probably one of the most childhood dream titles that people dream of. If you ask a man if they want to be the World’s Strongest Man and they say no, they are lying.”
Continuing his thoughts on the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall addressed the lineup, believing that the majority of the 30 competitors have the potential to make it into the finals. However, only ten men will make it into the final, with only two men progressing from each group. The six groups of the qualifying portion of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man have also been revealed recently.
“This is my dream final going in, my top ten: Tom Stoltman, Luke Stoltman, Pavlo Kordiyaka, Oleksii Novikov, Mitchell Hooper, Trey Mitchell, Aivars Smaukstelis, Kevin Faires, Adam Bishop, Evan Singleton, Brian Shaw. That is eleven, but whatever.”
Eddie Hall also reviewed all of the events for the 2023 World’s Strongest Man and shared his thoughts on the format of the competition. He believes that the events will be more beneficial towards bigger and heavier guys, but surprises still may happen.
“I think it is really leaning towards the heavier men this year… I think it is going to be a heavy, heavy final. I think that is going to suit the bigger, taller, heavier guys.”
Finally, the most important part of Eddie Hall’s video is the prediction. Eddie revealed that it is difficult to make an accurate prediction, seeing that the winner will have to be very consistent. However, he was able to round out his top three.
“I’m not going to say who is going to win, because I am friends with all these people. I don’t want to put anyone down. My top three are definitely Brian Shaw, Tom Stoltman, and Trey Mitchell. Just because of the sheer size and bodyweight of these guys… I think it is going to be a very tight final this year.”
Eddie Hall did not specify the exact order on the podium, so any of these three men will win the competition. Regardless, he did point out a few more names that could shake up the top three. Those are Oleksii Novikov, Pavlo Kordiyaka, Evan Singleton, Mateusz Kieliszkowski.
Eddie Hall also revealed that he will be the presenter for CBS America and Channel 5 UK, both of which will broadcast the 2023 World’s Strongest Man on TV later this summer. However, a live stream during the competition will not be available. So, you can keep track of results, records, news, and more right here on our website.
Watch Eddie Hall’s video here:
Related: Eddie Hall Reflects On Eating 20,000 Calories A Day And What It Costs To Be a Strongman
Eddie Hall was inactive in a professional sense since retiring from Strongman in 2017 until three years later when he announced a boxing match against Hafthor Bjornsson. After some prolonging, the match finally took place in 2022, with Bjornsson coming out victorious. However, Hall was gracious in defeat and decided to move on. He is currently preparing for a bodybuilding show that should take place in late 2024. In order to prepare to the best of his abilities, Hall partnered up with some of his bodybuilding friends like Jay Cutler, Jamie Christian-Johal, Larry Wheels, and others to learn more about the principles of training for this sport.
As a Strongman, Eddie Hall was one of the biggest freaks in the sport, even becoming the first man to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds) in 2016. His stationary strength was off the charts and many believed that he could win more titles if he continued competing. However, Eddie realized that he was endangering his health and that there was no point in competing after becoming the World’s Strongest Man. He is now chasing other challenges and seems to be quite successful in achieving them.
Find complete coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, including exclusive interviews, event recaps, analysis, and results at our WSM coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 18 April, 2023 | 5:30 PM EDT
2023 World’s Strongest Man Groups Revealed
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man contest is here, as just one sleep separates us from the start of the biggest Strongman competition in the world. With 30 athletes taking part, they first have to be divided into five groups of six athletes for the qualifying. They will remain in their groups for two days, before the two greatest athletes from each group progress to the finals. So, the groups are definitely an important factor of the competition, and they have just been revealed.
It is important to note that only the winner of the group will go straight to the finals. Consequently, the second and third place finishers in the group will battle against each other in a Stone-Off to determine who the second finalist is.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Groups
Group One
Konstantine Janashia — Georgia
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine
Pa O’Dwyer — Ireland
Tom Stoltman — GBR
Bobby Thompson — USA
Eddie Williams — Australia
Group Two
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — Burkina Faso
Gavin Bilton — GBR
Fadi El Masri — Lebanon
Thomas Evans — USA
Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine
Luke Stoltman — GBR
Group Three
Graham Hicks — GBR
Mitchell Hooper — Canada
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Poland
Mathew Ragg — New Zealand
Spenser Remick — USA
Aivars Smaukstelis — Latvia
Group Four
Adam Bishop — GBR
Kevin Faires — USA
Rauno Heinla — Estonia
Gabriel Rheaume — Canada
Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa
Brian Shaw — USA
Group Five
Evan Singleton — USA
Trey Mitchell — USA
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland
Paul Smith — GBR
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — France
Mark Felix — GBR
Related: Brian Shaw Reveals How He Almost Lost His Leg In Preparation For 2023 World’s Strongest Man
The most important portion of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man for these groups will be the first two days. So, here is what events they will go through in the hopes to qualify for the finals.
Day One, April 19th — Qualifying
Event One — Loading Race – 8 a.m EST
Event Two — Deadlift Machine – 11:29 a.m. EST
Event Three — Log Ladder – 4:49 p.m. EST
Starting off on day one, the participants will be tasked with performing a loading race, which will drain every muscle group of their body. They will then move on to the Deadlift Machine, displaying their lower body and core strength. The athletes will then conclude the first day of the competition with a Log Ladder test to measure the strength of their upper body.
Day Two, April 20th — Qualifying
Event Four — Conan’s Wheel – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Kettlebell Toss – 1:20 p.m. EST
Special Event — Stone Off – 6:13 p.m. EST
Coming into day two of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, the athletes will once again start off with a pain-endurance event, the Conan’s Wheel. They will then move on to the Kettlebell Toss. At this point, the winner of the group will secure his place in the final, while the bottom two finishers will lose all chances of qualifying.
However, the second-place and third-place in each group will perform a Stone-Off. These athletes will be stationed face-to-face, with only a wooden beam between them. They will then lift and toss the Atlas Stone to the other man’s side until one of them is unable to do it anymore. The winner of the Stone-Off goes through to the finals, but significantly more tired than the winners of each group who do not perform the Stone-Off.
Day Three, April 22nd — Finals
Event One — Fingal’s Fingers – 8 a.m. EST
Event Two — Knaack Deadlift – 10:41 a.m. EST
Event Three — Reign Shield Carry – 2:18 p.m. EST
Day Four, April 23rd — Finals
Event Four — Max Dumbbell – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Vehicle Pull – 10:10 a.m. EST
Event Six — Atlas Stones – 1:54 p.m. EST
Related: Every Winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition Since 1977
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man will not be live-streamed anywhere, but the footage will be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network and CBS Television Network starting on May 28th. However, we will cover every aspect of the competition, so make sure to come back.
Find complete coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, including exclusive interviews, event recaps, analysis, and results at our WSM coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 18 April, 2023 | 3:16 PM EDT
How To Watch 2023 World’s Strongest Man Competition
The most exciting portion of a Strongman season is almost here, since the 2023 World’s Strongest Man is set to take place on April 19-23, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The four-day competition will feature 30 of the world’s greatest Strongmen, but only ten of the best performers after two days will go through to the finals. It is impossible to predict what the leaderboards could look like. So, the only way to find out is to follow or watch the competition.
In the same manner as previous years, the only way to experience 2023 World’s Strongest Man is to be present in Myrtle Beach. In spite of this, there is some good news for those attending the event in person, as there will be no admission charge.
Unfortunately, anyone who wants to follow the competition from the comfort of their home will have to wait until this summer. There won’t be a livestream available, but the full competition will be broadcasted by CBS Sports Network and CBS Television Network, beginning on May 28th.
In addition, Terry Hollands will be covering the event on the World’s Strongest Man YouTube channel, giving you insight from backstage.
Not to worry, we will cover the 2023 World’s Strongest Man live as well, from start to finish. All of the results, records, news, and much more will be available as soon as they happen.
Related: Brian Shaw Reveals How He Almost Lost His Leg In Preparation For 2023 World’s Strongest Man
2023 WSM Schedule
The full schedule for the 2023 World’s Strongest Man has been released already. So, here is when the action will take place.
Day One, April 19th — Qualifying
Event One — Loading Race – 8 a.m EST
Event Two — Deadlift Machine – 11:29 a.m. EST
Event Three — Log Ladder – 4:49 p.m. EST
Day Two, April 20th — Qualifying
Event Four — Conan’s Wheel – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Kettlebell Toss – 1:20 p.m. EST
Special Event — Stone Off – 6:13 p.m. EST
Day Three, April 22nd — Finals
Event One — Fingal’s Fingers – 8 a.m. EST
Event Two — Knaack Deadlift – 10:41 a.m. EST
Event Three — Reign Shield Carry – 2:18 p.m. EST
Day Four, April 23rd — Finals
Event Four — Max Dumbbell – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Vehicle Pull – 10:10 a.m. EST
Event Six — Atlas Stones – 1:54 p.m. EST
With the events and schedule determined, the only aspect left to look at is the roster. Luckily, the lineup of athletes is once again incredible, featuring three WSM champions and many credible challengers. Tom Stoltman is the reigning champion, and it remains to be seen if he can win his third consecutive title.
Read also: Every Winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition Since 1977
2023 World’s Strongest Man Roster
Tom Stoltman — GBR
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine
Evan Singleton — USA
Mitchell Hooper — Canada
Trey Mitchell — USA
Adam Bishop — GBR
Aivars Smaukstelis — Latvia
Kevin Faires — USA
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland
Paul Smith — GBR
Rauno Heinla — Estonia
Bobby Thompson — USA
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Poland
Gavin Bilton — GBR
Spenser Remick — USA
Eddie Williams — Australia
Konstantine Janashia — Georgia
Graham Hicks — GBR
Luke Stoltman — GBR
Mathew Ragg — New Zealand
Gabriel Rheaume — Canada
Brian Shaw — USA
Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa
Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — France
Mark Felix — GBR
Fadi El Masri — Lebanon
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — Burkina Faso
Pa O’Dwyer — Ireland
Thomas Evans — USA
Related: Pavlo Nakonechnyy Withdraws From 2023 World’s Strongest Man; Thomas Evans Steps In
It will take a lot of tactics to win the title of 2023 World’s Strongest Man, since the athletes need to conserve energy so that they can compete in the finals. So, it will be interesting to see who will be able to accomplish this task the best. Although there won’t be a livestream available, you can still stay up to date with the competition’s results, recap, and news through written content. Therefore, we will keep you posted on every update regarding the 2023 World’s Strongest Man.
Published: 18 April, 2023 | 2:05 PM EDT
Hafthor Bjornsson On Pec Injury: ‘I Completely Tore My Upper Chest off The Bone’, Says ‘He Will Have To Have Surgery’
Having set extremely high goals for this year, Hafthor Bjornsson was excited to see how much progress he had made in the past few months. Aiming to break the All-Time Raw With Wraps World Record in powerlifting, Hafthor was dedicated to improving his squat, bench, and deadlift. However, at his most recent appearance, Hafthor suffered a gruesome injury during one of these events. While taking part in a Powerlifting competition at his home gym in Iceland, Hafthor loaded up 252.5 kilograms (556.7 pounds) for his final bench press attempt. Upon trying to control the bar down to his chest, Hafthor’s left pec muscle detached, resulting in chilling screams of pain. Having taken some time to reflect on the situation, Hafthor has now released updates for his fans.
One of the updates was posted on Instagram, while the other was shared on YouTube. On Instagram, Hafthor Bjornsson posted a picture of what his chest currently looks like. It is clear that his left pec is injured, as the skin has changed color to purple.
Related: Hafthor Björnsson Sets 20-Feet 3-Inches Weight Over Bar World Record at 2022 Rogue Invitational, Says “I Might Come Back”
Firstly, it is important to note that Hafthor Bjornsson has suffered multiple injuries throughout his career as a Strongman and powerlifter. So, he speaks with experience on the subject and estimates that his peck has completely detached from the bone.
“I believe I completely tore my chest, upper chest, off the bone. I will have to have surgery if that is the case”
If his assumption is correct, Hafthor Bjornsson will definitely have to undergo surgery. He has already scheduled an MRI which will reveal every detail of his injury.
Hafthor also revealed that this is the biggest injury of his career so far. However, judging by the remainder of his statement it seems that he will continue chasing his goals after the recovery process is finished.
“This is literally the biggest injury of my whole career. So, I got to tackle this”
The injury has also made it more difficult for Hafthor Bjornsson to carry out daily tasks. He is a left-handed person, but that arm is immobilized due to the pec tear. However, Hafthor used this chance to make some jokes.
“I have a difficult time wiping my a**. Putting my underwear on is difficult. You know, it’s life.”
Watch Hafthor Bjornsson’s video here:
Related: Hafthor Björnsson Drops The Bar on Himself After Squatting 340-kg (749.6-lb) For Two Reps; Avoids Serious Injuries
Hafthor Bjornsson ventured into boxing after conquering Strongman with a 2018 WSM victory and a 501-kilogram (1,104.5-pound) Deadlift World Record. In boxing, he managed to beat fellow Strongman, Eddie Hall, following which Bjornsson realized that lifting weights is his true passion.
Consequently, Hafthor Bjornsson decided to come back to powerlifting at the end of last year. Furthermore, he extended his goals for this year, aiming to set a new World Record this year, but that seems almost impossible at this time. Hafthor still refers to this injury as a “small setback“. So, he obviously already has his future planned out.
Published: 17 April, 2023 | 12:47 PM EDT
Video: Hafthor Bjornsson Tears His Pec During 252.5-kg (556.7-lb) Bench Press Attempt
It has been a few months since Hafthor Bjornsson announced that he was coming back to powerlifting. Initially, he only wanted to get back to lifting weights following his boxing venture, but that quickly grew into some much bigger goals. With the love for the sport reignited in him, Hafthor decided to try to break the All-Time Raw W/Wraps World Record Total by the end of 2023. He started putting on some weight and training professionally, which resulted in some impressive improvements. However, it seems that his exhibition will be cut short, or at least slowed down, since Hafthor just tore his pec muscle.
Wanting to test his strength and technique, Hafthor Bjornsson organized a powerlifting competition in his gym. The competition took place on April 15th, and lasted the entire day. Hafthor started off strong, but his day was ruined on the bench press. After successfully and easily locking out 230 kilograms (507.1 pounds) and 240 kilograms (529.1 pounds), Hafthor loaded 252.5 kilograms (556.7 pounds) for his final attempt.
Having never lifted this much weight before, Hafthor Bjornsson was eager to score a new competition PR. However, when he started to lower the 252.5 kilograms (556.7 pounds) down to his chest, his pec muscle torn. This resulted in a spine-chilling scream from the 2018 World’s Strongest Man, which only stopped after the spotters lifted the bar off him.
The video of the incident was shared by a Strongman promoter, Julian Howard, on Instagram. The footage clearly shows Hafthor’s pec muscle detaching, along with the sound of tearing.
Watch the video here:
Related: Hafthor Björnsson Drops The Bar on Himself After Squatting 340-kg (749.6-lb) For Two Reps; Avoids Serious Injuries
Hafthor Bjornsson will probably reveal the severity of the injury as soon as he completes all the necessary testing. However, pec tears can take months to recover, and it seems that Hafthor’s injury is very serious. So, it is likely that his ambitions of breaking the All-Time World Record will have to be prolonged.
Before tearing his pec, Hafthor Bjornsson had a relatively decent start to the competition. He squatted 380 kilograms (837.6 pounds) and 420 kilograms (925.9 pounds) on his first two attempts. Bjornsson then moved on to his third attempt of 445 kilograms (981 pounds) and crushed it. However, the third attempt was then disallowed because of his depth.
Hafthor Bjornsson also intended to return to Strongman in 2024, but this injury might affect those plans as well. Both Powerlifting and Strongman are notorious for their injuries. Hafthor’s risk was potentially even greater, seeing that he took two years off to train boxing. While doing that, Hafthor beat Eddie Hall in one of the heaviest fights in history. Shortly after the match, Hafthor realized that his love lies in strength sports.
The first thing Hafthor Bjornsson did after retiring from boxing was break a World Record in Strongman. He further improved his own Weight Over Bar record at the 2022 Rogue Invitational.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson’s Powerlifting Career
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Wraps
970
551.2
970
2425.1
551.79
Raw
474
1113.3
268.28
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
1
WRPF-Iceland
2018-12-15
Thors Powerlifting Challenge
Open
2425.1
551.79
Location
Iceland
Competition
Thors Powerlifting Challenge
Division
Open
Age
30
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
435.4
Squat
-925.9
970
-1014.1
970
Bench
518.1
540.1
551.2
551.2
Deadlift
859.8
903.9
-948
903.9
2
RAW-Iceland
2011-06-03
Íslandsmót
Open
2050.3
470.77
Location
Iceland
Competition
Íslandsmót
Division
Open
Age
22
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
418.6
Squat
661.4
716.5
771.6
771.6
Bench
463
485
507.1
507.1
Deadlift
771.6
-837.8
-837.8
771.6
1
IKF
2010-09-22
Heildarúrslit
Open
474
110.15
Location
Iceland
Competition
Heildarúrslit
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
398.6
Bench
440.9
474
-496
474
GLP
78.04
1
WPC-Iceland
2010-03-20
Icelandic Championships
Open
1113.3
268.28
Location
Iceland
Competition
Icelandic Championships
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
346.2
Bench
330.7
352.7
385.8
385.8
Deadlift
617.3
683.4
727.5
727.5
1
RAW-Iceland
2010-02-27
Íslandsmót
Open
705.5
170.88
Location
Iceland
Competition
Íslandsmót
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
339.5
Deadlift
617.3
661.4
705.5
-727.5
705.5
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
Analyze Lifts
Related: Hafthor Björnsson Inducted into The International Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Hafthor Bjornsson has experienced multiple injuries during his career and successfully overcame them all. Hopefully he will do the same with this one and then continue where he left off. Bjornsson will undoubtedly soon come out with a statement revealing what the future has in store for him.
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 4:19 PM EDT
Strongman Brian Shaw Opens Up About Battle With Leg Cellulitis: “This Has Been Extremely Challenging For Me”
As Brian Shaw’s long and strenuous training for his finals World’s Strongest Man competition nears its end, he has taken to YouTube to share the details of his “Road to WSM”. Just a few days ago, Brian Shaw revealed that he faced a severe leg infection in January, which chained him to a hospital bed for several days. Yet in his latest video, Brian unveiled additional footage of himself in the hospital and the aftermath of his first workout upon returning to the gym. Additionally, he talked about the difficulties he has experienced as a result of this unexpected setback.
Brian Shaw did not think much of his infection and thought that he would only go to the hospital for a few hours and come back out. However, that extended to a grueling eight days in the hospital. Even during brief instances where Brian attempted to take a stroll, he had to endure intense discomfort.
“I really thought this would be a one day process… It has proved to be anything but that. So, what I am dealing with is a very bad case of cellulitis… It is extremely aggressive.”
Brian Shaw also revealed that his exact infection was a severe case of cellulitis. For those who are not familiar with this case, cellulitis is an infection which appears suddenly and quickly spreads through the body. It is also located in the deeper layers of the skin and tissue. So, swift prevention is absolutely necessary.
“We’ve tried a series of different antibiotics that I have had to use through an IV.”
The task of attaching multiple IV lines to Brian Shaw proved to be challenging due to his notably dense skin and muscle tissue. In addition, it was another painstaking procedure that Brian had to go through countless times. His forearms also became sore and solid from all the injections, even to the point where doctors were not able to poke them anymore.
“They poked me a few times to try to get more, but they just said that my veins are hard to poke with IVs and also my veins reject them.”
Brian Shaw admits that this has been a very difficult process for him, despite his positive attitude towards everything. In just a matter of days, he went from lifting enormous weights to barely being able to stand up. That shows how much the infection has affected him physically, but it was also mentally draining.
“This has been extremely challenging for me… taking my leg from an elevated position, going down to the ground, standing up, and going to the bathroom is right now unbelievably challenging and painful… Anything is maybe going to seem easy compared to that.”
In as little as two hours after his hospital departure, Brian Shaw was back at his gym, getting ready to train. Despite his eagerness for a fresh start, he remained uncomfortable and weak in every aspect of his preparation.
“I feel like complete garbage if I am being completely honest. I wasn’t able to eat like I normally would… No training, and I am a guy who has trained religiously since highschool… More of a break than I can remember in my entire lifting career.”
Despite his desire to immediately jump back to lifting heavy weights, Brian Shaw had to refrain from potentially making his condition worse. Clearly, after being ill for over a week, Brian found himself in a challenging situation.
“It is crazy how easy the training was two weeks ago… But, I know how quickly I can bounce back… This now is a win, even though it is such a miniscule session overall for me.”
Watch Brian Shaw’s video here:
Related: Brian Shaw Announces The 2023 Shaw Classic Lineup & Reveals It Will Be His Final Competition
Brian Shaw’s goal was to continue building momentum and get back into peak physical and mental shape before the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. So, judging by his recent training session, it seems that he was successful.
If Brian wins his fifth WSM title this year, he will tie Mariusz Pudzianovski’s record and be recognized for one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. Just four more days remain until the competition starts and we see Brian perform.
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 11:35 AM EDT
Brian Shaw Reveals How He Almost Lost His Leg In Preparation For 2023 World’s Strongest Man
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition is set to take place on April 19-23, in Myrtle Beach, SC, and it is expected to be one of the greatest editions yet. One of the reasons is Brian Shaw, as the 4x WSM champion and Strongman icon is planning to make his final appearance this year. With the end of an era just around the corner, everyone is hyped up to watch Brian compete at the biggest stage once more. However, although everything seems perfect now, Brian has just revealed that he almost lost his leg in late January.
In the newest video on Brian Shaw’s channel, titled “Road to WSM“, he showed footage of himself lying in a hospital bed. Brian was talking about the situation that led to an infection of his leg, which was fortunately resolved before it was too late. However, the infection almost spread too much.
“The biggest thing is that it didn’t go into my bloodstream. So, if I would have waited potentially any longer, the big fear would be it going into my bloodstream… Once it does that, the outcome might not be as good, meaning possible amputation.”
While talking about the infection in the video, Brian Shaw also showed what his leg looked like at the time. The distressing footage shows his skin drying out and completely changing color to purple. It was evident that Shaw was suffering from a serious infection, but he never lost his positive attitude. In addition, his goal of winning the fifth WSM still remained one of the biggest priorities. During his time in the hospital, Brian made a conscious effort to maintain his weight by eating multiple meals throughout the day and taking short walks around the premises.
“When you battle some adversity like this, you just have to find a way… I’m trying to get five meals in a day right now. The goal is to walk out of here having not lost a lot of bodyweight.”
This infection also reminded Brian Shaw of 2013, as he had to undergo surgery before the WSM, but still managed to win it. He now hopes that the same outcome will come into place this time as well.
“This has reminded me the most of 2013. In 2013 I had to have a nerve release surgery done approximately three months out from WSM… So, I’ve been telling myself, as I’ve been sitting here, that this leg infection is not as bad as that.
Watch Brian Shaw’s video here:
Related: Trifecta Nutrition CEO Says It Costs Over $60,000 A Year to Feed Strongman Brian Shaw
While in the hospital, Brian Shaw reviewed training videos and worked on his training plan to perform better at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. He stayed in the hospital for a few days to recover from his infection before he was discharged, fully healed.
After he finishes up the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition, Brian Shaw will only make one more appearance at the 2023 Shaw Classic before retiring from professional Strongman forever. So, having recovered from a potentially devastating infection, Brian is now even more motivated to wrap his career up with mind-blowing performances.
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 4:02 PM EDT
CrossFitter Chandler Smith Log Pressed 285 Pounds Ahead of 2022 Rogue Invitational
On Oct. 22, 2022, strongman Zach Hadge shared a post on his Instagram page wherein he coaches elite CrossFit athlete Chandler Smith in the log press. While it was curious at the time of the post why Smith was training a maximal lift in a different strength sport, it became clear when seven of the 10 events for the 2022 Rogue Invitational were announced a few days later.
The 2022 Rogue Invitational will feature a one-rep max log lift event titled “Texas Oak” on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Check out Hadge’s post below:
Note: scroll to the left to see Smith’s lifts.
[Related: WWE’s Liv Morgan Takes Fans Through Her Grueling Glute Workout]
Elite CrossFit contests such as the CrossFit Games and the Rogue Invitational have incorporated a lot of strongman-inspired events into their program over the past few seasons. The 2022 Games event titled “Capitol” included a farmer’s carry and Husafell sandbag carry in its final stretch.
The 2022 Rogue Invitational follows that trend, and Smith seems to be preparing to press a potential event-winning weight overhead. Hadge’s caption in his post expressed how impressed he was with how Smith took to the new overhead variation:
This kid is something else. I haven’t been around focus like his in a very long time.
Smith also posted a video of himself from the training session on his Instagram, offering another angle. He wore a lifting belt but eschewed elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves. Check it out below:
[Related: Strongman Hafþór Björnsson to Compete in Powerlifting Meet In December 2022]
I was fortunate enough to get the chance to work with two world-class strongmen in Rob Kearney and Zach Hadge ahead of the 2022 Rogue Invitational.
Hadge commented on Smith’s post that Smith’s max lift was 285 pounds.
Smith finished eighth overall at the 2021 Rogue Invitational, won by two-time reigning Fittest Man on Earth®, Justin Medeiros. As of this article’s publication, three of the 10 events have yet to be announced.
We’ll see if Smith’s strongman training in the lead-up to the competition kicking off on Oct. 27, 2022, in Round Rock, TX. He will compete against 19 other elite CrossFitters in the Individual Men’s division for six figures in prize money.
Featured image: @hadge_brothers on Instagram
Strongman Commentator Eddie Butler Has Passed Away At 65 Years Old
Eddie Butler became known for his incredible work commentating the World’s Strongest Man competition.
Eddie Butler, legendary strongman commentator and Rugby player, has passed away at the age of 65. Many sources have reported that Butler died in his sleep while on a charity mission on the Inca Trail in Peru.
Butler became known for commentating the World’s Strongest Man competitions. He was the voice of Strongman competitions because of his language and tone. Butler even went on to work for BBC over the course of his career.
“The World’s Strongest Man is saddened by the news that legendary commentator Eddie Butler has passed. We will forever be grateful to Eddie for giving his voice to a golden age of Strongman. Rest in strength.”
The Career Of Eddie Butler On The Field And Behind The Mic
Eddie Butler was an incredible Rugby player before taking his talents to the mic. During the 70s and 80s, Butler helped Pontypool reach elite status in Welsh Rugby. Butler had a chance to play 16 games for the National Team during his career.
Butler moved to commentary after retiring from Rugby. He was known for his work in Strongman but also had the chance to commentate the Olympics and Rugby.
Burnage Rugby Football Club posted a tribute to Butler on Instagram. The page described Butler as “one of the best sports commentators around” because of “his iconic deep welsh tones becoming synonymous with rugby and 6 Nations.”
Many Strongmen have had the chance to meet and get to know Butler over the years. They have shared condolences via social media following the sad news.
Generation Iron sends condolences to the family and friends of Eddie Butler during this time. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.