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The Ultimate Guide to Qualifying for the World's Strongest Man Contest

Hello, strength enthusiasts! Have you ever dreamed of flexing your muscles on the World stage – specifically, competing at the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest?

Well, this is your comprehensive guide on how to transform that dream into reality. The journey to the World’s Strongest Man stage is one that many begin but few complete. Just the top 30 athletes from around the globe ever qualify to receive that golden ticket to the World’s Strongest Man. Along the road, you will endure hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of training to hone your body into a lifting machine. However, the final destination has clear and simple landmark contests that will indicate how close you are to becoming the Strength World’s next King of Kings. The premier destination has to be the Giants Live’s Arena contest tour.

The Main Road through Giants Live’s Arena Contest Tour

Giants Live isn’t just a professional strength competition; it also serves as the official qualifier for the World’s Strongest Man contest series.

Throughout the year, Giants Live events scour the globe in search of the strongest individuals. They have been hosted everywhere from Australia to Iceland, with the UK and USA frequently being the primary host nations. Each of these adrenaline-pumping contests typically involves a mixture of five events that test up to 14 athletes in one evening of competition. If you’re on form and secure a top-three podium finish, you’ll not only earn a generous prize but also one of the three golden tickets to the WSM Heat stage from each event.

Where does this position you? It means you have become one of the 30 men who will compete in the Group Stages of the World’s Strongest Man Finals. Each of these Heats or Groups has six athletes, and they are narrowed down to just two who make the World’s Strongest Man Final – the top 10 in the World. Those ten men then face a further five events, and the winner is crowned the World’s Strongest Man.

Read more in this article.

Frequently asked questions

How can I watch World’s Strongest Man 2023 on TV in the UK?

In the UK, you will be able to watch Giants Live and the World's Strongest Man 2023 shows on Channel 5 in December 2023. The Giants Live shows available to watch are Britain's Strongest Man, Europe's Strongest Man, The Strongman Classic, The Strongman Open featuring the World Deadlift Championships and lastly the World Tour Finals. The World's Strongest Man 2o23 contest was held at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The 2023 Channel 5 Christmas TV schedule has now been released as follows:

  • 20th December 2023 7pm: Britain's Strongest Man
  • 21st December 2023 7pm: Europe's Strongest Man
  • 22nd December 2023 7pm: The Strongman Classic
  • 23rd December 2023 7.10pm: The Strongman Open and the World Deadlift Championships
  • 26th December 2023 7pm: The World Tour Finals
  • 27th December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 1
  • 28th December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 2
  • 29th December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 3
  • 30th December 2023 7.25pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 4
  • 31st December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 5
  • 1st January 2024 7pm: World's Strongest Man Final

Is Giants Live on TV?

Yes, Giants Live shows are on Channel 5 in December. For UK fans, the 2023 Channel 5 Christmas TV schedule has now been released as follows:

  • 20th December 2023 7pm: Britain's Strongest Man
  • 21st December 2023 7pm: Europe's Strongest Man
  • 22nd December 2023 7pm: The Strongman Classic
  • 23rd December 2023 7.10pm: The Strongman Open and the World Deadlift Championships
  • 26th December 2023 7pm: The World Tour Finals
  • 27th December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 1
  • 28th December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 2
  • 29th December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 3
  • 30th December 2023 7.25pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 4
  • 31st December 2023 7pm: World's Strongest Man Heat 5
  • 1st January 2024 7pm: World's Strongest Man Final

What is Giants Live?

Giants Live is the ONLY Official World's Strongest Man Arena Tour! Giants Live tours the UK's biggest and best arenas, bringing the THRILL of Strongman sport to tens of thousands of fans every year. Nothing quite matches the adrenaline rush of seeing these real-life GIANTS carry, lift, hulk, drag and throw barely believable weights, mere feet from your seat!

What is the World Deadlift Record?

The competition World Deadlift Record is 500kg or 1,102 lbs. This was pulled by Eddie 'The Beast' Hall in 2016 at Giants Live's Europe's Strongest Man in Leeds. In 2023, Graham Hicks, former Britain's Strongest Man, won the World Deadlift Championships at Giants Live, The Strongman Open in Cardiff. He pulled 470kg, narrowly missing pulling 505kg.

What is the deadlift world record 2023?

Eddie Hall still holds his competition deadlift world record lifting an impressive 500kg in 2016. Graham Hicks won the 2023 World Deadlift Championships at The Strongman Open on September 7th 2023 lifting an incredible 470kg, he tried to lift the 505kg but unfortunately due to an injury didn't quite get there!

What is the heaviest weight lifted by a human?

Paul Anderson was the first commissioner of strength in World's Strongest Man and he held the record for years at 2840kg (6270lbs) for a back lift that he did in 1957. However, this was struck by the Guinness World Records due to doubts over authenticity. Thomas Topham (British) also deserves a mention. In 1741, he lifted 3 hogs heads of water 606kg (1,336lbs) which at the time was an unbelievable feat of strength.

Who are the 4 strongest men of all time?

This is a difficult one!! We would say the strongest man in history is Big Z (Žydrūnas Savickas). Big Z has over 80 International wins including 4x World's Strongest Man titles. We have Bill Kazmaier (Kaz) is coming in second. The American Powerlifter was the first star to emerge in Strongman establishing world records in the deadlift and log lift as well as winning World's Strongest Man 3 times. Magnús Ver Magnússon was a true all rounder of his era, even winning World's Strongest Man on his first attempt in 1991. He also is one of two strongmen to win 3 titles back to back in 94, 95 and 96 making him our third strongest man of all time. Coming in 4th we have Eddie Hall. Despite Eddie winning World's Strongest Man in 2017, arguably what he is known best for is being the first person to lift an insane 500kg in 2016, an unbelievable feat of strength! In competition, no other strongman has become within 16kg of lifting this weight 7 years later.

Who has the deadlift world record?

Eddie Hall currently holds the deadlift world record for a 500kg lift in 2016.

Who is World’s Strongest Man (WSM)?

Canadian born Mitchell Hooper is the World's Strongest Man. He won the contest in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in April 2023. Mitchell Hooper was born on 29th September 1995.

Who is the deadlift champion of the world?

For a conventional deadlift, with straps, Eddie Hall holds the in competition World Record lifting an incredible 500kg (half a tonne!) in 2016. In competition, this record has been attempted many times but has yet to be broken!

Who is the strongest woman in the UK?

Rebecca Roberts is currently the strongest woman in the UK. She narrowly beat Lucy Underdown by 1 point in Britain's Strongest Woman, September 2023.

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