Life
Mateusz has been one of the world’s most formidable strongmen since he burst onto the scene in 2015. He has twice finished runner-up at World’s Strongest Man and is regarded as arguably the best athlete to have never won that title. He has placed 2 nd four times at the Arnold Classic and also finished runner-up at Europe’s Strongest Man. He hails from a small village in Poland, called Chlebów, where before his strongman career took off, he worked for his father’s lumber company. Inspired to begin training by his school teacher, he was advised not to start lifting too young, but his interest in strength sports prevailed and he won the Arnold Amateur World Championship at just 20 years of age!
Career
Having won the Amateur World’s in 2014, Mateusz became the youngest Strongman competitor in Arnold Classic history when he competed at the 2015 Arnold Classic, placing an incredible 3rd – an achievement he has said he is most proud of in his career. Showing awesome talent in carrying events such as loading races and super yokes, Kieliszkowski began to prove himself as a tremendous overhead lifter, particularly in the Dumbbell Press where he established world records in both the Giant Circus Dumbbell (150kg/331lb) and Cyr Dumbbell (145kg/320lb). His prowess as a natural stone lifter was cemented when he achieved a world record five repetitions with the 186kg/410lb Odd Haugen Tombstone to Shoulder at the Arnold. A five-times Poland’s Strongest Man winner, Kielszkowski has tasted success on the Giants Live stage, winning the World Tour Finals in 2018 and 2019. Up until 2023 he had never failed to qualify for the World’s Strongest Man Final and came close to winning in 2018 and 2019. He would surely have tasted even more success were it not for his only real weakness – the deadlift.
In 2020 Mateusz placed 2nd at the Arnold classic but would then miss WSM due to a triceps injury that required surgery. With the ensuing complications, Mateusz would not return to WSM until 2023, where he went out in the group stages for the first time in his career having missed some 17 months of competition. Recovering from double knee surgery he finished 3rd at the 2023 Rogue International, having zero’d in the opening deadlift event. Winning the next two events, the Pole proved, once again, that he is still capable of destroying his opponents in certain events.
He competed infrequently during the 2024 season but returned to winning ways after claiming victory at the 2024 Magnús Ver Magnússon Classic. He was once again runner-up at the Arnold Classic but would not return to WSM. In 2025 he made his Giants Live comeback, after a five-year absence. Taking 3 rd place overall his return to top form continued with a win at the Siberian Power Show.
Best Title
At just 25-years-of-age, Mateusz secured his first Giants Live victory at the 2018 World Tour Finals in Manchester. Coming from behind after a bad placing in event 2, the Deadlift for Reps, he won the final two events of the night to pip 2019 World’s Strongest Man, Martins Licis, to the title by just half a point. In the final event – The Atlas Stones – Kieliszkowski produced a stunning 16.09 second world record to steal a famous win in what was one of the most exciting finishes in Giants Live history.
Competition Results
World’s Strongest Man
2019 & 2018 – runner-up, 2017 – 6th place, 2016 – 7th place, 2023 – 4th in heat
Arnold Classic
2024, 2023, 2020 & 2019 – runner-up, 2015 – 3rd place, 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2016 – 4th place
Giants Live:
Europe’s Strongest Man: 2019 – runner-up, 2018 & 2025 – 3 rd place, 2016 – 4th place
World Tour Finals: 2019 & 2018 – winner
Wembley 2019: winner
Rogue Invitational: 2023 – 3rd place, 2021 – 4th place
Arnold Pro Strongman World Series:
2019: Europe – winner, Africa – runner-up, South America – runner-up, USA – runner-up,
2018: South America – 2nd place,
2017: Africa – winner, South America – 3rd place, Australia – 5th place
2016: Europe – runner-up, Africa – runner-up
Poland’s Strongest Man: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 & 2015 – winner
Other:
2024 Magnús Ver Magnússon Classic – winner
2014 Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships – winner
2025 Siberian Power Show – winner
2019 Strongman Champions League, Finland – winner
Competition Lifts
Deadlift: 420kg/926lb
18-inch Deadlift: 430kg/948lb
Log Lift: 214kg/472lb
Axle Press: 195kg/430lb
Circus Dumbbell Press 150k/331lb
Cyr Dumbbell Press 145kg/320lb
Odd Haugen Tombstone to shoulder: 186kg/410lb x 5 repetitions in 150 seconds (world
record)
Car Walk 450kg/990lb for 20m in 10.00 seconds (world record)
Training lifts
Natural Stone to Shoulder 217kg/478lb
Log Lift 190kg/419lb x 3 repetitions
Axle Press 190kg/419lb x 2 repetitions
Cyr Dumbbell Press 127kg/280lb x 3 repetitions
Media
Mateusz is active on social media and his YouTube account: Mateusz Kieliszkowski has over
77k subscribers. His channel features mainly training videos showing his preparation for
major competitions. He is also available to follow on Instagram @Kieliszkowskimateusz
where his 173k followers are kept updated on his competition results and training. Mateusz’s
performances at the 2025 World’s Strongest Man and Giants Live will be available to view
on Channel 5 over Christmas and on catch-up on My5.
