CZECH MATE IN GLASGOW AS FOJTŮ & FUNIOK TAKE 1st & 2nd!

The 2026 Giants Live season came to an exhilarating end in Glasgow’s OVO Hydro as the World Tour Finals delivered yet another night of high drama. Czechia’s Ondřej Fojtů claimed his third Giants victory in succession as he closed out a 6-point win over 21-year-old compatriot Matyáš Funiok – the youngest podium winner in Giants history. England’s Strongest Man, Andrew Flynn, took his second World Tour Finals podium place to finish third behind the Czech duo.

The World Log Lift Challenge title was contested in the opening event and there has perhaps never been such a deep field of log lifters, with an incredible 6 men going clear at 200kg! England’s Jack Forgacs was able to retain his title, sharing the victory with Fojtů. They were the only competitors to go beyond 210kg, with both men attempting a new world record of 232kg. It was Fojtů who came closest to improving Iron Biby’s 231kg record as he leant dangerously backwards but was unable to lock out his arms. Funiok joined Defending champion Luke Richardson, Pavlo Kordiyaka and Evan Singelton on 200kg to take excellent points forward to the rest of the show.

Arguably the highlight of the entire contest came in Event 4, the Hercules Hold, as Mark Felix’s world record was improved not once, but twice! Australia’s Eddie Williams, the Singing Strongman, bettered Felix’s time, which has stood since 2020, with an astonishing effort of 1:34:50. Several other athletes posted exceptional times, with Singleton and Fojtů, going beyond 1:20:00. But all eyes turned to Felix as the 60-year-old took to the stage with the aim of reclaiming his record. Appearing as a guest athlete, the Miracle Man lived up to his name and produced an incredible 1:43:81 seconds to shatter Williams’s mark and retake the record he first broke in 2019.

There was no shortage of excitement in the remaining disciplines as Fojtů took event wins in both the Deadlift Ladder and Power Stairs, which was the final event of the show. Paired in the last heat with Funiok, he just needed to stay ahead of his countryman to close out the overall victory. Winning three of the five events, his winning margin would have been much larger if it wasn’t for a below par performance in the Farmer’s Walk into Super Yoke where his 7^th place finish offered Funiok a glimmer of hope for a comeback in the final event. It was Pavlo Kordiyaka who would take the win on that apparatus, helping him to an overall finish of equal 4^th with Evan Singleton. The T-rex performed exceptionally across four of the five events but was only able to attempt one of the four deadlift barbells due to an ongoing back injury.

Scottish fans were left disappointed as three-time World’s Strongest Man Tom Stoltman withdrew after two events. The Albatross looked to be below his brilliant best and may have been experiencing a few injury niggles. Big brother Luke is on the comeback trail after breaking his leg earlier this year and battled hard to place 11^th overall.

England’s Jack Forgacs produced arguably the best performance of his career to place 6^th overall and could well have finished higher if not for losing significant points in the Power Stairs. Before the final event he was placed 3^rd and was even leading the contest after three events, having backed up his shared win in the Log Lift with 3^rd in the Deadlift Ladder and 4^th in the Farmer’s into Yoke. His lack of height proved a hindrance in the Power Stairs, and he had to let a podium place slip from his grasp.

Evans Nana’s performance was mixed having come into the show with high expectations following his runner-up placing at the Strongman Open. He had to confess to making errors, particularly in the Deadlift Ladder, where he was one of the favourites having recently pulled 1,000lb at the World Deadlift Championships in September. The Ghanaian Gladiator who began working with Terry Hollands this year vowed he would be back next year and would “bring the heat.”

Defending champion Luke Richardson placed 7^th overall after getting his contest off to an ideal start with a 200kg personal best lift in the log. Returning to excellent shape after a difficult year, he lost most of his points in the Farmer’s and Yoke and was finding himself mid-table in most of the events. Fellow Englishman, Ben Glasscock was also lacking in consistency across the five disciplines and despite performing superbly in the Power Stairs, and Deadlift Ladder, lost big points in the Super Yoke and Log Lift and had to be content with 9^th overall.

With many of the big names showing chinks in their armour the Czech duo of Fojtů and Funiok showed experience beyond their years. Fojtů’s dominance this year has been reminiscent of Mitchell Hooper’s 2024 season, in which he took three Giants Live victoried in one season. Meanwhile, any notions that Matyáš Funiok’s Strongman Open podium was a fluke, have been quickly dispelled and the 21-year-old’s talent is plain for all to see.

Czechia is quickly becoming one of the most dominant countries in the sport and both Fojtů and Funiok will surely go on to win many more titles and perhaps even go all the way at World’s Strongest Man within the next few years. In the words of Fojtů in his post-show interview with Neil Pickup: “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over!”

For anyone who missed the show, the contest will still be available to stream through www.officialstrongman.com

Overall Standings

Event Results

Event 1: SBD World Log Lift Challenge

Round 1: 170kg, Rd 2: 180kg, Rd 3: 190kg, Rd 4: 200kg, Rd 5: 210kg, Rd 6: 220kg, Rd 7: 220kg, Rd 8: 232kg

Event 2: MIRAFIT Deadlift Ladder

Barbell weights: 330kg,360kg, 380kg, 400kg, 60 second time limit

Event 3: COMMA OILS Farmer’s Walk into Super Yoke

Farmer’s implements: 150kg each hand, Super Yoke: 450kg (1,000lb), 60 second time limit

Event 4: IRONRHINO Hercules Hold

Weight: 200kg each hand

Event 5: Castle Water Power Stairs

Implement Weights: 200kg, 210kg, 225kg, 240kg, 250kg