5th December 2021- A preview of the upcoming Episode 3 of the World Strongest Man TV series from Europe’s Strongest Man 2021 on Channel 5.
A new champion will emerge this year when the Giants Live 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man and World Log Challenge return to The First Direct Arena, in Leeds, England.
Luke Richardson is the reigning Europe’s Strongest Man after taking the title in 2020 at Allerton Castle, Harrogate, England. Due to injury, he won’t be able to defend his title. Indeed, no former winner will be present this year, guaranteeing a new Europe’s Strongest Man 2021.
Europe’s Strongest Man 2021 and the World Log Lift Challenge will be televised on Channel 5 on 22nd December at 7.00pm UK time.
Scotland’s Luke Stoltman is a major threat for the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man title, which was recorded in September at the first direct arena and airs on TV 22nd December at 7.00pm. Luke placed 7th at the 2019 World’s Strongest Man finals, but is hoping to podium at ESm 2021. If successful, Luke Stoltman could be the first Briton to win Europe’s Strongest Man since Laurence Shahlaei did in 2016. Even Britain’s Eddie Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man, never won the coveted Europe’s Strongest Man title.
Also gunning for the Europe’s Strongest Man title will be Britain’s Adam Bishop, the 2020 Britain’s Strongest Man Champion and a man who gets better every year. Heavier and stronger than ever, he should not be overlooked.
Oleksii Novikov from the Ukraine is undoubtedly the favorite to win Europe’s Strongest Man 2021. He is the 2020 World’s Strongest Man and recently triumphed at the Giants Live Strongman Classic event held at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London. The incredibly explosive Ukrainian will be pushed hard by the Brits and buoyed by the absence of Tom Stoltman who finished 2nd at the 2020 World Strongest Man finals.
The overwhelming favorite for the 2021 World Log Lift Challenge title is Scotland’s Luke Stoltman. The 5-time Scotland’s Strongest Man winner set a new British Record of 221kg (486lb) in October 2020.
England’s Graham Hicks is another favorite for the 2021 World Log Lift Challenge. He formerly held the British Log Lift record of 220kg (484lb), which he set at Europe’s Strongest Man in 2020.
All the athletes vying for the 2021 World Log Lift Challenge will be trying to beat the record of a certain Lithuanian legend. Zydrunas Savickas holds the world record in log press with a lift of 228kg (502lb), set in Brazil in 2015. Savickas dominated this event for many years on the world stage, breaking and re-breaking the record seemingly at will.
Hafthor Julius Bjornsson of Iceland has won Europe’s Strongest Man 5 times since his first victory in 2014, in Leeds, England. However, the titanic Icelander who played “The Mountain” in the popular television drama Game of Thrones is not the most prolific champion. Poland’s Mariusz Pudzianowski won Europe’s Strongest Man an incredible 6 times from 2002 – 2009.
Scottish Brothers Luke Stoltman and Tom Stoltman are arguably the strongest brothers in history. In 2019 they both reached the World’s Strongest Man finals, with Tom placing 5th and older brother Luke taking 7th.
Europe’s Strongest Man is the most important single-day championship in the sports of strongman. It is generally regarded as the sports second most prestigious title after World’s Strongest Man.
England’s Geoff Capes was the first winner of Europe’s Strongest Man in 1980, in London. Geoff Capes was a former British shot putter who won the World’s Strongest Man title on two occasions in 1983 and 1985.
