The Official Strongman World Tour returns to Yorkshire on Saturday 11th April for one of the most anticipated strength showdowns of the year.
Europe’s Strongest Man returns to the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, and thousands of fans are expected to pack a venue that has witnessed some of the greatest strength spectacles ever seen.
The podium from Europe’s Strongest Man 2025, won by Luke Richardson
The atmosphere promises to be truly electric in the Arena for what is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the international strongman season with Yorkshire’s very own Luke Richardson battling for a third Europe’s Strongest Man title.
A stacked lineup of Europe’s most elite strength athletes will battle across five brutal events, all with the goal of claiming the prestigious continental crown and securing a major boost of momentum ahead of the World’s Strongest Man later this spring. Twelve men, in all, representing seven European nations, will be battling it out.
Leading the charge are two former champions who know exactly what it takes to reign supreme in Leads’ Mecca of Muscle. Defending champion Luke Richardson has his sights set on a third title having claimed his first victory at Allerton Castle in 2020. Coming off the back of his win at the World Tour Finals last October, his immense static and dynamic strength as well as his composed competition style, will take some beating!
Few would bet against him taking a third title and joining an elite group of men who have claimed three or more Euro victories: Geoff Capes (ENG), Riku Kiri (FIN), and Žydrūnas Savickas (LIT) have three titles a-piece, with Iceland’s Haþthór Björnson taking an astonishing five wins. Standing alone, however, is Strongman’s most prolific winner, Mariusz Pudzianowski (POL), with six European titles.
Another past champion eager to reclaim past glory is Ukraine’s Pavlo Kordiyaka. Known for his explosive speed across moving events, Kordiyaka has the tools to challenge anyone in the lineup and will be determined to return to the top of the podium. Pavlo was the 2023 champion, defeating compatriot, Oleksii Novikov by 4-points to surprise many with the first major victory of his career.
Two men who are among the most dangerous contenders for the title, and represent the new wave of talent that is set to dominate European Strongman, are England’s Paddy Haynes and Ondřej Fojtů of the Czech Republic.
Haynes finished runner-up last year and continues to cement his reputation as one of the rising forces in global strongman. Since his stunning runner-up performance “The Dark Horse” claimed a 5th place finish at the World’s Strongest Man final, 3rd place at the Strongman Classic and a win at England’s Strongest Man. In his most recent outing at Britain’s Strongest Man, he racked-up yet another Giants Live podium finish with a third-place result behind Adam Bishop and winner, Tom Stoltman.
Consistency has been the hallmark of Czech athlete Ondrej Fojtu, who with two fourth-place finishes, has repeatedly hovered just outside the medals. He will be desperate to convert his recent brilliant form into a podium finish. Since missing third place by just half a point last year, Ondra’s breakthrough performance came at World’s Strongest Man where he produced a stunning 6th place finish. Most recently, he earned his first Giants Live podium, placing runner-up to Richardson at the World Tour Finals. In that same contest he achieved a 220kg U23 World Record in the Log Lift.
As well as some of the sport’s most exciting new talent, the lineup also features several of the sport’s most respected veterans. England’s Adam Bishop, runner-up in 2020, brings vast experience and all-round strength, making him a constant threat in any contest. Fellow Brit Graham Hicks, a former winner of Britain’s Strongest Man and a WSM finalist, remains one of the most formidable pressers in the sport and always relishes performing in front of a passionate home crowd. Hicksy’s best placing of 3rd at ESM came in 2014, and again in 2021, underlining his incredible longevity in a sport that is so physically brutal.
Fan favourite Gavin Bilton will also be looking to make a statement. The towering Welshman thrives on crowd support and will be pushing hard for a good placing. Three times a podium finisher at Giants Live, The Bull has never quite put together one of his best performances at Europe’s and will be looking to improve on his best finish of 8th.
Three exciting rookies are also there, ready to test themselves on one of the sport’s biggest stages. England’s Ben Glasscock was 4th at last year’s England’s Strongest Man and won the Shaw Classic Open last year – his first international victory. Kevin Hazeleger of the Netherland’s will be the tallest man in this line-up, at 6-foot, 7-inches. He was runner-up at last season’s Strongman Champions League World Final. Czechia’s Matyáš Funiok, at just 20 years of age, will be the youngest man in this contest. He was third at the 2025 Official Strongman Games and placed runner-up at the OSG European Championships.
Events
What makes Europe’s Strongest Man and indeed all the Giants Live shows particularly unique is the sheer intensity of the contest format. The athletes must tackle five gruelling events in a fast-paced arena show that leaves almost no room for recovery. Unlike longer competitions that unfold over multiple days, this title is decided in a matter of hours, placing enormous physical and mental pressure on every competitor.
Each event demands a different combination of brute strength, speed, endurance and technical precision. From enormous overhead lifts and colossal deadlifts to punishing carrying races and loading challenges, the athletes are pushed to their absolute limits in front of a roaring crowd. One slip, one dropped implement, or a moment of hesitation can instantly derail an athlete’s title challenge.
Event 1: Comma Oils Webster Stone Walk
Inspired by the legendary Dinnie Stones, these walking stones were used at the 2024 World’s Strongest Man contest and are fractionally lighter (113kg and 136kg) than the Nicol Stones, which have appeared several times at Giants Live contests. Ondřej Fojtů’s 40.00m carry was the best result by a European at that contest, so look out for him to set the pace in this opening event. Australia’s Eddie Williams holds the World Record at 46.45m.
Event 2: MiraFit Log for Reps
Upper body strength will be key in event two and for many athletes this could make or break their chances of reaching the podium or threatening for the title. There are some phenomenal log lifters in this line-up, not least Luke Stoltman, who is a former British record holder, and Ondřej Fojtů, who holds the U23 World Record at 220kg. The Giants Live record with these 150kg logs stands at 9-reps and is jointly held by Luke and Tom Stoltman and Jack Osborn. Will anyone make it to double figures within the 60-second time limit?
Event 3: IronRhino Axel Deadlift for Reps
No contest is complete without some variation of the Deadlift and this group of athletes will be testing their metal with 350kg axle barbells. Some of the best deadlifters in the world are here, including Adam Bishop, Graham Hicks and Paddy Haynes – all members of the 1,000lb club. Any one of them could well set the pace in this event and competitors who can achieve more than 7 or 8-reps should place highly and take away some solid points. Pavlo Nakonechnyy’s phenomenal 11-reps in 60-seconds from the 2022 World Tour Finals remains the record everyone will be aiming for.
Event 4: SBD Black Farmer’s Walk into Power Stairs
With three events in quick succession having taken their toll on the athlete’ bodies, Event 4 will be especially demanding. Strength endurance and grip prowess will both be tested and the competitor’s hands may well be feeling the effects of the Webster Stones from Event 1. The competitors will race in pairs, first carrying the 150kg Farmer’s implements before scaling the Stairs. There’ll be a 75-second time limit and just finishing this event will be a feat in itself!
Event 5: Castle Water Stones
For the first time in a while, it will be the “light” set of stones providing the finale to this year’s contest: 5 stones from 100kg – 180kg. This being the fifth event, combined with the sheer pace of the show means that fatigue will be a key factor in who comes out on top. Tom Stoltman still owns the World Record in this event from Britain’s Strongest Man in 2020. His time of 16.01 seconds was less than a 10th of a second faster than Mateusz Kieliszkowski’s former record, so expect to see The Terminator laying down a lightning quick run on the night
At this level, the margins between victory and defeat are razor thin, and a single mistake can blow a competitor’s chances of lifting the trophy. With former champions, seasoned veterans, rising stars and hungry debutants all sharing the same stage, the ingredients are in place for an unforgettable night of strength in Leeds.
Events
