This year’s World’s Strongest Man showdown will look somewhat different following a revamp of the scoring system by the tournament directors.
Effectively creating a 10-event final, the qualifiers from the heats will now carry forward points earned in the group stage! It’s a move that will make this year’s qualifying rounds the most exciting ever, with no chance for any athletes to “coast” through their group.
The ten finalists will have their performances in each of the five group stage events ranked with the overall best scoring athlete taking a maximum of 10-points to start the final. The 2nd ranked competitor will start on 9-points, and so on down to a single point for the 10th ranked strongman. And in yet another change to the heats’ usual proceedings, the infamous Stone-Off has been replaced by the Stone Medley, in which all five athletes from each heat will compete!
In addition to the five full-throttle heats, this year’s contest promises to see records tumble as the slimmed-down field of 25 goes head-to-head in two max-weight lifts! The last time Sacramento hosted WSM, Ukraine’s Oleksii Novikov established a 246kg (542lb) WSM Record in the Flintstone Barbell Press and if this year’s competitor’s social media posts are to be believed, that figure could well be eclipsed this year. America’s Strongest Man, Lucas Hatton has already lifted 247.5kg (546lb) at this year’s Arnold’s and has posted an incredible 272.5kg (600lb) training lift.
Another of Novikov’s records that could be living on borrowed time is the 18-Inch Deadlift World Record he established during the final of his winning 2020 WSM performance. His stunning 537.5kg (1,185lb) pull has since been eclipsed by Rauno Heinla, but remains a WSM record. The Estonian’s 540kg (1,190.5lb) World Record in in equal jeopardy, with super-talented deadlifters like Mitchell Hooper, Mat Ragg and Trey Mitchell in the field! They will, of course, have to qualify for the final first, but with such incredible strength in depth this year, it could well take a World Record to guarantee maximum points.
With no Stone-Off, every competitor will tackle all five disciplines in the heats. The first and second placed athletes from each group will progress to the two-day, five-event final. That’s one event less than usual, but the ten finalists will all start with the points they earned in the heats.
Here’s the run-down of events for the four gruelling days of competition facing this year’s contenders:
Event 1: Loading Medley
Implements: 4 sandbags ranging in weight from 120-150kg (265–331lb)
Course length: 20m
Time Limit: 75-seconds
Competitors will be loading up to four sandbags onto a truck bed over a 20m course. The bags will be spread down the course, with the lightest implements carried furthest. Two pairs will race head-to-head, with one competitor competing on his own. Fastest time will win.
Event 2: Deadlift for Reps
Implements: Standard height and thickness bar: 350kg (772lb)
Time Limit: 60-seconds
No figure 8 straps allowed in this event, but figure 9’s will be permitted. Competitors will be lifting off platforms as the Globe Barbell implements will be used. There will be two heats of two athletes from each group, with one athlete lifting as a single. Most reps wins!
Event 3: Titan’s Toss
Implements: 10 x 15kg (33lb) sandbags
Bar height: 3.65m (12-feet)
Time Limit: 60-seconds
A total of ten sandbags will need to be thrown over the 12-foot bar, but instead of the bags becoming progressively heavier, this year they will get further away from the bar! Precise details may change, but the bags are likely to be arranged in pairs at distances of 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m and 10m from the bar.
Event 4: Rogue Overhead Medley
Implements: 4 implements must be lifted for 2-reps each: Dumbbell (90kg/198lb), Circus Barbell (150kg/331lb), Log (150kg/331lb) and Axle (162k/357lb)
Time Limit: 75-seconds
Pressing strength and technique will be put to the test in the fourth event of the heats and many athletes may fail to complete the 8-lifts required. Each group will have two head-to-heads and one single race. The competitor who achieves the fastest time for all 8, or completes the most lifts, will get maximum points.
Event 5: Stone Medley
Implements: 4 natural stones must be pressed, shouldered, carried or loaded:
Press – rectangular stone: 122kg/270lb
Shoulder – Inver-style stone: 150kg/331lb
Carry – Hύsafell-style stone: 182kg/400lb
Load – Foundation stone: 180-200k/400-440lb
Time Limit: 75-seconds
All five competitors from each heat will lift the 4 natural stones, not just the 2nd and 3rd ranked athletes. The exact order of the implements and the length of the carry have yet to be finalised.
Event 1: Knaack Carry & Hoist
Implements: Knaack boxes weighing 200kg/440lb and hoist weighing 200kg/440lb
Course length: 20m
Time Limit: 75-seconds
The final will get underway with a 20m Zercher carry, similar to a Conan’s Wheel, but in a straight line. Once completed the athletes will be confronted with a 5m arm-over-arm vertical hoist. Fastest time will win, and if the course isn’t completed, points will be decided by distance.
Event 2: 18-Inch Deadlift for Max
Implements: 18-inch Deadlift set-up with a starting weight of 395kg/870lb. Likely increments will be 435kg/960lb, 465kg/1025lb, 490kg/1080lb, 510kg/1125lb, and 537.5kg/1135lb
This will be a rising bar contest, so any missed lifts will result in elimination. The final weight will likely exceed the world record by a single kilogram, if any competitors can reach such a staggering load after three days of competing. Deadlifts suits and figure 8 straps are both permitted.
Event 3: Hercules Hold
Implements: Combined weight of the two pillars will be 315kg/700lb.
Completing Day 1 of the final, the athletes’ grips will be put to the test. Whoever can hold on the longest will take maximum points.
Event 4: Flintstone Barbell Press for Max
Implements: Barbell loaded with flintstone weight discs. Starting weight 182kg/400lb. Likely increments: 200kg/440lb, 216kg/475lb, 227kg/500lb, 235kg/518lb, 245kg/540lb.
In the second max-weight event of the final, the strongmen can either press, push-press or jerk the barbell overhead. They will take the bar from barrels at shoulder height either in front or behind the neck. Once again, a rising bar format will be used.
Event 5: Atlas Stones
Implements: 6 stones ranging in weight from 150-210kg (331-460lb)
Time limit: 60-seconds
The final event will be the traditional end to World’s Strongest Man, with the famous Atlas Stones determining who will walk away the champion. Competitors will lift in pairs in reverse order of their points total after the first four events.
