Less than 24 hours after winning the 2023 World’s Strongest Man title in Myrtle Beach, SC, Mitchell Hooper gave his fans insight on what Sunday, Apr. 23, 2023 looked like from his perspective. The new champion posted a YouTube video that documented the final day of the contest.
More from Breaking Muscle:
The video was succinctly titled “I WON: World’s Strongest Man 2023,” and it was published on his channel the morning of Apr. 24, 2023. The video opens with Hooper walking to the contest area, apparently excited about the upcoming day. Despite winning six of the eight previous contest events, he also acknowledged that there was no guarantee of victory against his elite peers.
“It’s going to be a battle between the four of us today … We’ll see how my dumbbell [event] goes. We’ll see how Tom [Stoltman’s] dumbbell [event] goes. We’ll see how Oleksii [Novikov’s] [Atlas] stone goes. Trey [Mitchell], in the mix with them all. We’ll see how it all shakes out. 25% chance for us all, maybe. Wish me luck.”
Hooper can then be seen warming up on the Circus dumbbells before the first event of the contest’s final day. He was greeted by 2019 World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis, as well.
Due to the copyrights of the video footage, Hooper is only seen briefly performing in the event before it cuts to him talking to his family afterward. He tied for first place with Evan Singleton as the only competitors to lift the 140.4-kilogram (309-pound) dumbbell.
The video then cuts to Hooper resting and talking to the camera after the Truck Pull, where he placed first by beating his nearest competitors by more than two seconds. Even though the title was now clearly in Hooper’s sights at this point in the competition due to his points on the leaderboard, he said that he was assuming nothing until the last event was over.
Trying to coax a reply from Hooper, the cameraperson asked, “If you were to predict how you’re going to do on the stones, where do you think you’re going to fare?” Hooper’s reply was a humble dismissal of the fact that, to that point, he had placed first in eight of the 10 previous events.
“Not going to do that. Not worried about it. Just gotta go have a clean, smooth run. Get through them. There’s a lot of really good stone lifters here so, anything could happen … We’ll see how it goes.”
The video then shows Hooper and previous champion Tom Stoltman making their entrances to the Atlas Stones area, where Hooper would clinch the title by finishing in second place in the event. The camera then shows his family reacting to the moment he won the title followed by his wife hugging him in celebration while Hooper held the trophy.
More from Breaking Muscle:
He is also shown taking photos, doing interviews, speaking with 2017 World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall, and signing autographs. He signed off the video giving thanks to everyone who followed the action throughout the week.
“It’s crazy. It’s going to take a long time for this to sink in … Thank you so much to everyone who showed their support,” he said. “Thank you so much to everyone who supports the sport and to everyone who came before me. Really, really cool and incredibly humbling experience that I’ll have trouble putting into words for awhile.”
Hooper is the first athlete from Canada to win the World’s Strongest Man title. He is also the first man to have won both the Arnold Strongman Classic and the World’s Strongest Man in the same year since Hafthor Björnsson pulled off the feat in 2018.
The sport of strongman has a new king, and now he gets to sit on his throne in Myrtle Beach, SC.
After the wild gauntlet that was the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), Mitchell Hooper used the final day of the contest to capture his first WSM title. Former two-time reigning champion Tom Stoltman (2021-2022) and 2020 victor Oleksii Novikov rounded out the podium. Here’s an overview of the event-by-event results from Day 4 of the 2023 WSM and the official standings leaderboard from the 2023 WSM Finals.
Editor’s Note: Results were provided by our official reporter in attendance. These results were not considered official until after they were confirmed on the World’s Strongest Man homepage.
2023 WSM Finals Leaderboard
Rank
Name
Points
1
Mitchell Hooper — Canada
53.5
2
Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom
49
3
Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine
41
4
Trey Mitchell — USA
39.5
5
Evan Singleton — USA
39.5
6
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine
31.5
7
Brian Shaw — USA
27.5
8
Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom
21.5
9
Mathew Ragg — New Zealand
18.5
10
Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa — Withdrawn
5.5
More from Breaking Muscle:
Here’s a recap of the results from the fourth and final day of the 2023 WSM, including how each of the top 10 competitors fared on the Max Dumbbell, Bus Pull, and Atlas Stones.
Max Dumbbell Recap
The Max Dumbbell tasked the respective athletes with a single-arm, overhead press of an oversized, thick-handled dumbbell. The athletes lifted in rounds of gradually increasing weight until they couldn’t lift the next sequential dumbbell.
The weights of the dumbbells featured were as follows: 115 kilograms (254 pounds), 125 kilograms (275 pounds), 132.5 kilograms (291 pounds), 140 kilograms (308 pounds), 145 kilograms (319 pounds), 151 kilograms (333 pounds — a World Record weight), and 155 kilograms (342 pounds).
The event started with an unfortunate shake-up for South Africa’s Jaco Schoonwinkel. In his first-ever WSM Finals, Schoonwinkel appeared to suffer an injury during his first lift of the event. The athlete would be forced to withdraw in a result that led to his eventual 10th-place finish.
Mitchell Hooper and Evan Singleton would tie for first place in the Max Dumbbell with four successful lifts.
Next on the docket for the 2023 WSM elite was the Bus Pull. This event gave the respective competitors the objective of pulling a staggering 23,133-kilogram (51,000-pound) bus as far as possible down a 25-meter (82-foot) path with a time limit of one minute.
Hooper once again won the event, finishing the Bus Pull in 30.24 seconds. This event marked Hooper’s eighth event victory throughout the contest.
Mitchell Hooper — 30.24 seconds
Tom Stoltman — 32.27 seconds
Evan Singleton — 32.27 seconds
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 32.46 seconds
Trey Mitchell — 32.49 seconds
Brian Shaw — 32.65 seconds
Luke Stoltman — 32.83 seconds
Mathew Ragg — 36.29 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — 33.35 seconds
Jaco Schoonwinkel — Withdrawn
More from Breaking Muscle:
Atlas Stones Recap
As is WSM tradition, the Atlas Stones put a cherry on top of the 2023 WSM. The athletes had to lift five progressively heavier stones onto their respective platforms within a one-minute time limit. The five stones had weights of 150 kilograms (330 pounds), 160 kilograms (350 pounds), 180 kilograms (395 pounds), 200 kilograms (440 pounds), and 210 kilograms (460 pounds).
Entering this final event, all Hooper needed to secure his first WSM title was a minimum sixth-place result. After a few competitors faltered on the fifth Atlas Stone, Hooper’s second-place finish was more than enough to pen him down in strongman history. Though, runner-up Tom Stoltman would win the Atlas Stones event by lifting all five Stones in 33.26 seconds to entrench himself on the 2023 WSM podium.
Tom Stoltman — 5 stones, 33.26 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — 5 stones, 36.96 seconds
Trey Mitchell — 5 reps, 45.72 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — 4 reps, 27.43 seconds
Evan Singleton — 4 reps, 28.16 seconds
Brian Shaw — 4 stones, 35.88 seconds
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 4 stones, 45.86 seconds
Luke Stoltman — 4 stones, 48.49 seconds
Mathew Ragg — 4 stones, 49.5 seconds
Jaco Schoonwinkel — Withdrawn
More from Breaking Muscle:
A Historic World’s Strongest Man
There was no shortage of worthy storylines at the 2023 WSM.
With his title, Hooper capped one of the more remarkable approximate one-year runs in strongman history. Now, while sitting at the top, he may well be beginning an extended reign of dominance as the sport’s preeminent royalty.
On a bittersweet but likely still happy note, four-time WSM champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) Brian Shaw finished in seventh place in his last WSM Finals. The strongman legend walks off into the sunset having qualified for the WSM Finals on 15 of 16 occasions in his career.
Meanwhile, the former two-time defending champion in Tom Stoltman fell short of a historic three-peat, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost his place as an elite competitor. In the weeks and months ahead and in any ensuing WSM, it wouldn’t be a far cry to see Stoltman contend for many strongman titles.
As far as debuts goes, Mathew Ragg’s WSM debut was the first New Zealand competitor’s appearance in the WSM final in 40 years, with Allan Hallberg in the 1983 WSM being the last representative. South Africa’s Jaco Schoonwinkel also had an extremely solid showing, dominating his Qualifying Group before falling to injury.
Indeed, the 2023 WSM was a cornucopia of incredible strength and athletic resolve. In the end, Hooper stood tall above the rest of his talented peers.
Featured image: Todd Burandt / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
Just one day remains in the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). One day to determine who has the privilege to become ultimate strongman royalty. One day to find out who gets to sit on top of what might be strength sports’ most prestigious throne in Myrtle Beach, SC.
As the second climactic half of the Finals looms on Sunday, here’s where the 2023 WSM Finals leaderboard stands at the end of Day Three, along with a recap of how each athlete fared in the first half of the Finals.
Editor’s Note: Results are provided by our official reporter in attendance. These results are not considered official until after they are confirmed on the World’s Strongest Man homepage.
2023 WSM Finals Leaderboard
Rank
Name
Points
1
Mitchell Hooper — Canada
25
2
Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine
24.5
3
Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom
24
4
Trey Mitchell — USA
22.5
5
Evan Singleton — USA
15
6
Brian Shaw — USA
14.5
7
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine
14
8
Mathew Ragg — New Zealand
11.5
9
Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom
8
10
Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa
5.5
More from Breaking Muscle:
2023 World’s Strongest Man Day 3 Results
Here are the Day 3 results from the first part of the 2023 WSM Finals, including each athlete’s individual finishes, any relevant corresponding times and distances, and tasked weights on the Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry, the KNAACK Deadlift, and the Fingal’s Fingers. Due to a two-hour inclement weather delay, all the event start times were pushed back accordingly. In a scheduling shift, the Fingal’s Fingers became the last event of the day, while the Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry began the Finals.
Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry Recap
The Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry tasked the competitors with carrying a 196-kilogram (432-pound) shield for maximum distance. Competitors moved back and forth along a 20-meter (65.6-foot) course for as much as they could.
In unfortunate circumstances, controversy may have defined the Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry. Ukraine’s Pavlo Kordiyaka, who had a legitimate shot at the 2023 WSM podium (and perhaps even more) entering the first day of the Finals, may have lost his opportunity on a debatable penalty for failing to fully cross a boundary line before continuing one lap of his carry. Kordiyaka would lose a whopping five points and be penalized 19.8 meters of distance from his carry, resulting in a score of 46.59 meters. If not for the penalty, Kordiyaka would’ve had the overwhelming best distance of all participating finalists. The competitor would leave the stage in apparent disgust after the penalty ruling.
The KNAACK Deadlift did not reinvent the wheel for the athletes. It was a traditional deadlift for maximum repetitions with 355 kilograms (782.6 pounds) as rain fell on Myrtle Beach. Hooper claimed another event victory by being the only strongman to finish eight repetitions. Four athletes tied for second on the KNAACK deadlift with seven successful repetitions, including Oleksii Novikov, Trey Mitchell, Brian Shaw, and Mathew Ragg.
Mitchell Hooper — 8 reps
Oleksii Novikov — 7 reps
Trey Mitchell — 7 reps
Brian Shaw — 7 reps
Mathew Ragg — 7 reps
Tom Stoltman — 6 reps
Evan Singleton — 5 reps
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 5 reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 4 reps
Luke Stoltman — 3 reps
More from Breaking Muscle:
Fingal’s Fingers Recap
The end of the first half of the 2023 WSM Finals was a fitting spectacle, as it featured the Fingal’s Fingers. The event had not been a part of a WSM Finals round since 2009, marking a decade-plus absence as a decision-making race. The strongmen had the objective of flipping five successive “fingers” in one minute. The beams had the approximate size of telephone poles and ranged in these weights as they progressed through the course: 145 kilograms (320 pounds), 154 kilograms (340 pounds), 159 kilograms (350 pounds), 163 kilograms (360 pounds), and 172 kilograms (380 pounds).
Two-time defending WSM champion Tom Stoltman paced ahead of the rest of the competitors — completing all five fingers nearly three full seconds before his closest competitor — putting himself in great position for the second half of the Finals on Sunday afternoon.
Tom Stoltman — 5 reps, 39.36 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — 5 reps, 42.26 seconds
Trey Mitchell — 5 reps, 48.46 seconds
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 reps, 48.69 seconds
Evan Singleton — 5 reps, 49.85 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — 5 reps, 49.89 seconds
Brian Shaw — 4 reps, 26.61 seconds
Luke Stoltman — 4 reps, 32.54 seconds
Mathew Ragg — 4 reps, 35.03 seconds
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 1 rep, 40.76 seconds
More from Breaking Muscle:
A Sunday of Strength
Any number of storylines and questions could define the final day of the 2023 WSM.
Just one year after surprising the elite strongman field in his WSM debut, Mitchell Hooper might lead the fray. The Canadian strongman is arguably in the strongest position to win the title and could culminate one of the more meteoric rises over an approximate year that the sport has ever seen.
Then there’s Brian Shaw. On the last day of his WSM career, Shaw could, theoretically, win all three of the last events to capture a legendary fifth title and cap one of the greatest ever runs in strongman. Technically, two-time defending champion Tom Stoltman is still in a position to finish a rare and legendary “three-peat,” too.
Finally, as the dust settles, it remains to be seen how Kordiyaka’s controversial penalty will define the rest of the contest. It might take a Herculean effort to overshadow a ruling that may have cost an athlete a legitimate opportunity at strongman’s greatest title.
To some, the suspense might be terrible on the last day of the 2023 WSM. To these elite strongmen, they likely hope it lasts.
Featured image: Todd Burandt / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
Day Two of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) promised fireworks, and it did not disappoint in its delivery. The second day saw the athletes work through the Conan’s Wheel, Kettlebell Toss, and climactic Stone-Off to determine the 10 places in the 2023 WSM Final.
Here are the Day Two results from each Qualifying Round Group, including each athlete’s individual finishes, any relevant corresponding time, and placing within the Conan’s Wheel and Kettlebell Toss. Plus, there’s an overall recap of the Stone-Off event featuring just the second and third-place finishers in each group.
Conan’s Wheel Recap
As one of the last events of the 2023 WSM Qualifying Round, the Conan’s Wheel tested the athletes’ core strength and endurance. They had the objective of holding up a 199.5-kilogram (440-pound) bar in the Zercher position while walking around in a fixed circle as far as possible.
The event’s winners would score the most “degrees” or loops around the circle. A full loop the length of the circle would be considered 360 degrees.
Former 2020 WSM champion Oleksii Novikov recorded the maximum distance with 847 degrees to become the winner in Group 2. Pavlo Kordiyaka, reigning Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) champion, notched the second-most with 749 degrees as Group 1’s winner. Kordiyaka possesses the Conan’s Wheel World Record with a rotation length of 1,009 degrees from his 2023 ESM victory.
Group 1
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 749 degrees
Pa O’Dwyer — 722 degrees
Bobby Thompson — 649 degrees
Konstantine Janashia — 633 degrees
Eddie Williams — 614 degrees
Tom Stoltman — 598 degrees
Group 2
Oleksii Novikov — 897 degrees
Gavin Bilton — 557 degrees
Luke Stoltman — 545 degrees
Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — 524 degrees
Fadi El Masri — 70 degrees
Thomas Evans — 69 degrees
Group 3
Mitchell Hooper — 636 degrees
Mathew Ragg — 628 degrees
Aivars Šmaukstelis —575 degrees
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 538 degrees
Spenser Remick — 470 degrees
Graham Hicks — 425 degrees
Group 4
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 713 degrees
Kevin Faires — 636 degrees
Gabriel Rhéaume — 476 degrees
Rauno Heinla — 572 degrees
Brian Shaw — 411 degrees
Adam Bishop — 292 degrees
Group 5
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 629 degrees
Evan Singleton — 589 degrees
Trey Mitchell — 523 degrees
Paul Smith — 518 degrees
Mark Felix — 470 degrees
Jean-Stephen Corabeouf — 143 degrees
More from Breaking Muscle:
Kettlebell Toss Recap
Some athletes needed a better performance in the vital Kettlebell Toss than others. After all, it would partly determine who qualified for their Group’s Stone Off.
This event pushed the competitors’ explosive power, presenting them with seven kettlebells that gradually increased in weight. They had one minute to launch as many weights as they could over a 4.5-meter (15-foot) overhead bar.
Here was how the weights progressed in size: 20.5 kilograms (45 pounds), 21.8 kilograms (48 pounds), 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds), 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds), 24 kilograms (53 pounds), 26.3 kilograms (58 pounds), and finally 30.8 kilograms (68 pounds).
Even while mathematically eliminated from the Finals by the time he stepped up to compete, Mateusz Kieliszkowski fared the best in the Kettlebell Toss. The Polish athlete finished all seven throws in a blazing 32.44 secondsin Group 3. In the process, he snapped groupmate Mitchell Hooper’s dominant four-event winning streak.
Group 1
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Six reps, 18.09 seconds
Konstantine Janashia — Six reps, 19.93 seconds
Tom Stoltman — Six reps, 21.99 seconds
Pa O’Dwyer — Six reps, 31.71 seconds
Bobby Thompson — Six reps, 35.67 seconds
Eddie Williams — Six reps, 36.4 seconds
Group 2
Gavin Bilton — Six reps, 19.9 seconds
Luke Stoltman — Six reps, 49.35 seconds
Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — Five reps, 15.57 seconds
Thomas Evans — Five reps, 28.68 seconds
Fadi El Masri — Four reps, 20.61 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — One rep, 9.56 seconds
Group 3
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Seven reps, 32.44 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — Six reps, 17.18 seconds
Mathew Ragg — Six reps, 21.96 seconds
Aivars Šmaukstelis — Six reps, 25.41 seconds
Spenser Remick — Five reps, 24.31 seconds
Graham Hicks — Four reps, 20.51 seconds
Group 4
Brian Shaw — Seven reps, 48.45 seconds
Adam Bishop — Six reps, 32.29 seconds
Kevin Faires — Five reps, 34.09 seconds
Jaco Schoonwinkel — Six reps, 47.32 seconds
Rauno Heinla — Five reps, 44.31 seconds
Gabriel Rhéaume — Three reps, 14 seconds
Group 5
Trey Mitchell — Seven reps, 34.42 seconds
Evan Singleton — Six reps, 28.81 seconds
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Six reps, 27.66 seconds
Mark Felix — Four reps, 42.66 seconds
Jean-Stephen Corabeouf — Two reps, 23.65 seconds
Paul Smith — One rep, 28.62 seconds
More from Breaking Muscle:
Stone Off Recap
Finally, it was time to determine the other half of the 2023 WSM Finals field. With Novikov, Hooper, Trey Mitchell, first-time WSM Finalist Kordiyaka, and first-time WSM competitor Jaco Schoonwinkel winning their respective groups, the second and third-place finishes squared off head-to-head in an Atlas Stone battle to earn berths for the weekend’s Finals.
The participating athletes had to lift gradually heavier Atlas Stones over a bar separating them from their opponents. The weights ranged from 140 kilograms (308 pounds) to 200 kilograms (440 pounds). The last Stone’s weight would be lifted for reps until one of the strongmen could not continue.
Tom Stoltman, Luke Stoltman, Brian Shaw, Mathew Ragg, and Evan Singletonall earned places in the 2023 WSM Finals by winning their Stone Off. The 2023 WSM is Ragg’s first appearance in the contest. 2023 marks Singleton’s first time reaching the Finals in four consecutive WSM appearances — his 2020 and 2021 showings were interrupted by withdrawals due to injury, while he failed to pass the Qualifying Stage in 2022.
Group 1
Tom Stoltman — 3 stones — Winner
Bobby Thompson — 3 stones
Group 2
Luke Stoltman — 7 stones — Winner
Gavin Bilton — 7 stones
Group 3
Mathew Ragg — 8 stones — Winner
Aivars Smaukstelis — 8 stones
Group 4
Brian Shaw — 11 stones — Winner
Rauno Heinla — 11 stones
Group 5
Evan Singleton — 8 stones — Winner
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 8 stones
More from Breaking Muscle:
2023 World’s Strongest Man Final Athletes
Here are the 10 confirmed athletes in the 2023 WSM Finals:
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
Trey Mitchell (United States)
Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom)
Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
Mathew Ragg (New Zealand)
Brian Shaw (United States)
Evan Singleton (United States)
Some of the more notable achievements in qualifying for the 2023 WSM Final include two-time defending champion Tom Stoltman surviving his Stone Off. The Scottish athlete will officially have the opportunity for a three-peat victory over the weekend. Meanwhile, after blitzing the 2022 WSM for a surprise Finals berth, Mitchell Hooper may seem like a bona fide favorite heading into the weekend and the person that might unseat Stoltman from his throne.
From a longer-term perspective, the legendary Brian Shaw extended his streak of WSM Final appearances to 15. In his last WSM before a strongman retirement later this summer, the four-time champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) will have officially made it 15 of 16 appearances in the Finals over his illustrious career. The only instance Shaw of ever missing the Finals was his WSM debut in 2008.
More from Breaking Muscle:
A Final Showdown
The 10 finalists in the 2023 WSM now get to enjoy a rest day on Friday before returning to compete in the Finals on Saturday, Apr. 22, and Sunday, Apr. 23, 2023. While many eyes might be on Stoltman in his repeat quest, on Hooper in trying to finish his meteoric climb up strongman’s summit, and on Shaw in his last WSM, it could be anyone’s contest to win.
Truly, until that last Atlas Stone is lifted onto its platform on Sunday, all bets are off for the 2023 WSM.
Featured image: Todd Burandt / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest kicked off with a bang on Apr. 19, 2023, in sunny Myrtle Beach, SC. The participating athletes were fortunate to work through the first Qualifying Round events on a day that never veered far past the high 70s in temperature.
The first leg of the competition saw the competitors work through the early-morning Loading Race, the early-afternoon Deadlift Machine, and closed with the near-evening Log Ladder. Here’s where the leaderboard stands after Day 1, along with a short recap of how each athlete fared in the competition’s kickoff events.
2022 World’s Strongest Man Leaderboard — Day 1
Rank
Name
Points
Group 5.5
1
Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom
15.5
2
Bobby Thompson — USA
14
3
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine
13
4
Konstantine Janashia — Georgia
9.5
5
Eddie Williams — Australia
6
6
Pa O’Dwyer — Ireland
5
Group 2
1
Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine
16
2
Thomas Evans — USA
14
3
Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom
12
4
Gavin Bilton — United Kingdom
9
5
Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — Iceland
8.5
6
Fadi El Masri — Lebanon
3.5
Group 3
1
Mitchell Hooper — Canada
18
2
Mathew Ragg — New Zealand
13.5
3
Aivars Smaukstelis — Latvia
10.5
4
Graham Hicks — United Kingdom
9.5
5
Spenser Remick — USA
6.5
6
Mateusz Kielszkowski — Poland
5
Group 4
1
Brian Shaw — USA
15.5
2
Rauno Heinla — Estonia
14.5
3
Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa
14
4
Adam Bishop — United Kingdom
8
5
Kevin Faires — USA
5.5
6
Gabriel Rheaume — Canada
5.5
Group 5
1
Trey Mitchell — USA
16
2
Evan Singleton — USA
15.5
3
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland
1.5
4
Mark Felix — United Kingdom
7.5
5
Paul Smith — United Kingdom
7
6
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — France
5.5
More from Breaking Muscle:
2022 World’s Strongest Man Day 1 Results
Here are the results from each Qualifying Round Group, including each athlete’s individual finishes, corresponding time, and placing within the Loading Race, Deadlift Machine, and Log Ladder events.
Loading Race Recap
The contest’s first event tested the competitors’ strength and athleticism. Shortly before the Loading Race began, Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou withdrew from the competition.
They had an objective of running through a four-to-six-meter (13-to-19.6-foot) field of sand as fast as they could while loading gradually heavier implements onto an elevated platform. The time limit for the Loading Race’s completion was 90 seconds. The implements featured two stacks of bundled logs (106 kilograms/234 pounds and 114.7 kilogram/253 pounds), a 124.7-kilogram (275-pound) anvil, a 120.2-kilogram (265-pound) sandbag, and a 120.2-kilogram (265-pound) “Husafell” sandbag.
Reigning Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) champion and Group 1 competitor, Pavlo Kordiyaka, had the best time (41.38 seconds) while successfully loading all five implements. Meanwhile, presumed top WSM contenders Oleksii Novikov (51.14 seconds) and Mitchell Hooper (42.05 seconds) both breezed through the race to lead Group 2 and Group 3, respectively.
The second event of the 2023 WSM, the Deadlift Machine, was a requisite showcase of power and endurance. The athletes had a 75-second time limit to perform as many repetitions as possible on a specially designed deadlift machine.
The weight for the Deadlift Machine was increased after each rep, in the following order: 281 kilograms (619.5 pounds), 298 kilograms (657 pounds), 312 kilograms (687 pounds), 329 kilograms (725 pounds), 345 kilograms (760 pounds), 362 kilograms (798 pounds), and 379 kilograms (835.5 pounds). Any athletes who had the capacity to perform the seventh and final weight could do so as many as they pleased within the allotted time frame.
Hooper (Group 3), Brian Shaw (Group 4), and Trey Mitchell (Group 5) all tied for the most number of repetitions performed with eight. Hooper and Novikov (six reps in Group 2) were the only athletes to score a second consecutive event victory for their Qualifying Round Group.
Group 1
Bobby Thompson — Seven reps
Tom Stoltman — Six reps
Konstantine Janashia — Six reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Five reps
Pa O’Dwyer — Five reps
Eddie Williams — Five reps
Group 2
Oleksii Novikov — Six reps
Thomas Evans — Five reps
Luke Stoltman — Five reps
Gavin Bilton — Five reps
Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — Four reps
Fadi El Masri — Four reps
Group 3
Mitchell Hooper — Eight reps
Mathew Ragg — Seven reps
Graham Hicks — Seven reps
Aivars Šmaukstelis — Five reps
Spenser Remick — Five reps
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Four reps
Group 4
Brian Shaw — Eight reps
Rauno Heinla — Eight reps
Adam Bishop — Seven reps
Jaco Schoonwinkel — Six reps
Kevin Faires — Five reps
Gabriel Rhéaume — Five reps
Group 5
Trey Mitchell — Eight reps
Mark Felix — Six reps
Evan Singleton — Six reps
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Six reps
Jean-Stephen Corabeouf — Five reps
Paul Smith — Four reps
More from Breaking Muscle:
Log Ladder
As has been the past precedent for WSM contests, the first day of the 2023 WSM concluded with the Log Ladder. The competitors had to power through a challenging ladder of logs, which gradually increased in weight. Once again, they had a 75-second time limit.
Competitors were presented with a series of five fixed-weight logs. They were allowed as many attempts as needed to successfully put the log overhead. After one complete repetition, they progressed to the next weight: 124 kilograms (275 pounds), 140 kilograms (310 pounds), 158 kilograms (350 pounds), 170 kilograms (375 pounds), and 181 kilograms (400 pounds).
Seven of the 30 competitors were able to complete the entire series of five lifts, including reigning WSM champion Tom Stoltman (Group 1), two-time Shaw Classic winner Trey Mitchell (Group 5), and WSM debut athletes Thomas Evans and Mathew Ragg (Group 2 and Group 3, respectively), with Evans completing the lifts in the fastest time of the entire field.
Group 1
Tom Stoltman — Five reps, 42.5 seconds
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Five reps, 46 seconds
Bobby Thompson — Four reps, 25.83 seconds
Konstantine Janashia — Four reps, 68.35 seconds
Eddie Williams — Four reps, 55.89 seconds
Pa O’Dwyer — Three reps, 25.8 seconds
Group 2
Thomas Evans — Five reps, 38.96 seconds
Luke Stoltman — Five reps, 52.76 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — Four reps, 32.5 seconds
Gavin Bilton — Four reps, 56.84 seconds
Fadi El Masri — Two reps, 17.43 seconds
Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — Two reps, 16.28 seconds
Group 3
Mitchell Hooper — Five reps, 39.51 seconds
Mathew Ragg — Five reps, 56.84 seconds
Graham Hicks — Four reps, 28.31 seconds
Aivars Šmaukstelis — Four reps, 30.44 seconds
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Four reps, 33.24 seconds
Spenser Remick — Four reps, 38.79 seconds
Group 4
Brian Shaw — Four reps, 33.99 seconds
Jaco Schoonwinkel — Four reps, 34.77 seconds
Rauno Heinla — Three reps, 21.6 seconds
Kevin Faires — Three reps, 28.93 seconds
Gabriel Rhéaume — Three reps, 32.96 seconds
Adam Bishop — Three reps, 33.25 seconds
Group 5
Trey Mitchell — Five reps, 39.44 seconds
Evan Singleton — Four reps, 35.48 seconds
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Four reps, 39.93 seconds
Paul Smith — Four reps, 45.84 seconds
Jean-Stephen Corabeouf — Three reps, 22.34 seconds
Mark Felix — One rep, 7.58 seconds
More from Breaking Muscle:
An Epic WSM Day Looms
While Hooper and Novikov may have separated themselves from the pack, a host of 2023 WSM competitors still need to make their mark at the contest. Not everyone can dominate in the early goings and earn themselves plenty of breathing room in the process. Thursday’s Qualifying Round events, which feature the Conan’s Wheel, Kettlebell Toss, and customary Stone Off to decide five of the 10 berths in the Final, should present a tense show for the athletes and spectators on hand.
With the next legendary WSM Final on the horizon, Thursday will likely go down as a seminal moment in the 46th edition of strongman’s definitive competition.
Featured image: Todd Burandt / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2023, Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper posted a video of himself log pressing 195 kilograms (430 pounds) for two reps on his Instagram page. The lift is 10 kilograms more than his competition record of 185 kilograms (408 pounds), according to Giants Live. This feat came seven months after Hooper managed to perform two reps with 184 kilograms (406 pounds) in training.
More from Breaking Muscle:
After bringing the log to his knees and cleaning it up to the shoulders, Hooper began the press, but he briefly stalled midway through the rep. After powering it up to a lockout position, he lowered the log to mats and took several breaths before beginning the next repetition. The second rep took even longer to lock out, but he managed to do so successfully.
“Things are heating up. All is right on track.”
Hooper is preparing to compete in the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic, set to take place Mar. 2-5, 2023 in Columbus, OH. One event confirmed for the competition is the Austrian Oak — a log press event named after the contest’s namesake, Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s unclear as of this writing whether the event will be for max reps, max weight, or another format.
In the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic, Luke Stoltman won the Austrian Oak Log Lift event by pressing 213.1 kilograms (470 pounds) over his head. Stoltman will be competing in this year’s contest, as will Log Press American record holder (217.5 kilograms/479.5 pounds) Bobby Thompson.
When the same event appeared during the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic, competitors were asked to perform maximum repetitions within a 90-second time limit. In the caption of the Instagram post, Hooper reported that it took him 50 seconds to complete both reps. This may indicate that either Hooper expects a return to the “reps for time” format or that he is focused on building both strength and endurance as an elite strongman.
Hooper is considered by many strongman fans and experts to be one of the fastest rising stars in the sport. That was emphasized after he placed first in Group 2 of the 2022 World’s Strongest Man, and ultimately placed eighth in the finals. This will be his first Arnold Strongman Classic contest, and he’s already confirmed to be one of the entrants for the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, set to take place Apr. 19-23 in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Ticket and pay-per-view information for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic can be found at www.arnoldsports.com.
Among current elite strongman competitors, Mitchell Hooper might be the next big thing. After storming onto the scene in 2022 — notching a podium finish in six of seven contests and winning two of his last three, including the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK — many understandably expect even more from Hooper in 2023. However, before he tries to build on a terrific debut year that saw him captivate the sport, the Canadian athlete is first dispensing some worthwhile training tips.
On Jan. 11, 2023, Hooper posted a video to his YouTube channel where he gave a group of athletes a walkthrough on how to lift Atlas stones properly. The session isn’t necessarily new for Hooper, who occasionally shares similar technique training videos in between moments of refining his own strength.
More from Breaking Muscle:
Hooper wastes no time diving into his de facto lecture on Atlas stones.
Set Your Stance Mid-Stone
He first diagrams how one starts from a quality lifting stance, noting that the balls of an athlete’s feet should be even with the center of the stone when setting up. Another critical factor is ensuring that the feet have wide enough positioning.
“You want to be in a spot where you can see your feet [on either side of the stone]. See your feet on the sides of the stone.”
If a person’s feet are too close to the Atlas stone, Hooper maintains that it could negatively change the hands’ positioning as they grip the stone. In addition, with the stone in hand, the knees might rub up against an athlete’s elbows, making for a non-ideal setup while lifting.
Cup the Stone with Hands and Forearms
In regards to specific notes about an athlete’s hands while trying to lift an Atlas Stone, Hooper clarifies that the hands should never be directly under because that will force the relatively weaker biceps muscles to support the load.
“The name of the game is creating friction by creating as much surface contact as possible. You want your hand and as much of your forearm to be on the stone as possible.”
Instead, the aim should be about having as much of one’s arms touching the stone as possible, almost “cupping” the large trademark strongman implement by placing your hands slightly forward of the weight’s center.
“Straight arm, hands forward, arms locked in. That way, we’re using our chest and our lat to squeeze the stone. We’re not using our biceps to pick up the stone.”
Deadlift High and Lap the Stone
Hooper maintains that once an athlete is in a proper position, their goal should be to lift the stone to their lap by putting it as far above their knees as possible. Then, once ready, the hips can sink back, and the stone can naturally be rolled into the lap.
“What you should aim to do is deadlift the stone as high as possible. You don’t want to just get to your knee and immediately sit it in.” Hooper said. ” … Think about how muscles oppose force and where that force is going.”
A common technique principle for strongmen and strongwomen, lapping the stone helps the athlete seamlessly re-grip for improved leverage before standing.
“The first goal is to get the stone from the ground to your lap … Once the stone passes your knee, you can sit and roll. You replace your hands, and you can bring it up [to a standing position].”
Get Hips Under the Stone to Stand Up
Per Hooper, once someone is prepared to change their grip for the hip movement, the stone should “sit on the sternum” with the body as tight as possible to the stone. The stone should then move straight up as the athlete stands up.
Hooper clarifies that some make the mistake of actually trying to lift the stone higher when it’s against their sternum. To combat this overcorrection, the strongman advises making a stringent effort to keep the stone tight to the chest and simply extending the hips underneath for improved leverage and full extension.
“When it comes to extending [into a standing position], you should not think about bringing the stone up … Your thought should be to shoot your hips under the stone, and then it will roll up.”
Special Technique for High Platforms
If a strongman or strongwoman competitor has the task of lifting the stone onto a taller podium, Hooper said they should strive to ensure their hands aren’t directly around the center of the stone when repositioning grip. This sort of “hugging” leaves limited flexibility for strength maneuverability with the stone at a higher position and has a higher chance of a failed lift.
Instead, when an athlete is working for their re-grip, the arms should be placed at a 45-degree angle over the top of the stone, leaving more room to work the stone onto a higher platform.
Ultimately, Hooper offered a reminder that the balls of the feet indicate where the center of the stone is. As such, the arms should still be in lockstep with the balls of the feet on initial positioning. While reviewing several video participants’ sample performances, Hooper offered one final correction to a common mistake being made in the early phase of the lift.
“The motion off the ground is not a squat, it’s a stiff-legged deadlift. Hips really high.”
More from Breaking Muscle:
Already an established superstar, Hooper, the teacher, will soon seamlessly shift to Hooper, the strongman. The athlete is set to compete at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International (ASI) on Jan. 21, 2023, in Yapeen, Australia. If his exploits there go anywhere close to his success from 2022, Hooper just might start the new competitive year with a bang.
There are some strongperson contests that might have more gravitas to them. Competitions that become forks in the road in stellar careers. One of them is the annual Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). With the 2023 edition mere months away in Columbus, OH, some of its puzzle pieces are starting to fall into place.
On Dec. 7-8, 2022, the Arnold Sports Festival Instagram page revealed the respective Men’s and Women’s rosters for the 2023 ASC, scheduled to take place on March 2-5, 2023.
For the Men, the reigning champion Martins Licis will not appear to defend his title. Nor will the 2022 runner-up Oleksii Novikov. Overall, the Men’s field has four challengers taking vacated roster spots from the 2022 edition — Hooper, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Pavlo Nakonechnyy, and Tom Evans.
Notably, Kieliszkowski returns to the ASC after notching two consecutive podium finishes in 2019-2020. Luke Stoltman and Bobby Thompson also return after tying for third place in 2022. Someone like Hooper — who won two of his last three strongman appearances to close out 2022 — may make noise, too. That respective group could make for a fascinating battle, should any of them improve upon their past results.
Meanwhile, top contenders for the Women’s title might include 2022 WSW champion Olga Liashchuk, three-time WSW winner Donna Moore (2016-2017, 2019), and Thompson. With no established precedent at a strongwoman contest, it’s difficult to ascertain how an athlete like Walcott might fare. However, her unique strength could make her a potential dark horse, too.
2022 ASC Events
Shortly after the official rosters were announced, the Arnold Sports Festival revealed the event lineup — which is notably the same for both the men’s and women’s fields. The events are as follows:
Wheel of Pain
The Austrian Oak
Elephant Bar Deadlift
Unspunnen Stone Throw
Timber Frame Carry
More from Breaking Muscle:
There’s still plenty of time before the 2023 ASC officially launches. That means all bets could be off as these star-studded rosters of elite strongpeople try to shine in Columbus in March.
