WSM FINAL – DAY 1 RECAP

A RUNNING START

In the 1st event of the WSM Final, the Giant’s Medley, Adam Bishop (GBR) set the early standard by carrying a 440kg (970 lbs) yoke and a 350kg (772 lbs) frame down a 25 meter course in just over 22 seconds. However, Konstantine Janashia (GEO) soon beat that mark before the Stoltman Brothers stole the show.

Tom & Luke Stoltman, who became the first brothers to compete in the WSM Final back in 2019, competed head-to-head against each other in the Giant’s Medley and it was an all-out sprint. Luke Stoltman (GBR), 9 years, 6 months older than Tom, was ahead for the majority of the race but dropped the frame, allowing his sibling, Tom Stoltman (GBR), to set what would end up being the winning time.

In the last pairing, veterans Brian Shaw (USA) & JF Caron (CAN) also delivered solid performances, w 3rd place to Shaw and 5th to Caron. Unfortunately for the Canadian, he suffered a left hamstring tear during the event. –

GETTING THE WHEELS TURNING

What followed was a new challenge for the athletes: Titan’s Turntable, where they had to push the California State Railroad Museum Turntable with a 19th century JW Bowker steam engine sitting on top.

Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted (ISL), a 1st-time WSM Finalist, recorded a time of 52.83 seconds but was edged out by the next athlete, Trey Mitchell (USA), by only half a second.

After that, it seemed that no one would be able to go under 55 seconds as the next 7 competitors labored to finish the task. That was until Tom Stoltman (GBR) made the event look like child’s play, finishing in under 47 seconds for his 2nd consecutive event win. It was the first time since 2011 (Mike Jenkins (USA)) that an athlete started the WSM Final with 2 event victories.

A TOSS-UP

To wrap up the day, the Finalists had to toss a 15kg (33 lbs) keg over a bar for maximum height in the Reign Total Body Fuel Keg Toss. The World Record had been set by Brian Shaw (USA) at 7.25 meters during the 2016 WSM Qualifying Round in Kasane, Botswana.

The athletes’ early throws were easy, and 9 of them challenged the World Record. Konstantine Janashia (GEO), Brian Shaw (USA), Maxime Boudreault (CAN) & Tom Stoltman (GBR) were all successful at a new world record height of 7.26 meters. Then, only Janashia failed at 7.5 meters. The last 3 men would attempt 7.75 meters, 50 cm above the previous World Record.

The first man to try it was Brian Shaw, and he did not disappoint, launching the keg into orbit on his opening attempt. Boudreault and Stoltman did not have quite enough left in the tank to match him, allowing Shaw to remain the World Record holder in the 15kg (33 lbs) Keg Toss for Height.

HOW THINGS STAND

After 3 of 6 events, Tom Stoltman (GBR) leads the way with 28.5 points, a sizable 5.5-point lead over Brian Shaw (USA). First-time WSM Finalist Maxime Boudreault (CAN) is in 3rd place with 18.5 points, half a point (0.5) ahead of Konstantine Janashia (GEO). Luke Stoltman (GBR) sits in 5th with 17 points.

Things are looking good for Tom Stoltman (GBR), as recent history has been very favorable to the athlete leading after 3 events. The leader after 3 events has won the WSM title for the last 6 years (2015-2020).

• 2015 Brian Shaw (USA)
• 2016 Brian Shaw (USA)
• 2017 Eddie Hall (GBR)
• 2018 Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (ISL)
• 2019 Martins Licis (USA)
• 2020 Oleksii Novikov (UKR)

Stoltman’s closest rival, Brian Shaw (USA), is a 4-time WSM Champion, but he has never come back from trailing after 3 events to win the WSM title.

When trailing after 3 events
Since 2011, only 1 athlete has come back to win the WSM title when trailing after 3 events. Strongman legend, Lithuania’s Zydrunas Savickas “Big ‘Z'” did it twice. Each time, he trailed by 3.0 points.

Points
After 3 events Place trailed by Leader
2012 Zydrunas Savickas 3rd 3.0 Vytautas Lalas (LTU)

Final Standings
> Zydrunas Savickas: won by: 4.5 points
> Runner-Up: Vytautas Lalas (LTU)

After 3 events
2014 Zydrunas Savickas 2nd 3.0 Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (ISL)

Final Standings
> Zydrunas Savickas: won by: 0.5 points
> Runner-Up: Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (ISL)

With 3 events to go, the lead of 5.5 points held by Tom Stoltman (GBR) has never been overcome in WSM history under the current scoring system (introduced in 1980).

Largest WSM Comebacks – w/ 3 events to go
Using current scoring system (since 1980)
Champion Trailed by (pts)

• 1992 (Reykjavik, ISL) Ted van der Parre (NED) 5.0
• 1983 (Christchurch, NZL) Geoff Capes (GBR) 4.0

Largest WSM Comebacks – w/ 3 events to go
All-time

Champion Trailed by (pts)

• 1979 (Hollywood, CA) Don Reinhoudt (USA) 5.9*
• 1992 (Reykjavik, ISL) Ted van der Parre (NED) 5.0
• 1983 (Christchurch, NZL) Geoff Capes (GBR) 4.0

*Different scoring system
(Only the top 5 athletes in each event earned points, w/ following increments: 10-7-4-2-1)

Tom Stoltman (GBR)’s total of 28.5 points is the most an athlete has amassed in the first 3 events since Brian Shaw (USA) got 29 points on Day 1 of the 2015 WSM Final in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Shaw lost his lead to Zydrunas Savickas (LTU) in the next 2 events and trailed by half a point going into the Atlas Stones, but a brilliant run allowed him to win his 3rd title.

WHAT WE ARE HEARD THAT COULD BE IMPORTANT

On June 10, Tom Stoltman (GBR) posted on Facebook that “I’m coming home as the World’s Strongest Man”, a guarantee that he would win the WSM title this year. Can he get the job done today?

For the 2nd time in 3 years, the WSM Final concludes on Father’s Day. Brian Shaw (USA), has his wife Keri and his sons Braxton (age 4) & Kellen (age 3) to support him this year. During his Research Interview, Shaw told Brian Robins that competing in the Final on Father’s Day “is a big deal for me”.
SUNDAY, JUNE 20
WSM FINAL – DAY 2

Happy “Championship Sunday”! Today a World’s Strongest Man Champion will be crowned!

TODAY’S EVENTS

Log Lift (for max)
Two of the best overhead lifters on the planet are in the WSM Final.

Luke Stoltman (GBR), the current British Log Lift record holder (221kg / 487 lbs), will look to stamp his authority on this event. Stoltman accomplished the British record during the 2020 World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” Series (virtual event) (October 11, 2020 – SCO). Stoltman could well leap on the podium from his current 5th place in the standings after this event.

Bobby Thompson (USA), the new American Log Lift record holder (217kg / 478.5 lbs) could cause “The Highland Oak” some problems. Thompson set the new American record at the 2021 American Log Press Record Breaker (Part of 2021 Clash on the Coast) (April 30, 2021 – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA), which was judged by previous American Log Lift record holder Rob Kearney (USA), a 3-time WSM competitor. About the Log Lift (for max), he told us: “I’ll win that if I make it to the Final.”

The current Canadian Log Lift record holder (200kg / 441 lbs), Maxime Boudreault (CAN), could also be a threat in this event. 6 Finalists have reached 200kg / 441 lbs or over: Konstantine Janashia (GEO), Brian Shaw (USA), Trey Mitchell (USA) are the others.

The current World Record is held by Zydrunas Savickas (LTU) (228kg / 503 lbs). Savickas accomplished it at the 2015 Arnold Classic: Brazil (May 30, 2015 – Rio de Janeiro, BRA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8crALRL8hfI&ab_channel=OfficialStrongman

Savickas
> Has held the Log Lift WR for more than 16 years, setting in on May 1, 2005, despite the Log Lift being one of Strongman’s most contested events.

> Has held the current WR for more than 6 years, which he set on May 30, 2015.

KNAACK Deadlift
With KNAACK (“Kah-nack”) jobsite boxes on each side of the bar, athletes will compete head-to-head in a Deadlift (for reps). Weight: 350kg (772 lbs). Time limit: 1 minute.

> Listen to pronunciation here: KNAACK Pronunciation (Start – :12 in)

During the Qualifying Round, groups 2, 4 & 5 had to lift a bar that weighed 345kg (760 lbs). Two athletes emerged: Bobby Thompson (USA) & Adam Bishop (GBR), both men managing 9 reps. Bishop told us that he is “built to deadlift”! He also has a great track record in the Deadlift (for reps):

KNAACK Deadlift (cont’d)

Adam Bishop (GBR)
– Won event at 2019 WSM in his Qualifying Round. Tied for most reps across all groups (B. Shaw)
– Won event at 2019 & 2020 Britain’s Strongest Man
– T-1st in event at 2020 Europe’s Strongest Man
– T-1st in event at 2020 WSM in his Qualifying Round. Tied for most reps across all groups (J. Pritchett, M. Felix, M. Shivlyakov)

However, look out for JF Caron (CAN) in this event: Caron has been stellar in the Deadlift throughout his career, and he holds the Hummer Tire Deadlift (for max weight) world record. Unfortunately for Caron, the left hamstring tear he suffered on Day 1 of the WSM Final could hold him back in the Deadlift. At the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic, Caron injured his right hamstring during the Deadlift (for max) event – he does not want to be favoring one leg.

Konstantine Janashia (GEO), Tom Stoltman (GBR) & Trey Mitchell (USA) all managed 8 reps during the Qualifying Round and they could put pressure on Bishop, Thompson & Caron. Brian Shaw (USA) is also known for his ability in the Deadlift.

This event could be costly for Luke Stoltman (GBR) & Maxime Boudreault. Against such a strong lineup, Stoltman and Boudreault could struggle to get good points. Boudreault told us: “That’s where I would lose my points…I’m getting better, but not compared to top guys”

Atlas Stones
For the 9th consecutive year, the WSM Final will conclude with the Atlas Stones, a classic Strongman event.

Last year, Tom Stoltman (GBR) showed that he was “King of the Stones”, becoming the first athlete to complete the 5-stone set in under 20 seconds since WSM upped its Atlas Stone weights in 2015. “The Albatross” has won his last 8 Atlas Stones events (Atlas Stones/Last Man Standing/Stone Off) in competition. He completed all the stones in each event. (Incl. 2021 Stone Off)

The only man who came within 10 seconds of Stoltman in the 2020 WSM Final was Brian Shaw (USA), who has historically been excellent in the Atlas Stones. Shaw secured all 4 of his WSM titles on the Atlas Stones, including 3 victories against the “Big Z”, Zydrunas Savickas. Will we see a head-to-head battle for the title between Stoltman and Shaw?

It is also a specialty event for Trey Mitchell (USA). “Big Tex” could amass some big points here to conclude his competition. And let’s not forget that during the Qualifying Round, Maxime Boudreault (CAN) & Luke Stoltman (GBR) were impressive in their respective Stone Offs, proving the quality of their stone lifting abilities.

STATS TO KNOW
EITHER WAY, HISTORY

IF BRIAN SHAW (USA) WINS WSM TITLE ON SUNDAY (JUNE 20)

> Would win his 5th WSM title & tie for most WSM titles all-time (w/ Mariusz Pudzianowski (POL))

> Would become oldest Champion in WSM history (39 years, 114 days)
Would pass Zydrunas Savickas (LTU), 38 years, 258 days when he won last of his 4 WSM titles in 2014

> Would win WSM title 10 years after his first title (2011)
Would be record for most years between first & last WSM titles (2011-2021)

Current record YEARS
Jon Pall Sigmarsson (ISL) 6 1984–1990
Mariusz Pudzianowski (ISL) 6 2002–2008

> Would win WSM title 5 years after last title (2016)
Would be record for most years between WSM titles (2016-2021)

Current record YEARS
Magnus Ver Magnusson (ISL) 3 1991–1994

IF ATHLETE OTHER THAN SHAW WINS WSM TITLE
– That athlete would be a 1st-time WSM Champion

– If that happens, it will be the first time in WSM’s 44-year history that 1st-time WSM Champions
won 5 consecutive years, extending the current record

Consecutive Years of 1st-time WSM Champions
WSM History

4 consecutive years
Active streak

• 2017 Eddie Hall (GBR)
• 2018 Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (ISL)
• 2019 Martins Licis (USA)
• 2020 Oleksii Novikov (UKR)

3 consecutive years

• 1991 Magnus Ver Magnusson (ISL)
• 1992 Ted van der Parre (NED)
• 1993 Gary Taylor (GBR)

3 consecutive years

• 2000 Janne Virtanen (FIN)
• 2001 Svend Karlsen (NOR)
• 2002 Mariusz Pudzianowski (POL)