World's Ultimate Strongman
World's Ultimate Strongman is an annual strength athletics competition which began on October 26, 2018. The event has a number of rival and parallel competitions, including the World's Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman Classic and the Giants Live Tour.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | United Arab Emirates, Bahrain |
| Established | 2018 |
Number of tournaments | 3 |
| Format | Multi-event competition |
| Current champion | |
| Oleksii Novikov | |
| Most recent tournament | |
| 2021 World's Ultimate Strongman | |
History
The inaugural edition of the competition was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with the winner being Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. The 2019 edition was also held in Dubai and was won by Mateusz Kieliszkowski. Defending champion Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and recently crowned World's Strongest Man Martins Licis did not take part.
On February 22, 2020, it was announced the competition would be expanding and would hold an event in Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit with a purse of $350,000 which is the largest for any strongman competition.[1]
On March 13, 2020, World's Ultimate Strongman released a statement entailing that the recently announced event due to take place on April 11, 2020, in Bahrain was postponed due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, to which they said that a new date would be found and announced when it is logistically and feasibly possible.[2] The 2020 competition was finally held in March 2021 under the name '2021 WUS Strength Island' and in September they hosted the 2021 competition.
Championships
2018 World's Ultimate Strongman
Events: Truck pull, Arm over arm pull, Silver Dollar Deadlift, Overhead Medley, Super Yoke, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Iceland | 60.5 |
| 2. | Brian Shaw | United States | 57 |
| 3. | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Poland | 52.5 |
| 4. | JF Caron | Canada | 48 |
| 5. | Laurence Shahlaei | England | 42.5 |
| 6. | Konstantine Janashia | Georgia | 38 |
| 7. | Martins Licis | United States | 34.5 |
| 8. | Tom Stoltman | Scotland | 31.6 |
| 9. | Terry Hollands | England | 31 |
| 10. | Žydrūnas Savickas | Lithuania | 27.5 |
| 11. | Luke Stoltman | Scotland | 25 |
| 12. | Cheick Sanou | Burkina Faso | 18 |
2019 World's Ultimate Strongman
Events: Deadlift, Truck pull, Log lift, Medley, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Poland | 55.5 |
| 2. | Luke Stoltman | Scotland | 50.5 |
| 3. | Tom Stoltman | Scotland | 47.5 |
| 4. | Brian Shaw | United States | 44.5 |
| Co 5. | Rauno Heinla | Estonia | 42.5 |
| Co 5. | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine | 42.5 |
| 7. | JF Caron | Canada | 39 |
| 8. | Mikhail Shivlyakov | Russia | 36 |
| 9. | Matjaz Belsak | Slovenia | 31.5 |
| 10. | Ramin Farajnejad | Iran | 30 |
| 11. | Cheick Sanou | Burkina Faso | 28 |
| 12. | Krzysztof Radzikowski | Poland | 24 |
| 13. | Jerry Pritchett | United States | 21.5 |
| 14. | Terry Hollands | England | 15 |
2020 World's Ultimate Strongman (a.k.a. 2021 WUS Strength Island)
Events: Axel Deadlift, Flag Hoist, Circus Dumbbell press, Loading race, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine | 70 |
| 2. | JF Caron | Canada | 58 |
| 3. | Aivars Smaukstelis | Latvia | 55 |
| 4. | Luke Stoltman | Scotland | 47 |
| Co 5. | Mohammed Ezatpour | Iran | 43 |
| Co 5. | Ramin Farajnejad | Iran | 43 |
| Co 5. | Tom Stoltman | Scotland | 43 |
| 8. | Bobby Thompson | United States | 41.5 |
| 9. | Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted | Iceland | 33.5 |
| 10. | Adam Bishop | England | 33 |
| 11. | Rauno Heinla | Estonia | 32 |
| 12. | Ervin Toots | Estonia | 30.5 |
| 13. | Rob Kearney | United States | 26.5 |
| 14. | Konstantine Janashia | Georgia | 24 |
| 15. | Mikhail Shivlyakov | Russia | 17 |
2021 World's Ultimate Strongman
Events: Log lift, Super yoke, Farmer's walk, Chain Railway carriage, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine | 45.5 |
| 2. | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Poland | 44.5 |
| 3. | Aivars Smaukstelis | Latvia | 34.5 |
| 4. | JF Caron | Canada | 32 |
| 5. | Konstantine Janashia | Georgia | 27 |
| 6. | Bobby Thompson | United States | 26.5 |
| 7. | Mohammed Ezatpour | Iran | 18 |
| 8. | Ervin Toots | Estonia | 17 |
| 9. | Rauno Heinla | Estonia | 15 |
| 10. | Ramin Farajnejad | Iran | 12 |
Championship breakdown
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | 3rd Place | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018[7] | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Brian Shaw | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 2019[8] | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Luke Stoltman | Tom Stoltman | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 2020[9] | Oleksii Novikov | JF Caron | Aivars Smaukstelis | Muharraq, Bahrain |
| 2021[10] | Oleksii Novikov | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Aivars Smaukstelis | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
Championships by country
Feats of Strength series
Due to the postponement of worldwide sporting events and travel restrictions being in place for many countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, World's Ultimate Strongman announced an at home/private gym Feats of Strength series with differing strongman record attempts to be live streamed for free. Below are the record attempts (Men's World Record unless otherwise stated):
Season 1
1 It was found during the event that Maddox's bar had been misloaded with one side being 25kg heavier than the other.
2 It was found during the event that Bishop had 402.5kg on the barbell, rather than 400kg, causing an unofficial world record of 402.5kg for 4 repetitions.
Season 2
| Date | Attempt | Athlete | Existing Record and Holder | Record Broken? | New Record if Broken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 13, 2020 | 400kg Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions | Rauno Heinla | 5 repetitions ( Jean-François Caron) ( Rauno Heinla) ( Konstantine Janashia) | Yes | 6 repetitions |
| Konstantine Janashia | No | - | |||
| September 20, 2020 | Trey Mitchell | 6 repetitions ( Rauno Heinla) | No | - | |
| September 27, 2020 | Maximum Atlas Stone Lift | Tom Stoltman | 286kg ( Tom Stoltman) | No | - |
| Maximum Atlas Stone Lift Women's Record | Donna Moore | 162kg ( Donna Moore) | Yes | 171kg | |
| October 4, 2020 | Maximum Deadlift (standard bar) Women's Record | Andrea Thompson | Record disputed | Yes | 290kg |
| October 11, 2020 | Maximum Log Lift | Rob Kearney | 228kg ( Žydrūnas Savickas) | No | - |
| Luke Stoltman | No | - | |||
| October 18, 2020 | Maximum Deadlift (standard bar) | Rauno Heinla | 501kg ( Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) | No | - |
| Ivan Makarov | No | - | |||
| Maximum Deadlift (standard bar) Masters (Over-40s) Record | Mikhail Shivlyakov | 435kg ( James Hickey) | Yes | 436kg |
Commonly contested events
- Deadlift – Lifting weights or vehicles straight off the ground until knees lock in a standing position. The 2018 edition consisted of a max Silver Dollar Deadlift, a variation in which the weight is lifted from 18 inches (460 mm). Straps are allowed for this variation. The 2019 edition used the conventional strongman version of the deadlift, using a standard deadlift bar with straps and a deadlift suit.[20]
- Super Yoke – Apparatus composed of a crossbar and two uprights. The uprights each have a heavy weight attached to them, such as a refrigerator or diesel engine, and the competitors must carry the yoke on their shoulders for a short distance.[21]
- Shield Carry – Athletes compete in carrying a 'shield' usually weighing between 160–180 kilograms (350–400 lb) for distance or a set distance for the fastest time. The Shield Carry can be its own event or be used alongside the super yoke.
- Press Medley – Athletes must press various equipment overhead such as a log, axle, circus barbell, and giant dumbbell. The event is scored based on the number of implements completed, then the fastest time.
- Vehicle pull – Vehicles such as transport trucks, trams, boxcars, buses, or planes are pulled across a 100-foot (30 m) course as fast as possible. One variation sees the competitors pull the object with a rope toward them. Another has them attached to a rope which is attached to a vehicle, while they use another rope to pull themselves down the course.[22]
- McGlashen Stones / Atlas Stones – Five heavy round stones increasing in weight from 100–160 kilograms (220–350 lb) are lifted and set on platforms. When the stones were first introduced to the competition, it was an individual event and the platforms were all of equal height. The modern Atlas Stones event takes place on a 16–33-foot (5–10 m) long course and the competitors participate two at a time. In the 2019 edition, a 10 stone event was introduced with stones ranging from 100–200 kilograms (220–440 lb), a first of its kind.[23]
References
- ^ Owen, Dan (February 22, 2020). "WUS Bahrain announced on weekend with biggest prize pool in strongman history". Sport 360. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "2020 World's Ultimate Strongman Bahrain postponed due to Covid-19". Instagram. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "2018 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. October 26, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "2019 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "2021 WUS Strength Island". strongmanarchives.com. March 13, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "2021 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. September 17, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ Sunderland, Tom (October 27, 2018). "Hafthor Bjornsson Wins World's Ultimate Strongman, Beasts in the Middle East". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Balf, Celia (October 25, 2019). "Mateusz Kieliszkowski Wins World's Ultimate Strongman With A Torn Biceps". BarBend. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Lockridge, Roger (March 13, 2021). "Oleksii Novikov Wins World's Ultimate Strongman "Strength Island" Contest". BarBend. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ Lockridge, Roger (September 17, 2021). "Novikov, Chapman Victorious — 2021 World's Ultimate Strongman Results". BarBend. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Guinness World Records (May 10, 2020). "Heaviest Deadlift". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ "Hafthor Bjornsson breaks world record with 1,104-pound deadlift". ESPN. May 2, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Odrljin, Goran (May 16, 2020). "Luke Stoltman FAILS To Break Log Lift World Record". Fitness Volt. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Tao, David (September 22, 2020). "Strongman Tom Stoltman Lifts World Record 286kg/630lb Atlas Stone Over Bar". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Blechman, Phil (June 1, 2020). "Strongman Oleksii Novikov Sets World Record In Giant Dumbbell For Reps". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Blechman, Phil (June 8, 2020). "Rhianon Lovelace (-64kg) Hoists a Massive 141kg/311lb Atlas Stone for New World Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Lockridge, Roger (June 16, 2020). "Rob Kearney Sets 475 Pound American Log Lift Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Magnante, Matthew (July 11, 2020). "Rauno Heinla Victorious In 400kg/880lb Deadlift For Reps World's Ultimate Strongman Event". Fitness Volt. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Lockridge, Roger (June 22, 2020). "Julius Maddox Misses 800 Pound Raw Bench Press Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "Deadlift". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Yolk". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vehicle Pull". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Atlas Stones". Retrieved February 2, 2020.