World's Ultimate Strongman
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | United Arab Emirates, Bahrain |
| Established | 2018; 7 years ago (2018) |
| Final year | 2021 |
Number of tournaments | 4 |
| Format | Multi-event competition |
| Final champion | |
| Ukraine Oleksii Novikov | |
World's Ultimate Strongman was an annual strongman competition which was held from 2018 to 2021 with the participation of top strongmen from all over the world, determining who is the strongest man in the world. The event was noted for its brute-strength-centricity and expanded the sport to a wider audience outside of Europe and USA. It also introduced the 'feats of strength' series in 2020, ensuring the continuous expansion of the sport during the Covid-19 pandemic. The competition has a number of rival and parallel competitions, including the World's Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman Classic, Rogue Invitational, Strongest Man on Earth and the Giants Live Tour.
History
[edit ]The inaugural edition of the competition was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and out of a very stacked field of 12 athletes, the Icelandic Giant Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson emerged victorious and was crowned the inaugural champion. The 2019 edition was also held in Dubai and was won by Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski.
On February 22, 2020, World's Ultimate Strongman announced the competition would be expanding and would hold the championship in Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit with a purse of 350,000ドル which was the largest for any strongman competition.[1] However, on March 13, 2020, they released a statement entailing that it had to be postponed due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, until a new date would be announced when it's logistically feasible.[2] The 2020 competition was finally held in March 2021 in Muharraq under the name '2021 WUS Strength Island' and in September they hosted the 2021 competition back in Dubai. Both competitions were won by Ukraine's Oleksii Novikov.
The first three competitions out of the four are widely regarded as International strongman majors.[3]
Championships
[edit ]2018 World's Ultimate Strongman
[edit ]Events: Truck pull, Arm over arm pull, Silver Dollar Deadlift, Overhead Medley, Super Yoke, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st place, gold medalist(s) | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | Iceland Iceland | 60.5 |
| 2nd place, silver medalist(s) | Brian Shaw | United States United States | 57 |
| 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Poland Poland | 52.5 |
| 4 | JF Caron | Canada Canada | 48 |
| 5 | Laurence Shahlaei | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 42.5 |
| 6 | Konstantine Janashia | Georgia (country) Georgia | 38 |
| 7 | Martins Licis | United States United States | 34.5 |
| 8 | Tom Stoltman | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 31.5 |
| 9 | Terry Hollands | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 31 |
| 10 | Žydrūnas Savickas | Lithuania Lithuania | 27.5 |
| 11 | Luke Stoltman | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 25 |
| 12 | Cheick Sanou | Burkina Faso Burkina Faso | 18 |
2019 World's Ultimate Strongman
[edit ]Events: Deadlift, Truck pull, Log lift, Medley, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st place, gold medalist(s) | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Poland Poland | 55.5 |
| 2nd place, silver medalist(s) | Luke Stoltman | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 50.5 |
| 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) | Tom Stoltman | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 47.5 |
| 4 | Brian Shaw | United States United States | 44.5 |
| 5 | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine Ukraine | 42.5 |
| 5 | Rauno Heinla | Estonia Estonia | 42.5 |
| 7 | JF Caron | Canada Canada | 39 |
| 8 | Mikhail Shivlyakov | Russia Russia | 36 |
| 9 | Matjaz Belsak | Slovenia Slovenia | 31.5 |
| 10 | Ramin Farajnejad | Iran Iran | 30 |
| 11 | Cheick Sanou | Burkina Faso Burkina Faso | 28 |
| 12 | Krzysztof Radzikowski | Poland Poland | 24 |
| 13 | Jerry Pritchett | United States United States | 21.5 |
| 14 | Terry Hollands | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 15 |
2020 World's Ultimate Strongman (a.k.a. 2021 WUS Strength Island)
[edit ]Events: Axel Deadlift, Flag Hoist, Circus Dumbbell press, Loading race, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st place, gold medalist(s) | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine Ukraine | 70 |
| 2nd place, silver medalist(s) | JF Caron | Canada Canada | 58 |
| 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) | Aivars Šmaukstelis | Latvia Latvia | 55 |
| 4 | Luke Stoltman | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 47 |
| 5 | Tom Stoltman | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 43 |
| 5 | Ramin Farajnejad | Iran Iran | 43 |
| 5 | Mohammed Ezatpour | Iran Iran | 43 |
| 8 | Bobby Thompson | United States United States | 41.5 |
| 9 | Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð | Iceland Iceland | 33.5 |
| 10 | Adam Bishop | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 33 |
| 11 | Rauno Heinla | Estonia Estonia | 32 |
| 12 | Ervin Toots | Estonia Estonia | 30.5 |
| 13 | Rob Kearney | United States United States | 26.5 |
| 14 | Konstantine Janashia | Georgia (country) Georgia | 24 |
| 15 | Mikhail Shivlyakov | Russia Russia | 17 |
2021 World's Ultimate Strongman
[edit ]Events: Log lift, Super yoke, Farmer's walk, Chain Railway carriage, Atlas stones
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st place, gold medalist(s) | Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine Ukraine | 45.5 |
| 2nd place, silver medalist(s) | Mateusz Kieliszkowski | Poland Poland | 44.5 |
| 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) | Aivars Šmaukstelis | Latvia Latvia | 34.5 |
| 4 | JF Caron | Canada Canada | 32 |
| 5 | Konstantine Janashia | Georgia (country) Georgia | 27 |
| 6 | Bobby Thompson | United States United States | 26.5 |
| 7 | Mohammed Ezatpour | Iran Iran | 18 |
| 8 | Ervin Toots | Estonia Estonia | 17 |
| 9 | Rauno Heinla | Estonia Estonia | 15 |
| 10 | Ramin Farajnejad | Iran Iran | 12 |
Championship breakdown
[edit ]Podiums
[edit ]Multiple time champions
[edit ]| Name | Country | Times | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oleksii Novikov | Ukraine | 2 | 2020, 2021 |
Championships by country
[edit ]| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Iceland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| United States | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Canada | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Feats of Strength series
[edit ]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
[edit ]1 It was found during the event that Maddox's bar had been misloaded with one side being 25 kg heavier than the other.
2 It was found during the event that Bishop had 402.5 kg on the barbell, rather than 400 kg, causing an unofficial world record of 402.5 kg for 4 repetitions.
Season 2
[edit ]Commonly contested events
[edit ]- 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.[21]
- 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.[22]
- 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.[23]
- McGlashen Stones / Atlas Stones – Five heavy round stones increasing in weight from 170–225 kilograms (375–496 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.[24]
References
[edit ]- ^ 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.
- ^ "Are These REALLY the 10 Greatest Strongmen of all Time? timestamp 3:24". Big Loz Official with Mira Fit. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "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.