Mateusz Kieliszkowski Withdrawn from 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic

Mateusz Kieliszkowski has officially withdrawn from the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic. Consequently, this removes a major contender from the event’s lineup. The competition will take place in Columbus, Ohio, from Feb. 28 through March 1, 2025.

Earlier this year, Kieliszkowski suffered an Achilles injury that sidelined him from competition. As a result, he was unable to compete in Europe’s Strongest Man and World’s Strongest Man contests. However, in December 2024, he made a successful return and won the Magnus Ver Magnusson Classic title. Despite this, he feels unprepared for the challenges of the Arnold Strongman Classic.

On his YouTube channel, Kieliszkowski explained his decision:

“I was progressing up to a certain point,” he shared. “I stopped somewhere. My leg still does not allow me to gain the appropriate strength or level to compete, and I don’t intend to go to finish last.”

Although he has made significant progress, Kieliszkowski recognizes the difficulty of competing at the Arnold. The event is notorious for its extremely heavy lifting challenges. Therefore, returning to the competition too soon could jeopardize his recovery and his future in the sport.

For now, Kieliszkowski is focused on regaining his strength. He continues to train, but he is committed to not rushing his recovery. Ultimately, when he returns at full strength, he will be a formidable competitor once again.

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A post shared by Mateusz Kieliszkowski (@kieliszkowskimateusz)

Mateusz Kieliszkowski Withdrawn from 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic, Citing Readiness Concerns

Kieliszkowski is considering entering Giants Live events later in 2025. However, he has never won the Arnold Strongman Classic, though he has finished second three times. Notably, these second-place finishes came in the last two editions. Unfortunately, injuries kept him out of the 2021 and 2022 ASC competitions.

Furthermore, tegarding the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic, an Arnold Sports Festival official confirmed that Kieliszkowski will not be replaced. Moreover, this means the competition will proceed with the original roster of 10 athletes. Consequently, the athletes will battle it out for the prestigious title, with the field already shaping up to be a fierce contest.

Among the competitors, Mitchell Hooper will be looking to defend his two-time reigning championship. In addition, Hafthor Björnsson, a three-time ASC champion, will be a strong contender. Meanwhile, Tom Stoltman, a three-time World’s Strongest Man, will be another top athlete in the mix.

Moreover, the competition will feature several other top-tier strongmen. Moreover, these include Bobby Thompson and Trey Mitchell, who have made their mark at major events. Also, Evan Singleton and Maxime Boudreault bring solid experience and strength to the field.

The full roster for the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic includes:

Mitchell Hooper — Two-Time Reigning ASC Champion
Hafthor Björnsson — Three-Time ASC Champion
Austin Andrade
Bobby Thompson
Evan Singleton
Lucas Hatton
Maxime Boudreault
Nick Guardione — 2024 Official Strongman Games Men’s Open Champion
Tom Stoltman — Three-Time Reigning World’s Strongest Man
Trey Mitchell — Two-Time Shaw Classic Champion

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Overview

Mateusz Kieliszkowski has officially withdrawn from the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic, citing concerns about his readiness after an Achilles injury. However, despite a successful return in December 2024, where he won the Magnus Ver Magnusson Classic, Kieliszkowski feels unprepared for the intense demands of the Arnold event. Furthermore, he explained that his leg remains too weak for competition. Consequently, he has decided to focus on regaining his strength rather than risk further injury. Therefore, the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic will proceed without him, featuring a competitive roster that includes Mitchell Hooper, Hafthor Björnsson, Tom Stoltman, and other top athletes.

Featured Image – Mateusz Kieliszkowski Withdrawn from 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic – Credit: @mateuszkieliszkowski (Instagram)