Previewing the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic

An Outstanding Event for an Exceptional Festival

Written by Tahir Malik

This weekend, Columbus, OH will host the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) as part of the Arnold Sports Festival (ASF) taking place from March 2 to March 5, 2023.

Starting on Friday, March 3, fans of strongperson competitions can follow the Deadlift and Stone Throw events closely. To get a sneak peek of the 2023 ASC competition, here’s a brief look at the men’s roster.

Check out the Men’s Roster for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic featuring:

• Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Trey Mitchell (United States)
• Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Rob Kearney (United States)
• Kevin Faires (United States)
• Tom Evans (United States)
• Bobby Thompson (United States)

The 2023 Men’s ASC competition is facing a unique situation, with former WSM champions and previous ASC winners Martins Licis and Oleksii Novikov opting out of the event. As a result, the competition is wide open for new champions to emerge.

Tom Stoltman, the reigning two-time WSM champion, is among the top potential contenders for the ASC title. Despite being at the pinnacle of strongman, the 28-year-old Stoltman has yet to win an ASC championship.

Another athlete to keep an eye on is Canadian powerhouse Mitchell Hooper, who is on an impressive winning streak. Hooper finished 2022 with six consecutive podium finishes, including victories at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK. He started off 2023 with a win in Australia’s Strongest International, making him a strong contender to add another title to his impressive resume.

Poland’s Mateusz Kieliszkowski could also surprise everyone and take home the ASC title. Kieliszkowski withdrew from the 2022 WSM due to leg discomfort and has not competed in a strongman contest since the 2021 Rogue Invitational. Despite this, he is a former five-time Poland’s Strongest Man champion and a two-time WSM runner-up, with the potential to perform at the highest level if he’s healthy and ready to compete. After a year and a half away from competition, Kieliszkowski may be eager to make his mark at the 2023 ASC.