Recapping the 2023 World's Strongest Man: 22 Stats and Highlights from the Competition by Laurence Shahlaei

2023 World’s Strongest Man Comes to a Close in Myrtle Beach

The 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition wrapped up this past weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Over 30 participants from 14 nations made their way to the event, which featured several notable names on the roster. Ukrainian sensation Oleksii Novikov, the British strongman brothers Tom and Luke Stoltman, and legendary 4x champion Brian Shaw were among the competitors.

Brian Shaw’s Final Appearance at WSM

Before the competition, Brian Shaw announced that it would be his final appearance at the World’s Strongest Man contests. Having won the title four times in the past, Shaw was looking to level the record of five-time WSM winner Mariusz Pudzianowski. However, he underwent surgery and nearly lost his leg in preparation for the competition. Despite his recovery, Shaw finished in seventh place.

Injuries and Withdrawals

Two competitors were forced to withdraw from the event due to injuries. Maxime Boudreault, who was planning to participate in the event, fractured his shin bone two months ago and was unable to compete. Pavlo Nakonechnyy, who was gearing up to make his maiden appearance at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, pulled out of the event a few weeks ago due to a knee injury. America’s Thomas Evans replaced Nakonechnyy.

Injury Sidelines Jaco Schoonwinkel

Jaco Schoonwinkel, who had a successful qualifying round, ended up getting injured on day one of the finals. He suffered a setback while attempting an overhead press of 115-kg (253.5 pounds) and was forced to the sidelines.

Mitchell Hooper Emerges as Winner

Following a successful qualifying round, Mitchell Hooper took an early lead in the competition with Novikov and Tom Stoltman trailing behind him. On the second day, Hooper emerged as the winner of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, securing the coveted title in his second showing at the event. Tom Stoltman placed second, and Novikov took bronze.

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An Analysis of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man: 22 Stats and Facts

Laurence Shahlaei and Liz Mason recently provided their insights into the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. In a YouTube video, they shared 22 stats and facts about the event that was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, from April 19-23.

Mitchell Hooper’s Dominance: First to Win Four Events in Six-Event Format

Mitchell Hooper’s stunning performance throughout the contest saw him win eight events, including four out of six events in the final, making him the first man to win four events in the six-event format of the World’s Strongest Man competition.

Top 3 Contenders from Different Nations for 11th Consecutive Year

For the 11th year in a row, the top three finishers of the World’s Strongest Man competition represented different countries. Champion Mitchell Hooper represented Canada, Tom Stoltman represented the UK, and Novikov carried the flag of Ukraine to round up the podium at the 2023 edition.

Rare Tie in Timed Event: Singletons and Tom Stoltman Both Clock 32.27 Seconds in Bus Pull

The Bus Pull event at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition saw a rare occurrence as Tom and Evan Singleton recorded the exact same time of 32.27 seconds, down to one-hundredth of a second. This marked the second time in the history of the competition that two contestants have tied in a timed event.

First-Ever Final Featuring Two Ukrainians: Novikov and Kordiyaka

The 2023 World’s Strongest Man final featured two Ukrainians for the first time in the competition’s history. Reigning champion Oleksii Novikov extended his impressive run with another final appearance, while Pavlo Kordiyaka made his second showing at the contest.

New Zealand’s First Finalist: Mathew Ragg Creates History

Mathew Ragg made history by becoming the first athlete to represent New Zealand in the finals of the World’s Strongest Man competition. Although he finished in ninth place, his achievement was noteworthy.

Missed Opportunity for Third Consecutive Win: Tom Stoltman Falls Short

Former champion Tom Stoltman was aiming to score his third consecutive win at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition but failed to achieve the feat. He missed out on the rare honor held only by Bill Kazmaier and Magnus ver Magnusson, who won three titles in a row.

USA’s Strong Showing: Three Athletes in the Final Once Again

The USA has maintained an impressive streak of featuring three athletes in the final of the World’s Strongest Man competition since 2017. Brian Shaw, Trey Mitchell, and Evan Singleton continued the streak in the 2023 edition of the contest.

Canada Joins the Ranks of World’s Strongest Man Champions

In a historic moment for the country, Canada has finally claimed its first World’s Strongest Man (WSM) championship title. Mitchell Hooper emerged victorious at the 2023 WSM competition, becoming the 13th country to earn gold in the event’s history. Previously, Tom Mcgee had come close to clinching the top spot with a runner-up finish, but it was not until Hooper’s win that Canada joined the elite list of nations with WSM winners.

Mitch Hooper Becomes One of the Youngest WSM Champions Ever

At just 27 years old, Mitch Hooper has become the eighth youngest winner in the history of the World’s Strongest Man competition. Out of the 24 champions to date, Jon Pall Sigmarsson holds the record for being the youngest ever winner, clinching the title at just 24 years old. Novikov comes in second, also at the age of 24.

Second-Place Athletes Maintain Edge in Stone-Off Event

In a format introduced in 2021, every athlete in second place managed to retain their advantage in the stone-off event. An impressive 13 out of the 15 athletes who entered the stone-off in second place advanced to the final. The only two exceptions were Kevin Faires and Bobby Thompson at the 2022 WSM.

Hooper Delivers Strong Performance but Falls Short of Pudzianowski’s Record

Although Mitch Hooper delivered a solid performance with four event wins in the final, his victory was not the most dominant in the history of the World’s Strongest Man competition. Mariusz Pudzianowski holds the record for the most convincing win, earning 66 out of a possible 70 points (94.3%) in 2003.

Hooper’s Streak of Podium Finishes Continues

Mitch Hooper maintained his dominant record of securing a podium finish in every international competition he participated in, achieving a 90 percent success rate. Out of the 10 competitions he entered, he claimed victory in 5 and missed the podium just once.

Shaw and Heinla Set Stone-Off Record

Brian Shaw and Rauno Heinla made history at the WSM by performing the most repetitions ever in the Stone-Off event. Both athletes lifted 11 stones each, but Shaw ultimately emerged victorious as Heinla was the first to be unable to lift the stone any further.

Brian Shaw Breaks Record with 15th Consecutive WSM Final Qualification

In his final appearance at the WSM, Brian Shaw secured yet another record by qualifying for his 15th consecutive final, more than any other athlete in the event’s history. He also extended his record for the most WSM event wins to 62 with a victory in the Kettlebell Toss event.

Mark Felix Becomes Oldest WSM Participant and Sets Appearance Record

Mark Felix made history at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition by becoming the oldest man to ever compete at the event, at 57 years and two days old. He also broke his own record for the most appearances at the WSM, with his 18th appearance at the event.

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Mitchell Hooper Begins Training for Next Competition

Mitchell Hooper, the newly crowned 2023 World’s Strongest Man champion, has wasted no time getting back to work. In a recent social media post, Hooper shared a glimpse of his first training session after the competition. While the workout was relatively light, with a focus on getting a pump, it shows that Hooper is already gearing up for his next competitions.

The video posted by Hooper showcases him lifting weights in a gym, with his training partner spotting him. Hooper can be seen performing a set of incline dumbbell curls and hammer curls, with weights that are seemingly not too heavy. In the caption of the post, he writes that he is “easing back into it” after the intense competition.

Hooper’s commitment to training so soon after his win at the World’s Strongest Man is indicative of his determination to maintain his winning streak. It also serves as a reminder to his fellow competitors that he is not resting on his laurels and will continue to push himself to the limit.

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2023 Worlds Strongest Man Competition: 22 Stats

Mitchell Hooper’s overall time in the final was 27:39.57, which was 1:26.66 faster than the runner-up Tom
Stoltman. Oleksii Novikov finished in third place, making him the first reigning champion to podium the following year since Mariusz Pudzianowski in 2007.
Trey Mitchell of the USA won the loading medley event with a time of 19.24 seconds.
Novikov won the deadlift for reps event with 12 reps of 350 kg (771.61 pounds).
Tom Stoltman won the Atlas Stones event with a time of 19.28 seconds, beating Hooper by just over a second.
The last time the USA did not have a podium finish at the World’s Strongest Man was in 2010.
Brian Shaw competed in his final World’s Strongest Man, finishing in seventh place.
The event was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, marking the first time the competition was held in the United States since 2015.
Six-time WSM champion Mariusz Pudzianowski was in attendance as a spectator.
Pavlo Kordiyaka of Ukraine finished in fourth place, his best finish at the competition.
Luke Stoltman of the UK finished in fifth place, his best finish at the competition.
South Africa’s Jaco Schoonwinkel was forced to withdraw from the competition after suffering an injury on day one of the finals.
Evan Singleton of the USA finished in sixth place, his best finish at the competition.
Tom Stoltman won the log press event with a lift of 202.5 kg (446.4 pounds).
Trey Mitchell of the USA finished in eighth place, his best finish at the competition.
The Viking Press event was won by Oleksii Novikov, who pressed 185 kg (407.85 pounds) for 15 reps.
The Wheel of Pain event was won by Hooper, who completed the course in 22.21 seconds.
Novikov won the squat lift event with a lift of 520 kg (1146.4 pounds).
The farmer’s walk event was won by Tom Stoltman, who carried two 170-kg (374.8-pound) implements a distance of 10 meters (32.8 feet) in 15.77 seconds.
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man was sponsored by SBD Apparel, Rogue Fitness, and Core Hydration.
Hooper’s victory marked the first time a Canadian had won the World’s Strongest Man competition.
The competitors at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man ranged in age from 23 (Hooper) to 44 (Brian Shaw).

Overview

The 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, marking the first time the competition was held in the United States since 2015. Mitchell Hooper of Canada won the competition, finishing 1:26.66 faster than runner-up Tom Stoltman of the UK. Oleksii Novikov of Ukraine finished in third place, making him the first reigning champion to podium the following year since Mariusz Pudzianowski in 2007.

The competitors ranged in age from 23 (Hooper) to 44 (Brian Shaw). Trey Mitchell of the USA won the loading medley event with a time of 19.24 seconds, while Novikov won the deadlift for reps event with 12 reps of 350 kg (771.61 pounds). Tom Stoltman won the Atlas Stones event with a time of 19.28 seconds, and also won the log press event with a lift of 202.5 kg (446.4 pounds).

Hooper won the Wheel of Pain event with a time of 22.21 seconds, and the competition’s overall time. Novikov won the Viking Press event with 15 reps of 185 kg (407.85 pounds), and the squat lift event with a lift of 520 kg (1146.4 pounds). Tom Stoltman won the farmer’s walk event, carrying two 170-kg (374.8-pound) implements a distance of 10 meters (32.8 feet) in 15.77 seconds.

Other notable stats from the competition include Brian Shaw competing in his final World’s Strongest Man, finishing in seventh place, and the last time the USA did not have a podium finish at the World’s Strongest Man was in 2010. Jaco Schoonwinkel of South Africa was forced to withdraw from the competition after suffering an injury on day one of the finals. Six-time WSM champion Mariusz Pudzianowski was in attendance as a spectator. The 2023 World’s Strongest Man was sponsored by SBD Apparel, Rogue Fitness, and Core Hydration. Finally, Hooper’s victory marked the first time a Canadian had won the World’s Strongest Man competition.

2023 WSM Contest Live Coverage

For extensive coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man event, head over to our WSM coverage hub at Colosseumstrength.com. Our coverage includes exclusive interviews, in-depth analysis, event recaps, and final results. Stay up-to-date with all the action and get insights into the performances of the strongest men in the world. Join us at Colosseumstrength.com for comprehensive coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition.

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