Rauno Heinla, an Estonian strongman and Masters Deadlift World Record holder, has been forced to withdraw from the 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) due to an undisclosed illness. This news was announced through The Giants Live Instagram page. Heinla’s exit from the ESM comes a week after the departure of another rising strongman star, Pavlo Nakonechnyy, who withdrew from the contest due to health concerns. The annual ESM competition is set to take place on April 1 in Leeds, England. At the time of writing, there is no replacement for Heinla on the 13-person roster.
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This is not the first time Heinla has had to withdraw from a competition. In the last calendar year, Heinla withdrew from the 2022 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) due to a hospitalization, which occurred just a month before the competition. Prior to that, he had been preparing for the Silver Dollar Deadlift World Record, which he eventually achieved in June 2022.
Despite these setbacks, Heinla is widely regarded as one of the strongest deadlifters in the world, whether in a strongman or powerlifting context. His victory in the 2022 World Deadlift Championships (WDC) and Masters Record are perfect examples of his incredible pulling strength. Heinla has participated in three ESMs, with his best result being a fourth-place finish in 2021.
The ESM roster for 2023 is as follows:
- Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) – Reigning Champion
- Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
- Konstantine Janashia (Georgia)
- Aivars Šmaukstelis (Latvia)
- Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted (Iceland)
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf (France)
- Dennis Kohlruss (Germany)
- Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
- Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
- Adam Bishop (United Kingdom)
- Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
- Graham Hicks (United Kingdom)
- Shane Flowers (United Kingdom)
The 2023 ESM is smaller in scale than the upcoming WSM, as it takes place on a single day with competitors from just one continent. However, this does not diminish its standing in the sport. Even with Heinla’s last-minute withdrawal, it should be a fantastic showcase of strongman power across the pond.
Here are the expected events for the 2023 ESM:
- Log Press Ladder
- Load and Push Race
- Deadlift for Reps
- Conan’s Wheel
- Castle Stones
The defending champion, Oleksii Novikov, is expected to participate despite nursing a minor lat injury, which could potentially affect his performance in next month’s WSM.
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Overall, the withdrawal of Rauno Heinla is undoubtedly disappointing news for fans of the sport, as he is a highly respected and talented athlete. However, the remaining competitors in the ESM are sure to put on a great show, and fans can look forward to seeing some incredible feats of strength on display.
Courtesy Image @giantslivestrongman (Instagram)
