The World’s Strongest Man™ has long been considered the beacon of strength where the BIG and BOLD titans of power flex their muscles on the world stage. It’s the ultimate stage where the world’s strongest men perform outlandish feats of strength, where men meet mayhem, and the thunderous roar of perseverance resonates with power.
Join us to embark on a riveting journey through the sports of power, and imagine how competitors push their bodies to the limit with every Herculean lift.
The Pinnacle of Strength: The World’s Strongest Man
Organised annually by a subsidiary of Endeavour and leading American event management company IMG, The World’s Strongest Man is an international strongman competition. It comes on air in the summer in the US and at the end of the year in the UK The ultimate war of power, and resilience, it’s a game where competitors from each corner of the world – from Malta to Morocco to Niece to Nassau – take part and exhibit their best to win the title. Since its inception in 1977, the WSM has become an adrenaline-packed showdown of strength and endurance, captivating people with thrill and suspense. Over the decades, the format of the contest has changed, with new events and rules making it even more exhilarating.
Mariusz Pudzianowski, Magnús ver Magnússon, Bill Kazmaier, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Zydrūnas Savickas, Jón Páll Sigmarsson, and Eddie Hall are some of the legendary competitors in the history of WSM.
The Format
The World’s Strongest Man competition is more about skill, mental strength, and strategy than stamina. It comprises a range of rounds, with events spread across several days, to test the athletes and crown the winner.
Thirty strongmen enter the competition but only ten make it to the final after surviving after six events.
Since events vary each year, we are focusing on the competition held this year.
The 2024 World’s Strongest Man was the 47th World’s Strongest Man competition held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from May 1 to 5, 2024. Tom Stoltman (GBR) won the competition, cementing his iconic status as a three-time champion.
This year, at the beginning of the Finals Stage, the contenders had to compete in six events to win the crown.
Event 1: KNACK Giant Medley
The KNACK Giant Medley, organised in heats, was the first event of the Final. It comprised two competitors competing in pairs against each other. They had around 455 kg yoke to carry along a 20m course and then drag a frame of 330 kg back to the starting point. By finishing the challenge in only 30.21s, Evan Singleton nailed the opening event of the 2024 WSM Final.
Event 2: Max Axle Press
An exhilarating showdown of resilience, perseverance, and a dash of showmanship, the Max Axle Press requires competitors to hit the most reps with the heaviest axle press and overhead – it’s all about lifting the axle barbell and hoisting it overhead with fully extended hands. After getting a signal from the judge, they have to lift down the barbell. Exhibiting great control, technique, and strength, Tom Stoltman topped the list.
Event 3: Keg Toss
Inspired by Highland Games, Keg Toss requires competitors to hit the highest reps and toss kegs of increasing weight over a wall of 4.42-metre height – in one go! In the 2024 Final event, strongmen had to toss a keg of 15 kilograms over a crossbar of increasing height for each throw. Each competitor was given a 60-second time to achieve a successful throw. Those who failed to toss the keg over the crossbar were considered disqualified. With 5 reps, Tom Stoltman won this event.
Event 4: Conan’s Wheel
In this event of ultimate strength, Strongmen are required to This event requires the competitors to lift a handle affixed to a wagon loaded with 250 kgs (551 pounds). They have to power-walk the wagon around its axis using a Zercher grip and try to complete as many rotations as they can. In the 2024 Final Stage, PAVLO KORDIYAKA topped the list to eclipse 922 degrees.
Event 5: Deadlift
Tire HD Terrian Dreadlift requires Strongmen to complete multiple reps of heavy weights. It’s the game for the best of the best where competitors flex their endurance and strength. In the 2024 WSM Final Stage, strongmen had to complete as many reps as they could, with a barbell, loaded with tires of 324 kgs. For this, the time was capped at 60 seconds. Blocks were used to place the barbells. It raised the distance the Strongmen needed to lift the weight during a full deadlift, thus intensifying the exhilaration and making the competition even more challenging. With a whopping 8 reps, Methew Ragg won the event this year.
Event 6: Atlas Stone
It’s the signature and the final event of the contest that often determines the ultimate winner. In the 2024 event, a series of five stones with varying weights (from 140 to 210 kgs) were arranged with the lightest closer to its podium and the heaviest at the most proximal distance to its pedestal. Five qualified competitors had to lift these stones within the 60-second time cap. Needless to mention, the fastest to finish is the winner. Lifting 5 stones in 38.14 seconds, Tom Stolman was declared the winner.
How is the Winner Declared in the WSM Competition?
The Strongmen are given points at each event based on their performance – the higher their position is in an event, the more points they get. With 53 points, Tom Soltman became the winner of the 2024 WSM contest.
Training to Become the World’s Strongest Man
Do you want to embark on the gruelling journey of WSM? It’s a matter of patience, resilience, and endurance requiring you to train yourself gradually. But remember, you cannot pick up logs or drag a truck right away as the Strongmen do. Check out the exercises we have picked to help you train and prepare yourself for the WSM competition.
Squats
You can’t be called a Strongman without a toned lower body. This is why it’s pivotal to add squats to your training regime. Keep both front and back squats in your training routine if you want to have strong legs and nail events like Atlas Stone in WSM.
Deadlift
Without practising deadlift, your WSM journey is doomed to failure. It’s the ultimate power-builder, a full-body workout that helps strengthen your posterior chain. You may have heard about how stronger your body can get with deadlifting. But only a few realise that a proper deadlift is also a reverse sit-up. Going from a bent-over state to an upright stance in a limited-weight deadlift has long been considered a great core exercise.
Overhead Press
Amp up your shoulder with the overhead press – the ultimate game-changer when it comes to one-up your fellow Strongmen in the WSM contest. The barbell overhead press is synonymous with stamina, power, and determination – key criteria to dominate the contest. Never miss adding overhead press movements to your training regime and amplify your shoulder strength.
Nailing the WSM contest requires you to bridge the gap between strength and determination, exhibiting incredible focus and perseverance to exhibit your knack and reign supreme both in the training program and the WSM contest.
In addition, preparing a calorie-rich diet, taking proper rest, and having a recovery strategy are critical to maintaining optimal performance and avoiding setbacks. Thus, you can take a leap forward to crush the opposition and claim the crown in the WSM contest!
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