2018 Arnold Strongman Classic

The 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic was a strongman contest that took place in Ohio, Columbus from 2–3 March 2018 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.[1] The Arnold Strongman Classic is the finale of the Arnold Strongman Tour and is seen as one of the biggest and most prestigious strongmen events on the circuit.[2][3]

2018 Arnold Strongman Classic
Competition information
Dates2-3 March 2018
VenueGreater Columbus Convention Center
LocationOhio, Columbus
Country United States
Athletes participating10
Nations participating8
Champion(s)
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
← 2017
2019 →

After continuous progression in the competition, coming 10th in 2012, 8th in 2013, 5th in 2014, 7th in 2015, 5th in 2016, and finally 2nd in 2017, Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson won his first Arnold Strongman Classic after defeating the winner from 2017, the American Brian Shaw, who came 2nd. Russia's Mikhail Shivlyakov secured 3rd place.

Qualifying

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To qualify for the Arnold Strongman Classic, athletes have to either win a sanctioned event on the Arnold Classic Tour (for example: Arnold Europe, Arnold Australia, Arnold Africa, and Arnold South America) or gain enough points to be invited through a wildcard system.[3] Athletes that qualified (in alphabetical order/ surname) are as follows:[4]

Matjaz Belsak (Slovenia), Hafthor Björnsson (Iceland), Jean-Francois Caron (Canada), Rauno Heinla (Estonia), Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland), Mateusz Ostazsewski (Poland), Jerry Pritchett (USA), Dimitar Savatinov (Bulgaria), Brian Shaw (USA) and Mikhael Shivlyakov (Russia).
Reserve: Vytautas Lalas (Lithuania)[5]

Final results

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Event 1: Bag over bar

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Contestants have to throw heavy sandbags from 'a duck walk to an overhead position' over a high bar.

  • Weight: Starting weight was 50 pounds (23 kg).
  • Bar height: 15 feet (4.57 m).
  • Notes: 3 lifts per athlete and the heaviest weight for the win.
# Name Nationality Final Weight Event Pts Overall Pts
1 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Iceland 95 lb (43 kg) 10 10
2 Brian Shaw   United States 90 lb (41 kg) 9 9
3 Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 80 lb (36 kg) 8 8
4 JF Caron   Canada 75 lb (34 kg) 7 7
5 Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 70 lb (32 kg) 5.5 5.5
5 Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 70 lb (32 kg) 5.5 5.5
7 Rauno Heinla   Estonia 65 lb (29 kg) 4 4
8 Jerry Pritchett   United States 60 lb (27 kg) 3 3
9 Dimitar Savatinov   Bulgaria 55 lb (25 kg) 1.5 1.5
9 Mateusz Ostaszewski   Poland 55 lb (25 kg) 1.5 1.5

[6]

Event 2: Stone Shoulder

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Contestants have to hoist the legendary Odd Haugen's Tombstone to their shoulder for many reps as possible.

  • Weight: 190 kilograms (420 lb) Odd Haugen Tombstone.
  • Time Limit: 2 Minutes & 30 seconds
  • Notes: Highest number of reps for the win.
# Name Nationality Points Event Pts Overall Pts
1 Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 20 10 15.5
2 Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 9 9 17
3 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Iceland 6 8 18
4 Brian Shaw   United States 4 6.5 15.5
4 Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 4 6.5 12
6 JF Caron   Canada 3 4.5 11.5
6 Rauno Heinla   Estonia 3 4.5 8.5
8 Dimitar Savatinov   Bulgaria 2 3 4.5
9 Mateusz Ostaszewski   Poland 1 1.5 3
9 Jerry Pritchett   United States 1 1.5 4.5

[6]

Event 3: Timber Carry

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Also known as the Frame Carry, contestants have to lift heavy barn timbers bolted together and travel up an inclined ramp.

  • Weight: 900 pounds (410 kg) along a 35' inclined ramp for the fastest time to finish or else greatest distance.
  • Time Limit: 30 seconds.
  • Notes: Raw/ no straps allowed. Timber may be dropped and picked up.
# Name Nationality Time or Distance Event Pts Overall Pts
1 Jerry Pritchett[a]   United States 9.58 secs 10 14.5
2 Brian Shaw   United States 10.03 secs 9 24.5
3 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Iceland 11.80 secs 8 26
4 Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 33' 2" 7 22.5
5 Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 24' 5" 6 23
6 JF Caron   Canada 18' 10" 5 16.5
7 Dimitar Savatinov   Bulgaria 15' 6" 4 8.5
8 Mateusz Ostaszewski   Poland 14' 6" 3 6
9 Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 13' 7" 2 14
10 Rauno Heinla   Estonia 1' 2" 1 9.5
  1. ^ Jerry Pritchett's time of 9.58 secs was a new strongman record.

[6]

Event 4: Elephant Bar Deadlift

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Contestants are required to lift a specially designed extra whipping long bar with Arnold Schwarzenegger inscribed weight plates from a standard 9" height. The apparatus was designed and manufactured by Rogue Fitness.

  • Weight: Starting weight was 340 kilograms (750 lb).
  • Time Limit: 60 seconds per lift
  • Notes: 3 lifts per athlete, weights to be submitted before each round. Heaviest lift wins.
# Name Nationality Final Weight Event Pts Overall Pts
1 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson[a]   Iceland 472 kg (1,041 lb) 10 36
2 JF Caron   Canada 463 kg (1,021 lb) 9 25.5
3 Brian Shaw   United States 460 kg (1,014 lb) 8 32.5
4 Jerry Pritchett   United States 444 kg (979 lb) 7 21.5
5 Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 426 kg (939 lb) 6 29
6 Rauno Heinla   Estonia 424 kg (935 lb) 5 14.5
7 Dimitar Savatinov   Bulgaria 422 kg (931 lb) 4 12.5
8 Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 401 kg (884 lb) 3 17
9 Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 370 kg (816 lb) 2 24.5
10 Mateusz Ostaszewski   Poland DNF 1 7
  1. ^ Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson's lift of 472 kilograms (1,041 lb) was a new world record for the elephant bar deadlift.[6][7]


This is also the only instance in the history of the event (2016 - 2023), that 3 athletes pulled more than 1,000 lbs.

Event 5: Apollon's Wheels

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A unique barbell made famous by the traditional strongman Louis 'Apollon' Uni, reproduced by Ivanko Barbell Company, the Axle is a replica of the original with the same bar thickness.

  • Weight: 181.5 kilograms (400 lb) For max repetitions.
  • Time Limit: 2 Minutes.
  • Notes: Reps must begin with wheels on the platform. Highest number of points win.
# Name Nationality Repetitions Event Pts Overall Pts
1 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Iceland 4 reps 10 46
2 Brian Shaw   United States 3 reps + 1 clean 9 41.5
3 Rauno Heinla   Estonia 2 reps + 1 clean 8 22.5
4 Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 1 rep + 1 clean 7 24
5 Dimitar Savatinov   Bulgaria 1 rep 6 18.5
6 Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 0 reps + 2 cleans 4.5 29
6 Mateusz Ostaszewski   Poland 0 reps + 2 cleans 4.5 11.5
8 Jerry Pritchett   United States 0 reps + 1 clean 2.5 24
8 JF Caron   Canada 0 reps + 1 clean 2.5 28
10 Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia No lift 1 30

[6]

Final standings

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# Name Nationality Points Prize money
1 Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Iceland 46 $72,000[8]
2 Brian Shaw   United States 41.5 $22,000
3 Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 30 $17,000
4 Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 29 $12,000
5 JF Caron   Canada 28 $10,000
6 Jerry Pritchett   United States 24 $6,500
6 Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 24 $6,500
8 Rauno Heinla   Estonia 22.5 $4,000
9 Dimitar Savatinov   Bulgaria 18.5 $3,000
10 Mateusz Ostaszewski   Poland 11.5 $2,000

[9][6]

References

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  1. ^ "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic". Strongman Archives. May 10, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  2. ^ "2018 Rogue Arnold Strongman Classic Final Results". Rogue Fitness. April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Boly, Jake (November 15, 2017). "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster and Events Announced". BarBend. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic". Rogue Fitness. February 26, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  5. ^ Mancuso, Vinnie (February 26, 2018). "5 Absolute Beasts to Watch at the 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic". Men's Health. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic | Recap". YouTube.
  7. ^ Charles, Douglas (February 14, 2019). "Watch The Mountain From 'Game Of Thrones' Break His Insane Deadlift Record Of 1,041 Pounds". BroBible. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "Arnold Classic 2018: Strongman Results And Prize Money". Fitness Volt. March 5, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  9. ^ Beck, Kalle (April 7, 2022). "2018 Arnold Strongman Classic Results". Starting Strongman. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
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Preceded by
2017 Arnold Strongman Classic
Arnold Strongman Classic Succeeded by