Wikipedia

World's Ultimate Strongman

World's Ultimate Strongman was an annual strongman competition which was held from 2018 to 2021 with the participation of top strongmen from all over the world, determining who is the strongest man in the world. The event was noted for its brute-strength-centricity and expanded the sport to a wider audience outside of Europe and USA. It also introduced the 'feats of strength' series in 2020, ensuring the continuous expansion of the sport during the Covid-19 pandemic. The competition has a number of rival and parallel competitions, including the World's Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman Classic and the Giants Live Tour.

World's Ultimate Strongman
Tournament information
Location United Arab Emirates,  Bahrain
Established2018; 6 years ago (2018)
Number of
tournaments
4
FormatMulti-event competition
Current champion
Ukraine Oleksii Novikov
Most recent tournament
2021 World's Ultimate Strongman

History edit

The inaugural edition of the competition was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and out of a very stacked field of 12 athletes, the Icelandic Giant Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson emerged victorious and was crowned the inaugural champion. The 2019 edition was also held in Dubai and was won by Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski.

On February 22, 2020, World's Ultimate Strongman announced the competition would be expanding and would hold the championship in Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit with a purse of $350,000 which was the largest for any strongman competition.[1] However, on March 13, 2020, they released a statement entailing that it had to be postponed due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, until a new date would be announced when it's logistically feasible.[2] The 2020 competition was finally held in March 2021 in Muharraq under the name '2021 WUS Strength Island' and in September they hosted the 2021 competition back in Dubai. Both competitions were won by Ukraine's Oleksii Novikov.

Championships edit

2018 World's Ultimate Strongman edit

Main article: 2018 World's Ultimate Strongman

Events: Truck pull, Arm over arm pull, Silver Dollar Deadlift, Overhead Medley, Super Yoke, Atlas stones

Rank Name Country Points
1. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Iceland 60.5
2. Brian Shaw   United States 57
3. Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 52.5
4. JF Caron   Canada 48
5. Laurence Shahlaei   England 42.5
6. Konstantine Janashia   Georgia 38
7. Martins Licis   United States 34.5
8. Tom Stoltman   Scotland 31.5
9. Terry Hollands   England 31
10. Žydrūnas Savickas   Lithuania 27.5
11. Luke Stoltman   Scotland 25
12. Cheick Sanou   Burkina Faso 18

[3]

2019 World's Ultimate Strongman edit

Main article: 2019 World's Ultimate Strongman

Events: Deadlift, Truck pull, Log lift, Medley, Atlas stones

Rank Name Country Points
1. Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 55.5
2. Luke Stoltman   Scotland 50.5
3. Tom Stoltman   Scotland 47.5
4. Brian Shaw   United States 44.5
Co 5. Oleksii Novikov   Ukraine 42.5
Co 5. Rauno Heinla   Estonia 42.5
7. JF Caron   Canada 39
8. Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 36
9. Matjaz Belsak   Slovenia 31.5
10. Ramin Farajnejad   Iran 30
11. Cheick Sanou   Burkina Faso 28
12. Krzysztof Radzikowski   Poland 24
13. Jerry Pritchett   United States 21.5
14. Terry Hollands   England 15

[4]

2020 World's Ultimate Strongman (a.k.a. 2021 WUS Strength Island) edit

Events: Axel Deadlift, Flag Hoist, Circus Dumbbell press, Loading race, Atlas stones

Rank Name Country Points
1. Oleksii Novikov   Ukraine 70
2. JF Caron   Canada 58
3. Aivars Šmaukstelis   Latvia 55
4. Luke Stoltman   Scotland 47
Co 5. Tom Stoltman   Scotland 43
Co 5. Ramin Farajnejad   Iran 43
Co 5. Mohammed Ezatpour   Iran 43
8. Bobby Thompson   United States 41.5
9. Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð   Iceland 33.5
10. Adam Bishop   England 33
11. Rauno Heinla   Estonia 32
12. Ervin Toots   Estonia 30.5
13. Rob Kearney   United States 26.5
14. Konstantine Janashia   Georgia 24
15. Mikhail Shivlyakov   Russia 17

[5]

2021 World's Ultimate Strongman edit

Events: Log lift, Super yoke, Farmer's walk, Chain Railway carriage, Atlas stones

Rank Name Country Points
1. Oleksii Novikov   Ukraine 45.5
2. Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Poland 44.5
3. Aivars Šmaukstelis   Latvia 34.5
4. JF Caron   Canada 32
5. Konstantine Janashia   Georgia 27
6. Bobby Thompson   United States 26.5
7. Mohammed Ezatpour   Iran 18
8. Ervin Toots   Estonia 17
9. Rauno Heinla   Estonia 15
10. Ramin Farajnejad   Iran 12

[6]

Championship breakdown edit

Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Location
2018[7]   Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson   Brian Shaw   Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2019[8]   Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Luke Stoltman   Tom Stoltman   Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2020[9]   Oleksii Novikov   JF Caron   Aivars Šmaukstelis   Muharraq, Bahrain
2021[10]   Oleksii Novikov   Mateusz Kieliszkowski   Aivars Šmaukstelis   Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Championships by country edit

Country Titles
  Ukraine 2
  Iceland 1
  Poland 1

Feats of Strength series edit

Due to the postponement of worldwide sporting events and travel restrictions being in place for many countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, World's Ultimate Strongman announced an at home/private gym Feats of Strength series with differing strongman record attempts to be live streamed for free. Below are the record attempts (Men's World Record unless otherwise stated):

Season 1 edit

Date Attempt Athlete Existing Record and Holder Record Broken? New Record if Broken
May 2, 2020[11][12] Maximum Deadlift (standard bar)   Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 500kg
(  Eddie Hall) 		Yes 501kg
May 16, 2020[13] Maximum Log Lift   Luke Stoltman 228kg
(  Žydrūnas Savickas) 		No -
May 23, 2020[14] Maximum Atlas Stone Lift   Tom Stoltman 273kg
(  Tom Stoltman) 		Yes 286kg
May 30, 2020[15] 100kg Dumbbell Press for Repetitions   Oleksii Novikov 10 repetitions
(  Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) 		Yes 11 repetitions
June 6, 2020[16] Maximum Atlas Stone Lift
Women's Under-64kg Record 		  Rhianon Lovelace 139kg Yes 141kg
June 13, 2020[17] Maximum Log Lift
American Record 		  Rob Kearney 214kg
(  Rob Kearney) 		Yes 216kg
June 20, 2020[18] 400kg Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions   Jerry Pritchett 5 repetitions
(  Jean-François Caron)
(  Konstantine Janashia) 		No -
  Rauno Heinla Equalled -
June 20, 2020[19] Raw Bench Press (power bar)   Julius Maddox 1 349kg
(  Julius Maddox) 		No -
June 27, 2020 Maximum Deadlift (standard bar)
Masters (Over-40s) Record 		  Terry Hollands 430kg
(  James Hickey) 		No -
  Mikhail Shivlyakov No -
July 4, 2020 Maximum Log Lift
Women's Record 		  Andrea Thompson 129kg
(  Danielle Vaji) 		Yes 135kg
July 11, 2020 400kg Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions   Adam Bishop 2 5 repetitions
(  Jean-François Caron)
(  Rauno Heinla)
(  Konstantine Janashia) 		No -
  Jean-François Caron No -

1 It was found during the event that Maddox's bar had been misloaded with one side being 25kg heavier than the other.
2 It was found during the event that Bishop had 402.5kg on the barbell, rather than 400kg, causing an unofficial world record of 402.5kg for 4 repetitions.

Season 2 edit

Date Attempt Athlete Existing Record and Holder Record Broken? New Record if Broken
September 13, 2020 400kg Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions   Rauno Heinla 5 repetitions
(  Jean-François Caron)
(  Rauno Heinla)
(  Konstantine Janashia) 		Yes 6 repetitions
  Konstantine Janashia No -
September 20, 2020   Trey Mitchell 6 repetitions
(  Rauno Heinla) 		No -
September 27, 2020 Maximum Atlas Stone Lift   Tom Stoltman 286kg
(  Tom Stoltman) 		No -
Maximum Atlas Stone Lift
Women's Record 		  Donna Moore 162kg
(  Donna Moore) 		Yes 171kg
October 4, 2020 Maximum Deadlift (strongwoman) - standard bar
Women's Record 		  Andrea Thompson 275kg
(  Melissa Edwards) 		Yes 290kg
October 11, 2020 Maximum Log Lift   Rob Kearney 228kg
(  Žydrūnas Savickas) 		No -
  Luke Stoltman No -
October 18, 2020 Maximum Deadlift (standard bar)   Rauno Heinla 501kg
(  Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) 		No -
  Ivan Makarov No -
Maximum Deadlift (standard bar)
Masters (Over-40s) Record 		  Mikhail Shivlyakov 435kg
(  James Hickey) 		Yes 436kg

Commonly contested events edit

  • Deadlift – Lifting weights or vehicles straight off the ground until knees lock in a standing position. The 2018 edition consisted of a max Silver Dollar Deadlift, a variation in which the weight is lifted from 18 inches (460 mm). Straps are allowed for this variation. The 2019 edition used the conventional strongman version of the deadlift, using a standard deadlift bar with straps and a deadlift suit.[20]
  • Super Yoke – Apparatus composed of a crossbar and two uprights. The uprights each have a heavy weight attached to them, such as a refrigerator or diesel engine, and the competitors must carry the yoke on their shoulders for a short distance.[21]
  • Shield Carry – Athletes compete in carrying a 'shield' usually weighing between 160–180 kilograms (350–400 lb) for distance or a set distance for the fastest time. The Shield Carry can be its own event or be used alongside the super yoke.
  • Press Medley – Athletes must press various equipment overhead such as a log, axle, circus barbell, and giant dumbbell. The event is scored based on the number of implements completed, then the fastest time.
  • Vehicle pull – Vehicles such as transport trucks, trams, boxcars, buses, or planes are pulled across a 100-foot (30 m) course as fast as possible. One variation sees the competitors pull the object with a rope toward them. Another has them attached to a rope which is attached to a vehicle, while they use another rope to pull themselves down the course.[22]
  • McGlashen Stones / Atlas Stones – Five heavy round stones increasing in weight from 170–225 kilograms (375–496 lb) are lifted and set on platforms. When the stones were first introduced to the competition, it was an individual event and the platforms were all of equal height. The modern Atlas Stones event takes place on a 16–33-foot (5–10 m) long course and the competitors participate two at a time. In the 2019 edition, a 10 stone event was introduced with stones ranging from 100–200 kilograms (220–440 lb), a first of its kind.[23]

References edit

  1. ^ Owen, Dan (February 22, 2020). "WUS Bahrain announced on weekend with biggest prize pool in strongman history". Sport 360. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "2020 World's Ultimate Strongman Bahrain postponed due to Covid-19". Instagram. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "2018 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. October 26, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "2019 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "2021 WUS Strength Island". strongmanarchives.com. March 13, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "2021 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. September 17, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  7. ^ Sunderland, Tom (October 27, 2018). "Hafthor Bjornsson Wins World's Ultimate Strongman, Beasts in the Middle East". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  8. ^ Balf, Celia (October 25, 2019). "Mateusz Kieliszkowski Wins World's Ultimate Strongman With A Torn Biceps". BarBend. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Lockridge, Roger (March 13, 2021). "Oleksii Novikov Wins World's Ultimate Strongman "Strength Island" Contest". BarBend. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Lockridge, Roger (September 17, 2021). "Novikov, Chapman Victorious — 2021 World's Ultimate Strongman Results". BarBend. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Guinness World Records (May 10, 2020). "Heaviest Deadlift". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hafthor Bjornsson breaks world record with 1,104-pound deadlift". ESPN. May 2, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  13. ^ Odrljin, Goran (May 16, 2020). "Luke Stoltman FAILS To Break Log Lift World Record". Fitness Volt. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Tao, David (September 22, 2020). "Strongman Tom Stoltman Lifts World Record 286kg/630lb Atlas Stone Over Bar". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Blechman, Phil (June 1, 2020). "Strongman Oleksii Novikov Sets World Record In Giant Dumbbell For Reps". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Blechman, Phil (June 8, 2020). "Rhianon Lovelace (-64kg) Hoists a Massive 141kg/311lb Atlas Stone for New World Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Lockridge, Roger (June 16, 2020). "Rob Kearney Sets 475 Pound American Log Lift Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Magnante, Matthew (July 11, 2020). "Rauno Heinla Victorious In 400kg/880lb Deadlift For Reps World's Ultimate Strongman Event". Fitness Volt. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  19. ^ Lockridge, Roger (June 22, 2020). "Julius Maddox Misses 800 Pound Raw Bench Press Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  20. ^ "Deadlift". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "Yolk". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "Vehicle Pull". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Atlas Stones". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
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