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World's Ultimate Strongman
Tournament information
Location United Arab Emirates,  Bahrain
Established2018; 6 years ago (2018)
Final year2021
Number of
tournaments
4
FormatMulti-event competition
Final champion
Ukraine Oleksii Novikov

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.

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.

The first three competitions out of the four are widely regarded as International strongman majors.[3]

Championships

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2018 World's Ultimate Strongman

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

[4]

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

[5]

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

[6]

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

[7]

Championship breakdown

[edit]
Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Location
2018[8] Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson United States Brian Shaw Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski United Arab Emirates Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2019[9] Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski Scotland Luke Stoltman Scotland Tom Stoltman United Arab Emirates Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2020[10] Ukraine Oleksii Novikov Canada JF Caron Latvia Aivars Šmaukstelis Bahrain Muharraq, Bahrain
2021[11] Ukraine Oleksii Novikov Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski Latvia Aivars Šmaukstelis United Arab Emirates Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Championships by country

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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[12][13] Maximum Deadlift (standard bar) Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 500 kg (1,102 lb)
(England Eddie Hall) 		Yes 501 kg (1,105 lb)
May 16, 2020[14] Maximum Log Lift Scotland Luke Stoltman 228 kg (503 lb)
(Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas) 		No -
May 23, 2020[15] Maximum Atlas Stone Lift Scotland Tom Stoltman 273 kg (602 lb)
(Scotland Tom Stoltman) 		Yes 286 kg (631 lb)
May 30, 2020[16] 100 kg (220 lb) Dumbbell Press for Repetitions Ukraine Oleksii Novikov 10 repetitions
(Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) 		Yes 11 repetitions
June 6, 2020[17] Maximum Atlas Stone Lift
Women's Under-64kg Record 		England Rhianon Lovelace 139 kg (306 lb) Yes 141 kg (311 lb)
June 13, 2020[18] Maximum Log Lift
American Record 		United States Rob Kearney 214 kg (472 lb)
(United States Rob Kearney) 		Yes 216 kg (476 lb)
June 20, 2020[19] 400 kg (882 lb) Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions United States Jerry Pritchett 5 repetitions
(Canada Jean-François Caron)
(Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia) 		No -
Estonia Rauno Heinla Equalled -
June 20, 2020[20] Raw Bench Press (power bar) United States Julius Maddox 1 349 kg (769 lb)
(United States Julius Maddox) 		No -
June 27, 2020 Maximum Deadlift (standard bar)
Masters (Over-40s) Record 		England Terry Hollands 430 kg (948 lb)
(Republic of Ireland James Hickey) 		No -
Russia Mikhail Shivlyakov No -
July 4, 2020 Maximum Log Lift
Women's Record 		England Andrea Thompson 129 kg (284 lb)
(United States Danielle Vaji) 		Yes 135 kg (298 lb)
July 11, 2020 400 kg (882 lb) Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions England Adam Bishop 2 5 repetitions
(Canada Jean-François Caron)
(Estonia Rauno Heinla)
(Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia) 		No -
Canada Jean-François Caron No -

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

Season 2

[edit]
Date Attempt Athlete Existing Record and Holder Record Broken? New Record if Broken
September 13, 2020 400 kg (882 lb) Deadlift (standard bar) for Repetitions Estonia Rauno Heinla 5 repetitions
(Canada Jean-François Caron)
(Estonia Rauno Heinla)
(Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia) 		Yes 6 repetitions
Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia No -
September 20, 2020 United States Trey Mitchell 6 repetitions
(Estonia Rauno Heinla) 		No -
September 27, 2020 Maximum Atlas Stone Lift Scotland Tom Stoltman 286 kg (631 lb)
(Scotland Tom Stoltman) 		No -
Maximum Atlas Stone Lift
Women's Record 		England Donna Moore 162 kg (357 lb)
(England Donna Moore) 		Yes 171 kg (377 lb)
October 4, 2020 Maximum Deadlift (strongwoman) - standard bar
Women's Record 		England Andrea Thompson 275 kg (606 lb)
(United States Melissa Edwards) 		Yes 290 kg (639 lb)
October 11, 2020 Maximum Log Lift United States Rob Kearney 228 kg (503 lb)
(Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas) 		No -
Scotland Luke Stoltman No -
October 18, 2020 Maximum Deadlift (standard bar) Estonia Rauno Heinla 501 kg (1,105 lb)
(Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) 		No -
Russia Ivan Makarov No -
Maximum Deadlift (standard bar)
Masters (Over-40s) Record 		Russia Mikhail Shivlyakov 435 kg (959 lb)
Republic of Ireland (James Hickey) 		Yes 436 kg (961 lb)

Commonly contested events

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  • 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.[21]
  • 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.[22]
  • 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.[23]
  • 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.[24]

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. ^ "Are These REALLY the 10 Greatest Strongmen of all Time? timestamp 3:24". Big Loz Official with Mira Fit. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "2018 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. October 26, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "2019 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "2021 WUS Strength Island". strongmanarchives.com. March 13, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "2021 WUS Dubai". strongmanarchives.com. September 17, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Sunderland, Tom (October 27, 2018). "Hafthor Bjornsson Wins World's Ultimate Strongman, Beasts in the Middle East". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Balf, Celia (October 25, 2019). "Mateusz Kieliszkowski Wins World's Ultimate Strongman With A Torn Biceps". BarBend. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Lockridge, Roger (March 13, 2021). "Oleksii Novikov Wins World's Ultimate Strongman "Strength Island" Contest". BarBend. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Lockridge, Roger (September 17, 2021). "Novikov, Chapman Victorious — 2021 World's Ultimate Strongman Results". BarBend. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Guinness World Records (May 10, 2020). "Heaviest Deadlift". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  13. ^ "Hafthor Bjornsson breaks world record with 1,104-pound deadlift". ESPN. May 2, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Odrljin, Goran (May 16, 2020). "Luke Stoltman FAILS To Break Log Lift World Record". Fitness Volt. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Tao, David (September 22, 2020). "Strongman Tom Stoltman Lifts World Record 286kg/630lb Atlas Stone Over Bar". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Blechman, Phil (June 1, 2020). "Strongman Oleksii Novikov Sets World Record In Giant Dumbbell For Reps". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Blechman, Phil (June 8, 2020). "Rhianon Lovelace (-64kg) Hoists a Massive 141kg/311lb Atlas Stone for New World Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Lockridge, Roger (June 16, 2020). "Rob Kearney Sets 475 Pound American Log Lift Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Lockridge, Roger (June 22, 2020). "Julius Maddox Misses 800 Pound Raw Bench Press Record". BarBend. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "Deadlift". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "Yolk". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Vehicle Pull". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "Atlas Stones". Retrieved February 2, 2020.
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