The 46th annual World’s Strongest Man (WSM) is running from Wednesday, April 19 through Sunday, April 23, 2023 with a one-day break on Friday, April 20, to separate the Qualifying Round from the Finals. The biggest event in strength sports is being held for the first time in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at the Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place.
Breaking Muscle will be consistently updating this results page to keep you on top of all the action throughout this year’s contest. Contest organizers have stated there will be no livestream of the event but, as the contest progresses WSM is offering behind-the-scenes commentary and interviews with athletes, hosted by former WSM competitor Terry Hollands.
Editor’s Note: Results are provided by our official reporter in attendance. These results are not considered official until after they are confirmed on the World’s Strongest Man homepage.
2023 WSM Qualifying Round Leaderboard
| Rank | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | ||
| 1 | Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine | 6 |
| 2 | Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom | 5 |
| 3 | Bobby Thompson — USA | 4 |
| 4 | Konstantine Janashia — Georgia | 3 |
| 5 | Pa O’Dwyer — Ireland | 2 |
| 6 | Eddie Williams — Australia | 1 |
| Group 2 | ||
| 1 | Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine | 6 |
| 2 | Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — Iceland | 5 |
| 3 | Thomas Evans — USA | 4 |
| 4 | Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom | 3 |
| 5 | Gavin Bilton — United Kingdom | 2 |
| 6 | Fadi El Masri — Lebanon | 1 |
| Group 3 | ||
| 1 | Mitchell Hooper — Canada | 6 |
| 2 | Aivars Smaukstelis — Latvia | 5 |
| 3 | Mathew Ragg — New Zealand | 4 |
| 4 | Spenser Remick — USA | 3 |
| 5 | Mateusz Kielszkowski — Poland | 2 |
| 6 | Graham Hicks — United Kingdom | 1 |
| Group 4 | ||
| 1 | Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa | 6 |
| 2 | Rauno Heinla — Estonia | 5 |
| 3 | Brian Shaw — USA | 4 |
| 4 | Adam Bishop — United Kingdom | 3 |
| 5 | Gabriel Rheaume — Canada | 2 |
| 6 | Kevin Faires — USA | 1 |
| Group 5 | ||
| 1 | Evan Singleton — USA | 6 |
| 2 | Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland | 5 |
| 3 | Trey Mitchell — USA | 4 |
| 4 | Paul Smith — United Kingdom | 3 |
| 5 | Mark Felix — Canada | 2 |
| 6 | Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — France | 1 |
2023 WSM Day One
Competitors began this year’s contest with a full plate of three events — the loading race, the deadlift machine for reps, and the log ladder. Here are the results from each competitive Group including each athlete’s results, corresponding performance, and placing within the event.
Loading Race
The loading race challenged the athletes’ blend of strength, endurance, and agility. The competitors were tasked with running as quickly as possible across a four- to six-meter (13- to 19.6-foot) field of sand while loading a series of progressively heavier implements onto an elevated platform.
The event was capped with a 90-second time limit. The implements included two stacks of bundled logs (106 kilograms/234 pounds and 114.7 kilogram/253 pounds), a 124.7-kilogram (275-pound) anvil, a 120.2-kilogram (265-pound) sandbag, and a 120.2-kilogram (265-pound) “Husafell” sandbag.
Shortly before the first event began, Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou withdrew from the contest for reasons undisclosed at the time of this article’s publication. He was replaced by Icelandic athlete Kristjan Jon Haraldsson.
Group 1
- Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 implements, 41.38 seconds
- Tom Stoltman — 5 implements, 43.84 seconds
- Bobby Thompson — 5 implements, 56.56 seconds
- Konstantine Janashia — 5 implements, 61.1 seconds
- Pa O’Dwyer — 5 implements, 65.89 seconds
- Eddie Williams — 5 implements, 66.44 seconds
Group 2
- Oleksii Novikov — 5 implements, 52.14 seconds
- Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — 5 implements, 54.58 seconds
- Thomas Evans — 5 implements, 57.4 seconds
- Luke Stoltman — 5 implements, 62.78 seconds
- Gavin Bilton — 5 implements, 63.01 seconds
- Fadi El Masri — 4 implements, 49.57 seconds
Group 3
- Mitchell Hooper — 5 implements, 42.05 seconds
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 5 implements, 52.71 seconds
- Mathew Ragg — 5 implements — 58.72 seconds
- Spenser Remick — 5 implements, 67.15 seconds
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 5 implements, 67.53 seconds
- Graham Hicks — 4 implements, 53.4 seconds
Group 4
- Jaco Schoonwinkel — 5 implements, 47.1 seconds
- Rauno Heinla — 5 implements, 51.41 seconds
- Brian Shaw — 5 implements, 53.7 seconds
- Adam Bishop — 4 implements, 43.12 seconds
- Gabriel Rhéaume — 4 implements, 51.03 seconds
- Kevin Faires — 3 implements, 65.3 seconds
Group 5
- Evan Singleton — 5 implements, 46.9 seconds
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 5 implements, 56.41 seconds
- Trey Mitchell — 5 implements, 66.64 seconds
- Paul Smith — 4 implements, 44.79 seconds
- Mark Felix — 4 implements, 54.32 seconds
- Jean-Stephen Corabeouf — 3 implements, 40.63 seconds
Deadlift Machine
Competitors will have 75 seconds to perform as many repetitions as possible using a specially designed deadlift machine. The weight will be increased after each successful repetition: 281 kilograms (619.5 pounds), 298 kilograms (657 pounds), 312 kilograms (687 pounds), 329 kilograms (725 pounds), 345 kilograms (760 pounds), 362 kilograms (798 pounds), and 379 kilograms (835.5 pounds). If the athlete is capable, they may continue performing repetitions with the maximum weight until times runs out.
Group 1
- Bobby Thompson — 7 reps
- Konstantine Janashia — 6 reps
- Pa O’Dwyer — 5 reps
- Eddie Williams — 5 reps
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
- Tom Stoltman
Group 2
- Kristjan Jon Haraldsson
- Gavin Bilton
- Fadi El Masri
- Thomas Evans
- Oleksii Novikov
- Luke Stoltman
Group 3
- Graham Hicks
- Mitchell Hooper
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski
- Mathew Ragg
- Spenser Remick
- Aivars Šmaukstelis
Group 4
- Adam Bishop
- Kevin Faires
- Rauno Heinla
- Gabriel Rhéaume
- Jaco Schoonwinkel
- Brian Shaw
Group 5
- Jean-Stephen Corabeouf
- Mark Felix
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted
- Trey Mitchell
- Evan Singleton
- Paul Smith
Log Ladder
The event has not yet taken place. Results will be updated as they become available.
The first day of competition will conclude with a staple event in many strongman contests — the log ladder. Testing their upper body strength, athletes must work their way through five progressively heavier logs (weights not yet disclosed), one repetition at a time, within a 75-second time limit.
Group 1
- Konstantine Janashia
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
- Pa O’Dwyer
- Tom Stoltman
- Bobby Thompson
- Eddie Williams
Group 2
- Kristjan Jon Haraldsson
- Gavin Bilton
- Fadi El Masri
- Thomas Evans
- Oleksii Novikov
- Luke Stoltman
Group 3
- Graham Hicks
- Mitchell Hooper
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski
- Mathew Ragg
- Spenser Remick
- Aivars Šmaukstelis
Group 4
- Adam Bishop
- Kevin Faires
- Rauno Heinla
- Gabriel Rhéaume
- Jaco Schoonwinkel
- Brian Shaw
Group 5
- Jean-Stephen Corabeouf
- Mark Felix
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted
- Trey Mitchell
- Evan Singleton
- Paul Smith
2023 WSM Schedule of Events
Here’s the complete schedule for the competition, including the two-day Qualifying Round and the two-day Finals.
Qualifying Stage Day One
- Event One: Loading Race — April 19 | 8 a.m., Sand Stage
- Event Two: Deadlift Machine — April 19 | 11:29 a.m., Land Stage
- Event Three: Log Ladder — April 19 | 4:49 p.m., Sand Stage
Qualifying Stage Day Two
- Event Four: Conan’s Wheel — April 20 | 8 a.m., Land Stage
- Event Five: Kettlebell Toss — April 20 | 1:20 p.m., Sand Stage
- Event Six: Stone Off — April 20 | 6:13 p.m., Land Stage
Rest Day — No Events
Finals Day One
- Event One: Fingal’s Fingers — April 22 | 8 a.m., Street Stage
- Event Two: KNAACK Deadlift — April 22 | 10:41 a.m., Sand Stage
- Event Three: Reign Shield Carry — April 22 | 2:18 p.m., Street Stage
Finals Day Two
- Event Four: Max Dumbbell — April 23 | 8 a.m., Land Stage
- Event Five: Vehicle Pull — April 23 | 10:10 a.m., Street Stage
- Event Six: Atlas Stones — April 23 | 1:54 p.m., Sand Stage
2023 WSM Competitor Withdrawals
While 30 men qualified to enter this year’s WSM, unexpected scenarios can occur. Any competitor withdrawals during the course of the competition will be noted here.
- Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — Withdrew before the first event of Qualifying Stage Day One. No reason provided. Replaced by Kristjan Jon Haraldsson.
How Strongman is Scored
Scoring points in competitive strongman events relates to the overall field of competitors. First place can earn as many points as there are competitors, and points descend accordingly.
In the Qualifying stage, athletes can earn a maximum of six points because there are six athletes in each group. First place earns six points; second places earns five, and so on. In the Finals, there will be 10 competitors in total, so first place receives 10 points; second receives nine; third eight; and so on.
In the event of any tied scores, points are split evenly. If two athletes tie for second, for example, the second and third place points are added together and divides by two. For example, in the WSM Finals, if two athletes tie for second place, they would each earn 8.5 points — nine plus eight divided by two.
How to Watch the 2023 World’s Strongest Man
Admission is free for fans attending in person at Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place in Myrtle Beach, SC, and gates open to the public at 7 a.m. Eastern time. There will be a fan festival area and a general admission viewing area for spectators.
Unfortunately, for those who wish to watch the 2023 WSM at home, viewing it live is impossible. In the U.S., CBS Sports Network will air the 2023 WSM beginning on May 28, 2023. In the UK, the 2023 WSM will air on Channel 5 in December. In the meantime, the 2023 WSM’s various social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, will feature behind-the-scenes coverage while 15-time WSM athlete Terry Hollands conducts interviews with the competitors.
Featured Image: Joe Martinez / World’s Strongest Man
