A number of the United States’ finest prepped together for strongman’s biggest competition.
Seven American strongmen will likely be featured within the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), set to happen on Apr. 19-23, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Led by legendary four-time WSM champion Brian Shaw — who will likely be competing in his last WSM this 12 months — this stacked group of strength athletes is as follows:
- Brian Shaw — 4-time WSM champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016)
- Bobby Thompson — American log lift record holder (217.5 kilograms/478.5 kilos)
- Trey Mitchell — Reigning two-time Shaw Classic (SC) champion (2021-2022)
- Evan Singleton — First-ever Arnold Strongman Classic UK (ASCUK) champion (2021)
- Kevin Faires — Dinnie Stones Walk World Record holder (31 feet, seven inches)
- Spenser Remick — 2022 Official Strongman Games (OSG) champion
- Tom Evans — Winner of the 2022 Shaw Classic Open and 2022 Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships
Six of those American athletes recently got here together for a strong WSM training session about every week before the most important contest in strongman. Evans was noticeably absent, likely resulting from his last-minute addition to the WSM roster as a substitute for the injured Pavlo Nakonechnyy. On Apr. 11, 2023, Shaw posted a video on his YouTube channel chronicling the group’s time together.
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The six American athletes performed five movements that somewhat mirror events expected on the 2023 WSM.
They began the day by loading sandbags and a weighted keg onto a platform. The weights and distance weren’t revealed. While it was not possible to recreate its exact format upfront, this was in reference to the Loading Race from the Qualifying Stage of the competition.
“Definitely a superb start with these guys. All of us are primed and prepared for World’s Strongest Man. But that is the tune-up and, at the tip of the day, iron really does sharpen iron,” Shaw said after completing the primary training medley. “So it’s why I desired to have these guys in and out the gym with me heading in. My goal is for them to push me, me to push them, and all of our levels to go up. Collectively, that’s what’s going to occur.”
They then shifted to a log ladder with five implements that featured regularly increasing weight. Only Singleton and Faires did not lift all five logs. The Log Ladder will likely be the ultimate event of the primary day of the 2023 WSM.
Next, the group threw in some heavy overhead dumbbell work and a single Fingal’s Finger. Unlike the beginning of the session, no one among the American group of competitors is guaranteed to perform these events on the WSM, as they comprise different portions of the two-day Final.
To shut their day together, the six took to the Conan’s Wheel, where the athlete’s task is to hold around a heavy implement in a circular, fixed motion so far as possible. The Conan’s Wheel will likely be a climactic moment for some WSM competitors because it starts the second day of Qualifying.
Here is an outline of the whole 2023 WSM event schedule:
Qualifying Stage Day One | Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2023
Qualifying Stage Day Two | Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023
Final Day One | Saturady, Apr. 22, 2023
Ten athletes will advance from the Qualifying stage to the Final.
- Event One — Fingal’s Fingers
- Event Two — KNAACK Deadlift
- Event Three — Reign Shield Carry
Final Day Two | Sunday, Apr. 23, 2023
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Of the seven American competitors, it will stand to reason that Shaw and his championship pedigree may likely fare the most effective of the bunch on the 2023 WSM. Someone like Mitchell, together with his two consecutive SC victories, is also a dark horse. Mitchell’s best-ever WSM placing was in tenth on the 2021 iteration.
This isn’t to say that Singleton, Faires, Thompson, and Remick won’t thrive. Simply because there are presumed favorites, doesn’t mean one other American stud can’t come out of the blue to level a talented field.
Featured image: @shawstrength on Instagram