The strongman legend almost had a whole lot of plans up within the air.
Brian Shaw will end his strongman profession on his terms in 2023. The upcoming 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) will probably be the four-time champion’s (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) last appearance in the distinguished contest. Then, in late August, the 2023 Shaw Classic (SC) will probably be his last-ever strongman competition. Shaw’s plans to shut out his legendary profession on a healthy note were almost in jeopardy.
On Apr. 13, 2023, Shaw posted a “Road to WSM” video to his YouTube channel where the athlete revealed he was healing from a right leg infection in late January 2023. While Shaw didn’t initially describe the precise nature or severity of the infection, he says he almost lost the leg.
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Within the video, where Shaw lies in a hospital bed in recovery, he doesn’t mince his words in regards to the biggest fear of his infection. He described the worst possible scenario — amputation — which apparently could’ve been one treatment considered.
Fortunately, Shaw avoided this consequence.
“The most important thing is that it didn’t go into my bloodstream,” Shaw explained. “So, if I might have waited potentially any longer, the large fear could be it going into my bloodstream. Once it does that, the consequence may not be pretty much as good, meaning a possible amputation.”
Despite this monumental obstacle in his path, Shaw kept his eyes on the prize. With the ball out of his court, all of the strongman could really do was positively frame his situation and hope for one of the best. Even from the hospital, the legend didn’t let his almost dire circumstances get him down. He kept up together with his nutrition with the concept he would eventually leave the medical facility healthy.
Why? Shaw had his crosshairs fixed on one other WSM title and a fruitful end to his profession as motivation.
“While you battle some adversity like this, you simply have to seek out a way,” Shaw said. “… I’m attempting to get five meals in a day at once. The goal is to walk out of here having not lost a whole lot of body weight.”
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Ultimately, Shaw had quite the optimistic outlook, comparing his infection to a number of the adversity he battled en path to winning the 2013 WSM title. Roughly three months before that contest, Shaw underwent nerve surgery and still went on to win the show. Following his recent infection troubles, Shaw hopes for similar results this time, as his strongman profession involves a detailed.
“This has jogged my memory essentially the most of 2013,” Shaw explained. “In 2013 I needed to have a nerve release surgery done roughly three months out from the WSM. So, I’ve been telling myself, as I’ve been sitting here, that this leg infection is just not as bad as that.”
Editor’s Note: In a follow-up video posted to his YouTube channel on April 14, 2023, Shaw clarified that he was officially diagnosed with an aggressive type of cellulitis — a bacterial skin infection — and spent a complete of eight days within the hospital.
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Featured image: SHAWSTRENGTH on YouTube