After injuries seemingly ended his profession, Caron is planning a strongman return.
Relating to prolific, successful resumes, few modern strongmen might give you the option to match the profile of Jean-François Caron, aka “JF Caron.” Later this 12 months, the strongman world could see the 40-year-old veteran return to the game after taking some crucial time away.
In a YouTube interview with Laurence Shahlaei on Apr. 6, 2023, Caron revealed he would attempt a strongman comeback sometime in late 2023. The nine-time Canada’s Strongest Man (CSM) champion (2011-2019) had previously suffered two torn patellar tendons through the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). After a period of recovery, Caron maintained he was training again to return to form.
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While largely bedridden while recovering from his injuries, Caron had lost 60 kilos of body weight. Making a jump back to the upper echelon isn’t any guarantee after what the veteran endured, but he seems committed to creating it occur through his training. Some recent 400-kilogram (881.8-pound) deadlifts and 270-kilogram (595.2-pound) back squats for reps are demonstrations of the facility Caron is reassembling.
That said, it should take a while before he’s able to square off with a number of the strongest people on the globe in an official competitive capability. He still has a whole lot of progress to make before he can perform the requisite movements needed to shine as knowledgeable strongman again.
“The facility is there. It’s just not fluid like before,” Caron said. “… Changing directions … I’m not secure like before. Explosive movements will take more time.”
Caron declared that he’ll begin working on event-focused training with 2021 CSM victor Gabriel Rhéaume once he returns from the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). That contest will happen on Apr. 19-23, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, SC. On the time of this writing, Caron has not outlined a precise training timeline.
As for Caron’s overall profile, he has quite the mantle to lean on.
Based on Strongman Archives, the athlete has appeared in over 80 competitions and earned nearly 20 victories, including his CSM title reign and a win within the 2022 Forca Bruta. Before his recent injuries, Caron had competed in 11 of 13 WSM contests because the 12 months 2008 (missing 2009-2010) and placed among the many top 6 in seven consecutive editions (2015-2021).
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It’s unclear precisely when Caron will attempt to compete again, but he stated an expectation to be able to compete by October. Whether he has eyes on the 2023 Rogue Invitational, typically held in late October, wasn’t clear.
If he’s healthy enough, Caron did share that he’ll attempt to compete again on the 2023 Magnus ver Magnusson Classic. On the time of this writing, that competition doesn’t have a concrete date, however it often occurs around late November in Iceland, based on past precedent.
Whether the strongman fixture returns to relative prominence in Iceland or at a later date, the strength athlete is bound to be welcomed back, by fans and peers alike, after the devastating injury that many expected to be career-ending.
Featured image: @jfcaronstrongman on Instagram