The organization of the Qualifying Rounds could determine loads for the weekend’s Finals.
On Apr. 18, 2023, Terry Hollands revealed the five Qualifying Round groups for the 2023 WSM in Myrtle Beach, SC. The 15-time WSM competitor confirmed that there could be six athletes in each Qualifying Round group who will then duke it out for a complete of 10 berths (two from each group). This can determine the Finals that may occur on Apr. 22-23, 2023. The Qualifying Round will span from Apr. 19-20 before the 30-person roster is cut all the way down to 10 finalists for the weekend.
Overall, the 2023 WSM will occur from Apr. 19-23, 2023. In the approaching days, there might be loads to parse through for the 30-man roster and schedule of events. Even while there might be no method to watch the flagship strongman contest live, it should still be a barnburner of strength. The precise organization of the Qualifying Round groups could determine much for the eventual victor.
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2023 World’s Strongest Man Qualifying Round Groups
Listed below are the five Qualifying Round groups for the 2023 WSM:
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
As is common with WSM precedent, the first-place finisher in each Qualifying Ground group on a points basis will earn an automatic berth within the WSM Finals. To shut the Qualifying Round, each group’s second and third-place finishers will battle head-to-head for the second Finals spot in a Stone-Off featuring the trademark Atlas Stones.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Event Schedule
Listed below are the events and their scheduling for the 2023 WSM:
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 4: 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 — April 21, 2023
Finals Day One
Only 10 competitors will advance to the Finals after the Qualifying Round.
- 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 4: 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
Here is an summary of the 2023 WSM roster:
2023 World’s Strongest Man Roster
- Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom) — Defending two-time WSM champion
- Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
- Brian Shaw (United States)
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
- Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
- Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
- Evan Singleton (United States)
- Trey Mitchell (United States)
- Adam Bishop (United Kingdom)
- Aivars Šmaukstelis (Latvia)
- Kevin Faires (United States)
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted (Iceland)
- Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
- Rauno Heinla (Estonia)
- Bobby Thompson (United States)
- Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
- Spenser Remick (United States)
- Eddie Williams (Australia)
- Konstantine Janashia (Georgia)
- Graham Hicks (United Kingdom)
- Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
- Mathew Ragg (Latest Zealand)
- Gabriel Rhéaume (Canada)
- Fadi El Masri (Lebanon)
- Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf (France)
- Mark Felix (United Kingdom)
- Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
- Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso)
- Thomas Evans (United States)
- *Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine) — *Withdrawn
- *Maxime Boudreault (Canada) — *Withdrawn
Three current and former WSM champions are present on the 2023 roster. They’re the reigning two-time champion in Scotland’s Tom Stoltman, the legendary four-time WSM winner (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) within the American Brian Shaw, in addition to the 2020 victor in Ukraine’s OIeksii Novikov. Other potential contenders could also include Canada’s Mitchell Hooper and Poland’s Mateusz Kieliszkowski.
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Now that just about every critical little bit of pre-competition information is within the books, the 2023 WSM is ready to launch into the stratosphere. Something says the newest edition of the competition will again have the complete strongman world on the sting of its seat.
Featured image: Joe Martinez / World’s Strongest Man