With Brian Shaw’s run seemingly coming to an end, Mitchell Hooper looks to cement himself as strongman’s king.

Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on April 22, 2023

Just someday stays within the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). Someday to find out who has the privilege to change into ultimate strongman royalty. Someday to seek out out who gets to sit down on top of what is perhaps strength sports’ most prestigious throne in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Because the second climactic half of the Finals looms on Sunday, here’s where the 2023 WSM Finals leaderboard stands at the top of Day Three, together with a recap of how each athlete fared in the primary half of the Finals.

Editor’s Note: Results are provided by our official reporter in attendance. These results aren’t considered official until after they’re confirmed on the World’s Strongest Man homepage.

2023 WSM Finals Leaderboard

Rank	Name	Points
1	Mitchell Hooper — Canada	25
2	Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine	24.5
3	Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom	24
4	Trey Mitchell — USA	22.5
5	Evan Singleton — USA	15
6	Brian Shaw — USA	14.5
7	Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine	14
8	Mathew Ragg — Latest Zealand	11.5
9	Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom	8
10	Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa	5.5

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2023 World’s Strongest Man Day 3 Results

Listed below are the Day 3 results from the primary a part of the 2023 WSM Finals, including each athlete’s individual finishes, any relevant corresponding times and distances, and tasked weights on the Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry, the KNAACK Deadlift, and the Fingal’s Fingers. On account of a two-hour inclement weather delay, all of the event start times were pushed back accordingly. In a scheduling shift, the Fingal’s Fingers became the last event of the day, while the Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry began the Finals.

Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry Recap

The Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry tasked the competitors with carrying a 196-kilogram (432-pound) shield for max distance. Competitors moved backwards and forwards along a 20-meter (65.6-foot) course for as much as they might.

In unlucky circumstances, controversy could have defined the Reign Total Body Fuel Shield Carry. Ukraine’s Pavlo Kordiyaka, who had a legitimate shot on the 2023 WSM podium (and even perhaps more) entering the primary day of the Finals, could have lost his opportunity on a debatable penalty for failing to completely cross a boundary line before continuing one lap of his carry. Kordiyaka would lose a whopping five points and be penalized 19.8 meters of distance from his carry, leading to a rating of 46.59 meters. If not for the penalty, Kordiyaka would’ve had the overwhelming best distance of all participating finalists. The competitor would go away the stage in apparent disgust after the penalty ruling.

As an alternative, the likely growing WSM favorite, Mitchell Hooper, finished with the very best carry of 64.8 meters in Heat 3.

Heat 1

1. Brian Shaw — 39.1 meters
2. Mathew Ragg — 37.65 meters

Heat 2

1. Evan Singleton — 48.3 meters
2. Luke Stoltman — 44.62 meters

Heat 3

1. Mitchell Hooper — 64.8 meters
2. Tom Stoltman — 63.15 meters

Heat 4

1. Trey Mitchell — 50.83 meters
2. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 46.59 meters (includes 19.8-meter penalty)

Heat 5

1. Oleksii Novikov — 55.87 meters
2. Jaco Schoonwinkel — 15.92 meters

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KNAACK Deadlift Recap

The KNAACK Deadlift didn’t reinvent the wheel for the athletes. It was a conventional deadlift for max repetitions with 355 kilograms (782.6 kilos) as rain fell on Myrtle Beach. Hooper claimed one other event victory by being the one strongman to complete eight repetitions. 4 athletes tied for second on the KNAACK deadlift with seven successful repetitions, including Oleksii Novikov, Trey Mitchell, Brian Shaw, and Mathew Ragg.

1. Mitchell Hooper — 8 reps
2. Oleksii Novikov — 7 reps
3. Trey Mitchell — 7 reps
4. Brian Shaw — 7 reps
5. Mathew Ragg — 7 reps
6. Tom Stoltman — 6 reps
7. Evan Singleton — 5 reps
8. Jaco Schoonwinkel — 5 reps
9. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 4 reps
10. Luke Stoltman — 3 reps

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Fingal’s Fingers Recap

The top of the primary half of the 2023 WSM Finals was a fitting spectacle, because it featured the Fingal’s Fingers. The event had not been an element of a WSM Finals round since 2009, marking a decade-plus absence as a decision-making race. The strongmen had the target of flipping five successive “fingers” in a single minute. The beams had the approximate size of telephone poles and ranged in these weights as they progressed through the course: 145 kilograms (320 kilos), 154 kilograms (340 kilos), 159 kilograms (350 kilos), 163 kilograms (360 kilos), and 172 kilograms (380 kilos).

Two-time defending WSM champion Tom Stoltman paced ahead of the remaining of the competitors — completing all five fingers nearly three full seconds before his closest competitor — putting himself in great position for the second half of the Finals on Sunday afternoon.

1. Tom Stoltman — 5 reps, 39.36 seconds
2. Oleksii Novikov — 5 reps, 42.26 seconds
3. Trey Mitchell — 5 reps, 48.46 seconds
4. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 reps, 48.69 seconds
5. Evan Singleton — 5 reps, 49.85 seconds
6. Mitchell Hooper — 5 reps, 49.89 seconds
7. Brian Shaw — 4 reps, 26.61 seconds
8. Luke Stoltman — 4 reps, 32.54 seconds
9. Mathew Ragg — 4 reps, 35.03 seconds
10. Jaco Schoonwinkel — 1 rep, 40.76 seconds

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A Sunday of Strength

Any variety of storylines and questions could define the ultimate day of the 2023 WSM.

Only one 12 months after surprising the elite strongman field in his WSM debut, Mitchell Hooper might lead the fray. The Canadian strongman is arguably within the strongest position to win the title and will culminate considered one of the more meteoric rises over an approximate 12 months that the game has ever seen.

Then there’s Brian Shaw. On the last day of his WSM profession, Shaw could, theoretically, win all three of the last events to capture a legendary fifth title and cap considered one of the best ever runs in strongman. Technically, two-time defending champion Tom Stoltman continues to be able to complete a rare and legendary “three-peat,” too.

Finally, because the dust settles, it stays to be seen how Kordiyaka’s controversial penalty will define the remaining of the competition. It’d take a Herculean effort to overshadow a ruling that will have cost an athlete a legitimate opportunity at strongman’s best title.

To some, the suspense is perhaps terrible on the last day of the 2023 WSM. To those elite strongmen, they likely hope it lasts.

Featured image: Todd Burandt / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man