The strongman legend has been in the game’s highest competition 18 times.
57-year old strongman legend Mark Felix has competed in his final World’s Strongest Man contest. The Grenadian-born, British competitor announced in February 2023 that probably the most recent edition of the competition could be his last. He made his 18th and final appearance within the competition on the 2023 edition in Myrtle Beach, SC on the week of Apr. 19-23.
Felix did not make the finals, and the competition was won by 27-year-old Mitchell Hooper. In a wierd twist of coincidence, Hooper had his ninth birthday in the course of the 2004 WSM where Felix made his debut within the competition, while Felix had his 57th birthday just two days before his final WSM appearance. On Apr. 22, 2023, Felix shared his thoughts about his expansive WSM profession in an Instagram post.
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“So many things I could say about my 18th and final WSM show, the opportunities Strongman and [The World’s Strongest Man] has given me over the past 18 years. I actually have traveled the world. I actually have competed with the very best of the very best … from athletes, organizers, crew, sponsors, coach and trainers, friends, family, and supporters, I would like to thanks all. It’s been awesome.”
Though Felix will not take part in the World’s Strongest Man contest, he made it clear that he’s removed from done in the game itself.
“Strongman Sport is in my blood, it’s a family like no other, and I’m looking forward to continuing competing within the [Giants Live] and [Official Strongman Games] shows … To everyone who supports me, thanks for the messages I read all of them it means quite a bit … see you all soon at a show”
Felix has competed in every WSM contest from 2004 to 2023 with the exceptions of the 2005 and 2012 contests. He has reached the Finals on three occasions, with a highest-ever finish in fourth place on the 2006 WSM, followed in 2007 with a sixth-place finish.
In 2015, Felix achieved what could be his last Top 10 finish, reaching eighth place. That very same yr, Brian Shaw captured his third WSM title. In one other coincidence, Shaw has also announced that the 2023 WSM could be his final appearance in the competition.
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Felix has competed shoulder-to-shoulder with every WSM champion during that point, from Vasyl Virastyuk (2004) to Hooper (2023).
Outside of the WSM competition, Felix won titles including the 2016 World Strongman Federation’s (WSF) World Cup and the 2015 Ultimate Strongman Masters World Championships.
He could also be best known for his incredible grip strength, which propelled him to a World Record within the Hercules Hold, where Felix held the 160-kilogram (352-pound) pillars for 92.37 seconds on the 2020 Europe’s Strongest Man contest. He also won the Vice Grip Viking Challenge in 2011 and 2012, in addition to the Rolling Thunder competition in 2008 and 2009.
Though Felix made it clear he’ll compete in other shows, as of this writing, there is no such thing as a word on exactly what Felix’s next contest can be.
Featured Post: @markfelixwsm on Instagram