With incredible consistency, the Ukrainian strongman dynamo has one more title under his belt.
Oleksii Novikov is the champion of the 2022 Strongman Rogue Invitational. This variation of the strength sports contest took place from Oct. 28-30, 2022, in Austin, TX. Novikov’s victory continues a formidable run where the athlete has finished on the rostrum in 17 of his last 19 contests dating back to September 2020. That very same stellar run includes seven victories, perhaps most notably the 2020 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) title.
Trey Mitchell (second place) and Mitchell Hooper (third place) joined Novikov on the rostrum. Mitchell’s top-two performance is his immediate follow-up to a win on the 2022 Shaw Classic. Meanwhile, Hooper has one more podium lead to his young profession after winning each of the recent 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK competitions. Thus far, Hooper has did not qualify for the highest three on only one occasion — his debut on the 2022 WSM, where he got here in eighth place overall.
Listed below are the ultimate standings from the 2022 Strongman Rogue Invitational:
2022 Strongman Rogue Invitational Final Standings
- OIeksii Novikov — 49.5 points (Winner)
- Trey Mitchell — 48 points
- Mitchell Hooper — 43.5 points
- Martins Licis — 37.5 points
- Pavlo Nakonechnyy — 35 points
- Bobby Thompson — 27.5 points
- Maxime Boudreault — 27 points
- Rob Kearney — 25 points
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 22.5 points
- Kevin Faires — 14.5 points
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To win a serious strongman contest, an athlete generally needs to be a flexible Swiss Army Knife. Or, on this case, a Ukrainian Army Knife. Novikov won only one event on the 2022 Rogue Invitational, but due to an impeccable consistency built around strength and overall conditioning, he finished in the highest three in all but one event. Such output is why he eventually stood on top of the rostrum in Austin, TX.
Here’s an summary of Novikov’s complete performance over six events that helped him capture his first Rogue Invitational title.
Oleksii Novikov Rogue Invitational Event Breakdown
- Tower of Power — Third place
- Cyr Dumbbell Press — First place
- Husafell Sandbag Carry — Second place
- Rogue-a-Coaster — Third place
- Yoke Carry-Overhead Log Lift Medley — Fourth place
- Stones Over Hitching Post — Third place
Novikov’s first Rogue title is the most recent in a protracted line of achievements for the strongman superstar. Most might understandably point to his 2020 WSM title because the crowning moment of his profession up to now, however the athlete can be a four-time Ukraine’s Strongest Man (2016-2019). He even won Europe’s Strongest Man for the primary time in March 2022. Throw in a Hummer Tire Deadlift World Record from the 2022 Shaw Classic, and it’s been quite the competitive run recently for the Ukrainian athlete.
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Novikov’s victory on the 2022 Rogue Invitational made for a lucrative prize. The win gave the athlete $114,125 in prize money, probably the most awarded of any strongman contest within the 2022 calendar 12 months.
In a post on his Instagram, Novikov dedicated a “great end” to his competitive season to his countrypeople in Ukraine, who’ve been fighting off an invasion from the Russian army since February 2022.
“Like all of the victories this 12 months, this one can be dedicated to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people; I really like you; you’re unsurpassed,” Novikov wrote. “Thanks to everyone who put a hand within the undeniable fact that I can train in Ukraine, and as a Ukrainian, a bow to everyone who defends my country. We once more proved within the sports arena that we’re the strongest.”
Featured image: @rogueinvitational on Instagram