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2023 Charlotte Pro Results and Scorecards
On April 22-23, the 2023 Charlotte Pro was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. This show featured a total of five of the IFBB Pro League divisions, including Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness.
The five winners of this weekend’s competition will earn an invite to compete at bodybuilding’s most celebrated event of the year, the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, which takes place in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center from November 2-5.
Currently, athletes have until October 9 to earn an invitation to this year’s Olympia. While there’s excitement about all divisions, fans have highlighted a few Classic Physique threats. Lemar Shaw, who placed outside the top 15 at the 2022 Olympia will be in attendance. Additionally, fans expect battles from Damien Patrick and David E. Kampfe Jr.
2023 Charlotte Pro Winners
Classic Physique: Daniil Famponte
Men’s Physique: Corey Morris
Figure: Madison Dinges
Bikini: Coming Soon
Wellness: Coming Soon
2023 Charlotte Pro Results
Classic Physique
Winner — Daniil Famponte
Second Place — Daniil Famponte
Third Place — Damien Patrick
Fourth Place — Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Fifth Place — Kelvin Ogbebor
Sixth Place — Lamar Shaw
Seventh Place — James “Jay” Yount
Eighth Place — Thomas Allen
Ninth Place — Barry Irving
Tenth Place — Tony A. Harris
Men’s Physique
Winner — Corey Morris
Second Place — Benquil Marigny
Third Place — Christopher Barr
Fourth Place — Dustin Alvis
Fifth Place — Puwanat Putoya
Sixth Place — Brett Mario Jackson
Seventh Place — John Murphy
Eighth Place — Roy Williams
Ninth Place — Brandon Elam
Tenth Place — Joshua Goforth
Figure
Winner — Madison Dinges
Second Place — Ericka Morgan
Third Place — Danielle Rose
Fourth Place — Constance Jones
Fifth Place — Amanda Houston
Sixth Place — Ashley Howells
Seventh Place — Deshane Price
Eighth Place — Sh’Nere Mattise Deas
Ninth Place — Nakeisha Scruggs
Tenth Place — Yukina Betz
Bikini
Coming Soon!
Wellness
Coming Soon!
2023 Charlotte Pro Scorecards
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners, and we look forward to seeing you compete on the Olympia stage.
Published: 23 April, 2023 | 3:29 AM EDT
2023 Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro Scorecard
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2023 Houston Tournament of Champions Scorecard
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}IFBB PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE®, IFBB PRO LEAGUE®, IFBB PRO® and the IFBB Professional League logo are registered trademarks owned by the IFBB Professional League.The IFBB Professional League logo cannot be altered in any way, shape or form without the expressed written approval of the IFBB Professional League. Where such approval is granted, the IFBB Professional League will provide the altered logo.© 2022 IFBB Pro, All Rights Reserved.
Ric Flair Details Surviving Deadly Plane Crash to Joe Rogan: ‘They Didn’t Think I’d Ever Wrestle Again’
Pro wrestling icon Ric Flair is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time in the sport with a decorated career that spanned generations. In a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Flair detailed his experience of surviving a deadly plane crash that nearly ended his run in pro wrestling to Joe Rogan.
Ric Flair grew up with a passion for athletics and competed in a range of sports as a teenager. He chose to focus on wrestling after making a name for himself on the amateur circuit. In 1972, Flair made his debut under the American Wrestling Association (AWA) banner, where he went up against the likes of Dusty Rhodes and Andre the Giant. Then, he moved to the National Wrestling Allegiance (NWA) and became a titleholder. However, his wrestling career was at risk of collapsing after he got involved in a serious plane crash in 1975.
While he was told he would not be able to wrestle again, Flair managed to recover and got back in the ring in the first quarter of 1976. His star power skyrocketed over the next decade after he adopted the monk of ‘The Nature Boy.’ He ruled the heavyweight class of the NWA and established himself as the main draw of the organization, headlining the most prestigious annual card ten times.
Flair joined the roster of the WWF/WWE in 1991 and instantly became a popular star with his antics and charismatic persona. He turned in some of the most memorable performances in the company’s history, facing The Undertaker, Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and other fellow standouts.
In Jun. 2017, Flair endured a ghastly hand injury stemming from a suspected physical altercation with a Warriors fan. He hinted at the incident while defending his favorite team, Cleveland Cavaliers. He needed to undergo surgery for a health scare related to alcohol abuse a few months later. The news of his hospitalization drew messages of support from the community. Fortunately, he recovers and gave up drinking after the close call.
’The Nature Boy’ made headlines after being rushed to the hospital for health concerns in May 2019. His son-in-law Conrad Thompson later clarified the incident was not serious. Following heart surgery, Flair returned to social media to express gratitude for the support he received.
Ric Flair details surviving a deadly plane crash to Joe Rogan
In a recent YouTube video, Ric Flair opened up about his experience of surviving a horrific plane crash to Joe Rogan.
“We were going from Charlotte to Wilmington, North Carolina for outdoors show,” said Flair. “What happened ultimately is he took five of us on the plane and we didn’t know at the time he was carrying no fuel because we were 1400 pounds over gross. So, we get there and hit a little bit of a headwind or between seven to eight thousand, it’s not a pressurized plane so that’s not 310.
“He did what’s called past the point of no return. He should have landed in Raleigh and refilled but he’s looking and say it’s 100 miles. So unbeknownst to us the guy in front of me, Johnny Valentine, who got paralyzed kept looking at the gas gauge and looking back at me. I thought Johnny had that dry sense of humor.
“We’re flying along all of a sudden the right engine goes *boop boop* maybe like six times over and then bingo pinned. I went sh*t. He reaches down, pulls up the reserve, natural reaction there is no reserve gas, left engine went *boop* and boom *plane goes down*. Instead of flying into the Orchard trees, going to cartwheel a small aircraft, we were going so fast down anddd landed in a railroad makement stuck at the ground at 230 miles an hour. So we were probably going well over 300 and we were literally 200 yards from the runway.”
Flair shared the deadly aftermath of the crash that nearly ended his wrestling ambitions. Despite being told he’d never be able to wrestle again, Flair returned to action in six months.
“They tried,” he continued. “He died and never regained consciousness.”
“I broke my back in three places; T10, 11, and 12. Compression fracture. I used to be at 6’2”. No surgery at all. They just didn’t think I’d ever wrestle again. I was like what am I going to do, right. It was the October of 75 and I was back in the ring in March of 76. I went from 255 to 180 back to 218.
“But I never got myself to land flat on my back again ever. Everybody knows I land on my hip and my side. Just couldn’t get myself to land flat.”
Ric Flair motivated his followers with an intense workout video last June. The 73-year-old looked in impressive shape as he crushed the training routines in prep for his initially planned final outing.
Flair had an undeniable impact on the game. While he is past his best days of pro wrestling, it’s hard to imagine what the sport would have looked like had he not been able to continue due to the accident.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 22 April, 2023 | 6:00 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Wants William Bonac to Retire on Olympia Stage & Explains Samson Dauda’s Rise to the Top
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo often lends his voice to educating bodybuilding fans on the judging of events and more. In a recent interview with Desktop Bodybuilding, Cicherillo talked about William Bonac’s exit plan from the sport and shared his thoughts on the rise of Samson Dauda. Bodybuilding veteran William Bonac has been…
Powerlifter Hunter Henderson Smashes 501-lb (227.2-kg) Raw Conventional Deadlift PR
Hunter Henderson is a highly inspiring and impressive personality in the fitness community, who has achieved great success in both powerlifting and bodybuilding. Despite having accomplished more than what most athletes can only dream of, Hunter Henderson still strives for more and seeks new challenges to achieve a sense of satisfaction. Recently, she managed to achieve just that by setting a new personal record in the conventional deadlift, crushing an incredible weight of 501 pounds (227.2 kilograms). This accomplishment has left her and her fans excited and motivated for what’s next to come.
Even Hunter Henderson has stated that the deadlift is her least proficient lift on a few occasions, but that only means that there is room for improvement. So, she is trying to switch things up and that includes transitioning from a sumo to a conventional stance. In addition, she has now deadlifted over 500 pounds (226.8 kilograms) with a conventional stance for the first time ever. So, Hunter was more than thrilled to share it on Instagram.
“My first time EVER pulling 500 conventional. This is so fucking cool for me? I tried a belt this week and just wore it pretty loose. It felt comfy!
It has been a long fucking time since a deadlift has excited me. Tonight was cool.”
Hunter Henderson’s new personal record (PR) of 501 pounds (227.2 kilograms) for a conventional deadlift was achieved without any assistance from supportive gear or equipment, making it a raw lift. She did, however, wear a lifting belt and used chalk to improve her grip. To reduce the range of motion and improve her balance, she also lifted without shoes. Holding onto the barbell during the lift can also be a challenge, but Hunter effectively utilized a mixed grip to complete the lift.
Watch the video here:
Related: Powerlifter Hunter Henderson Lands a 515-lb (233.6-kg) Raw Squat Three Rep PR
Hunter Henderson seems to be in her offseason currently, which might be why she is experimenting with the conventional stance on the deadlifts. She last competed at the 2023 WRPF Ghost Clash 2 two months ago. Hunter walked off with some competition PRs and a new U82.5KG All-Time Raw World Record Squat of 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds).
Hunter Henderson has been competing professionally in powerlifting since 2018. In these five years, she has racked up nine sanctioned performances and, very impressively, managed to win all of them. Alongside that, Hunter also scored multiple World Records.
Hunter Henderson’s Competition PRs
Squat: 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds) — (2023 WRPF The Ghost Clash 2)
Bench Press: 155 kilograms (341.7 pounds) — (2022 WRPF FQ Classic 2)
Deadlift: 260 kilograms (573.2 pounds) — (2021 WRPF Kern US Open)
Total: 670 kilograms (1,477.1 pounds) — (2023 WRPF The Ghost Clash 2)
Apart from her powerlifting achievements, Hunter Henderson is also a very impressive bodybuilder as well. Moreover, she even earned her IFBB Pro Card at the 2021 NPC USA Championship, and competed at one more competition after it, the 2021 IFBB Tampa Pro.
Related: Powerlifter Hunter Henderson (U82.5 kg) Scores A Huge 305 kg (672.4 lbs) All-Time Squat World Record (Raw w/Wraps)
Hunter Henderson’s Competition History
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
No data found…
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
No data found…
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
Analyze Lifts
Crossing over to a conventional stance from sumo is definitely very difficult, but it certainly shows just how talented and strong Hunter Henderson is. It is also not clear if she will continue training in this way or if her goal was purely to set this 501-pound (227.2-kilogram) PR. Either way, Hunter will continue displaying her strength and impress the powerlifting fans.
Published: 22 April, 2023 | 1:35 PM EDT
Andrew Tate Denies Steroid & TRT Use Amid Fan Speculation: “Never Taken Them in My Life”
Andrew Tate, the controversial social media influencer, has denied taking steroids, and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). In a recent Twitter post, Tate showcased his ripped physique and underscored that he’s never touched steroids or TRT. Andrew and his brother, Tristan Tate were arrested last December in Romania, Bucharest for alleged human sex-trafficking crimes until the…
2023 World’s Strongest Man Results — Finals Day One [Live Updates]
We have already passed the halfway point of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man contest, but the most exciting part of the event is yet to come. Following two days of qualifying and a rest day, the competition resumed today, April 22nd, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Today marks the first of two days of Finals, where the top ten athletes compete in six events each day. The events scheduled for today include Fingal’s Fingers, Deadlift, and a Shield Carry.
The first day of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man finals has been delayed due to problematic weather conditions. Additionally, the events may be re-arranged, as some of the equipment might be too slippery to perform on safely without risking injuries.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Finals Results [Live]
Mitchell Hooper (Canada) — 10 points
Tom Stoltman (UK) — 9 points
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) — 8 points
Trey Mitchell (USA) — 7 points
Evan Singleton (USA) — 6 points
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine) — 5 points
Luke Stoltman (UK) — 4 points
Brian Shaw (USA) — 3 points
Mathew Ragg (New Zealand) — 2 points
Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa) — 1 points
Related: Every Winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition Since 1977
2023 World’s Strongest Man Finals Day One Event Recap
Reign Shield Carry
The Reign Shield Carry was the first event on day one of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man Final. A massive shield-like implement was placed on the ground for participants to pick up and carry for the maximum distance possible. The shield weighs 196 kilograms (432.1 pounds) and the event has no time limit.
Due to the weather conditions, the Shield Carry event was rescheduled to be the first event of the day instead of the final event. This decision was made to ensure the safety of the participants.
Mitchell Hooper had to exert all his effort to win the first event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man Finals. Although he initially struggled after only a few meters, he displayed unparalleled mental strength by persevering, taking deliberate steps, and leaning backwards
Tom Stoltman began the Shield Carry event with impressive speed, covering three lengths of 20 meters with ease. However, in stark contrast to Hooper’s determination and perseverance, Stoltman unexpectedly dropped the shield.
Oleksii Novikov secured the third place with ease by surpassing all other competitors except for Hooper and Stoltman.
On the other hand, Pavlo Kordiyaka managed to have the longest run in the Shield Carry event, but he received a deduction of 20 meters from his score as he failed to comply with the rules by crossing the marked line on the pavement.
Mitchell Hooper — 64.8 m
Tom Stoltman — 63.15 m
Oleksii Novikov — 55.87 m
Trey Mitchell — 50.83 m
Evan Singleton — 48.3 m
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 46.59 m
Luke Stoltman — 44.62 m
Brian Shaw — 39.1 m
Mathew Ragg — 37.65 m
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 15.92 m
Knaack Deadlift
The second event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man finals was the Knaack Deadlift for reps. This standard Strongman movement involved a barbell loaded with two massive Knaack boxes on each side, bringing the total weight to 353 kilograms (778.2 pounds). The event also had a time limit of 60 seconds for athletes to perform as many repetitions as possible.
*Results are coming soon.
Fingal’s Fingers
In the Fingal’s Fingers event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man finals, five long poles were placed horizontally on the ground. The athletes had to lift each pole from the ground, get it into an upright position, and then push it to the opposite side. The weight of each Fingal’s Fingers pole increased and ranged from 145 kilograms (319.7 pounds) to 172 kilograms (379.2 pounds). The event has a time limit of 60 seconds.
Actually, Fingal’s Fingers was originally scheduled as the first event of day one of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man finals, but due to weather conditions, it was moved to last for safety purposes.
*Results are coming soon.
Related: Eddie Hall Reveals His Top 3 Predictions For The 2023 World’s Strongest Man
We are just one day away from the conclusion of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. In order to not miss out on any of the action, here are the scheduled starting times for each event.
Event Schedule
Day Four, April 23rd — Finals
Event Four — Max Dumbbell – 8 a.m. EST
Event Five — Vehicle Pull – 10:10 a.m. EST
Event Six — Atlas Stones – 1:54 p.m. EST
How To Watch
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to watch the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition live online unless you are physically present in Myrtle Beach, SC. However, there’s no need to worry as we will provide you with a detailed summary of the event to keep you informed.
Full WSM 2023 Coverage
Discover comprehensive coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition at our WSM coverage hub, featuring exclusive interviews, event recaps, in-depth analysis, and results: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 22 April, 2023 | 11:18 AM EDT
2023 World’s Strongest Man Results And Point Standings [Live Updates]
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition is currently being held from April 19-23 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The competition aims to determine the world’s greatest Strongman athlete, and has brought together 30 contestants from around the globe. These competitors have competed over the course of two days in the qualifying stage, after which the field was narrowed down to only ten athletes. After a rest day, these finalists are now competing in an additional six events over two days to determine the ultimate winner.
The 2023 World’s Strongest Man Finals encountered some setbacks at the start of the competition due to bad weather. However, some changes to the schedule fixed everything. Be sure to stay tuned to Fitness Volt for every detail as it unfolds.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Leaderboard[LIVE]
Rank
Athlete Name
Points
1
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
–
2
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
–
3
Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
–
4
Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
–
5
Trey Mitchell (USA)
–
6
Tom Stoltman (UK)
–
7
Luke Stoltman (UK)
–
8
Mathew Ragg (New Zealand)
–
9
Brian Shaw (USA)
–
10
Evan Singleton (USA)
–
Brian Shaw (Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man)
Related: Brian Shaw Reveals How He Almost Lost His Leg In Preparation For 2023 World’s Strongest Man
Finals Recap — Day One
Reign Shield Carry
For this event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition the athletes were tasked with carrying a massive metal shield weighing 196 kilograms (432.1 pounds). They did not have a time limit either, since the goal was to carry it for max distance.
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine) —
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) —
Mitchell Hooper (Canada) —
Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa) —
Trey Mitchell (USA) —
Tom Stoltman (UK) —
Luke Stoltman (UK) —
Mathew Ragg (New Zealand) —
Brian Shaw (USA) —
Evan Singleton (USA) —
Knaack Deadlift
It would be impossible to ignore the deadlift this year, as they always make for a great show. With two huge Knaack boxes hanging on either side of the barbell, the athletes had to perform as many reps as possible. The total weight of the deadlift came out to 353 kilograms (778.2 pounds) and the time limit was 60 seconds.
Results are coming soon.
Fingal’s Fingers
The Fingal’s Fingers are often seen in the World’s Strongest Man competition due to their complexity. So, they found their place among the final events this year as well. The athletes have to flip five pole-like Fingal’s Finger implements in a time limit of 60 seconds. The weight of the implements ranged from 145 kilograms (319.7 pounds) to 172 kilograms (379.2 pounds).
*Originally, Fingal’s Fingers was going to be the first event on the first day of finals. However, the rain caused the poles to become too slippery to perform safely. Therefore, this event was changed to be the last event of the day.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Group Stage Leaderboard
Group 1
Rank
Name
Points
1
Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine (QUALIFIED)
25
2
Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom (QUALIFIED THROUGH STONE-OFF)
20.5
3
Bobby Thompson — USA
20
4
Konstantine Janashia — Georgia
17.5
5
Pa O’Dwyer — Ireland
13
6
Eddie Williams — Australia
9
Group 2
Rank
Name
Points
1
Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine (QUALIFIED)
23
2
Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom (QUALIFIED THROUGH STONE-OFF)
21
3
Gavin Bilton — United Kingdom
20
4
Thomas Evans — USA
18
5
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — Iceland
15.5
6
Fadi El Masri — Lebanon
7.5
Group 3
Rank
Name
Points
1
Mitchell Hooper — Canada (QUALIFIED)
29
2
Mathew Ragg — New Zealand (QUALIFIED THROUGH STONE-OFF)
22.5
3
Aivars Smaukstelis — Latvia
17.5
4
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Poland
14
5
Graham Hicks — United Kingdom
11.5
6
Spenser Remick — USA
10.5
Group 4
Rank
Name
Points
1
Jaco Schoonwinkel — South Africa (QUALIFIED)
24
2
Brian Shaw — USA (QUALIFIED THROUGH STONE-OFF)
23.5
3
Rauno Heinla — Estonia
20.5
4
Adam Bishop — United Kingdom
14
5
Kevin Faires — USA
13.5
6
Gabriel Rhéaume — Canada
9.5
Group 5
Rank
Name
Points
1
Trey Mitchell — USA (Qualified)
26
2
Evan Singleton — USA (QUALIFIED THROUGH STONE-OFF)
24.5
3
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland
22.5
4
Mark Felix — United Kingdom
12.5
5
Paul Smith — United Kingdom
11
6
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — France
8.5
Qualifying Recap — Day Two
Conan’s Wheel
The Conan’s Wheel, known for the pain it produces, depletes many strongmen’s energy reserves. The challenge involves holding a 200-kilogram beam in their forearms while attempting to cover as much distance as possible. This often proves to be one of the most difficult challenges in Strongman. After picking up the beam, which is fixed to the pivot in the center, athletes were not allowed to drop it. Once it was dropped, their result was calculated in degrees.
Group One
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 742 °
Pa O’Dwyer — 722 °
Bobby Thompson — 649 °
Konstantine Janashia — 633 °
Eddie Williams — 614 °
Tom Stoltman — 598 °
Group Two
Oleksii Novikov — 897 °
Gavin Bilton — 557 °
Luke Stoltman — 545 °
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — 524 °
Fadi El Masri — 70 °
Thomas Evans — 69 °
Group Three
Mitchell Hooper — 636 °
Mathew Ragg — 628 °
Aivars Smaukstelis — 575 °
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 538 °
Spenser Remick — 470 °
Graham Hicks — 425 °
Group Four
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 713 °
Kevin Faires — 636 °
Rauno Heinla — 572 °
Gabriel Rheaume — 476 °
Brian Shaw — 411 °
Adam Bishop — 292 °
Group Five
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 629 °
Evan Singleton — 589 °
Trey Mitchell — 523 °
Paul Smith — 518 °
Mark Felix — 470 °
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 143 °
Kettlebell Toss
The Kettlebell Toss was another interesting qualifying event, but this one focused more on speed than endurance. Participants in the 2023 World’s Strongest Man faced seven kettlebells weighing between 20 and 31 kilograms, which they had to throw over a 4.57-meter-tall beam as quickly as possible.
Group One
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 6 in 18.09 s
Konstantine Janashia — 6 in 19.93 s
Tom Stoltman — 6 in 21.99 s
Pa O’Dwyer — 6 in 31.71 s
Bobby Thompson — 6 in 35.67 s
Eddie Williams — 6 in 36.40 s
Group Two
Gavin Bilton — 6 in 19.90 s
Luke Stoltman — 6 in 49.35 s
Thomas Evans — 5 in 28.68 s
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — 5 in 15.57 s
Fadi El Masri — 4 in 20.61 s
Oleksii Novikov — 1 in 9.56 s
Group Three
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 7 in 32.44 s
Mitchell Hooper — 6 in 17.18 s
Mathew Ragg — 6 in 21.96 s
Aivars Smaukstelis — 6 in 25.41 s
Spenser Remick — 5 in 24.31 s
Graham Hicks — 4 in 20.51 s
Group Four
Brian Shaw — 7 in 48.45 s
Adam Bishop — 6 in 32.29 s
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 6 in 47.32 s
Kevin Faires — 5 in 34.09 s
Rauno Heinla — 5 in 44.51 s
Gabriel Rheaume — 3 in 14.00 s
Group Five
Trey Mitchell — 7 in 34.42 s
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 6 in 27.66 s
Evan Singleton — 6 in 28.81 seconds
Mark Felix — 4 in 42.66 s
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 2 in 23.65 s
Paul Smith — 1 in 28.62 s
Stone Off
The Stone Off was the final event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man Qualifying stage, and only the 2nd and 3rd place finishers from each group took part. The athletes dueled against each other by lifting and tossing increasingly heavy Atlas Stones to the other man’s side. The first athlete unable to lift the stone anymore was declared the loser. The 2nd place finisher from the group did have a slight advantage, since the 3rd place finisher had to lift the stone first and thus had a higher chance of failing the lift.
Group One
Tom Stoltman: Won
Bobby Thompson: Lost
Group Two
Luke Stoltman: Won
Gavin Bilton: Lost
Group Three
Mathew Ragg: Won
Aivars Smaukstelis: Lost
Group Four
Brian Shaw: Won
Rauno Heinla: Lost
Group Five
Evan Singleton: Won
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted: Lost
Qualifying Recap — Day One
Loading Race
The first event of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition was the Loading Race. In this event, athletes had to pick up, carry, and load a Husafell sandbag, heavy sandbag, anvil, and two bundles of logs within a time limit of 90 seconds.
Group One
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 in 41.38 s
Tom Stoltman — 5 in 43.84 s
Bobby Thompson — 5 in 56.56 s
Konstantine Janashia — 5 in 61.10 s
Pa O’Dwyer — 5 in 65.89 s
Eddie Williams — 5 in 66.44 s
Group Two
Oleksii Novikov — 5 in 52.15 s
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — 5 in 54.18 s
Thomas Evans — 5 in 57.40 s
Luke Stoltman — 5 in 62.78 s
Gavin Bilton — 5 in 63.01 s
Fadi El Masri — 4 in 49.57 s
Group Three
Mitchell Hooper — 5 in 42.05 s
Aivars Smaukstelis — 5 in 52.71 s
Mathew Ragg — 5 in 58.72 s
Spenser Remick — 5 in 67.15 s
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 5 in 67.53 s
Graham Hicks — 4 in 53.40 s
Group Four
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 5 in 47.10 s
Rauno Heinla — 5 in 51.41 s
Brian Shaw — 5 in 53.70 s
Adam Bishop — 4 in 43.12 s
Gabriel Rheaume — 4 in 51.03 s
Kevin Faires — 3 in 65.30 s
Group Five
Evan Singleton — 5 in 46.90 s
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 5 in 56.41 s
Trey Mitchell — 5 in 66.64 s
Paul Smith — 4 in 44.79 s
Mark Felix — 4 in 54.32 s
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 3 in 40.63 s
Deadlift Machine
The next challenge at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man was the Deadlift Machine. A specialized piece of equipment was created for athletes to perform quick transitions to heavier weights between each repetition. The weights used in this event ranged from 290 kilograms to 385 kilograms.
Group One
Bobby Thompson — 7 reps
Konstantine Janashia — 6 reps
Tom Stoltman — 6 reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 reps
Pa O’Dwyer — 5 reps
Eddie Williams — 5 reps
Group Two
Oleksii Novikov — 6 reps
Gavin Bilton — 5 reps
Thomas Evans — 5 reps
Luke Stoltman — 5 reps
Kristján Jón Haraldsson — 4 reps
Fadi El Masri — 4 reps
Group Three
Mitchell Hooper — 8 reps
Graham Hicks — 7 reps
Mathew Ragg — 7 reps
Spenser Remick — 5 reps
Aivars Smaukstelis — 5 reps
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 4 reps
Group Four
Rauno Heinla — 8 reps
Brian Shaw — 8 reps
Adam Bishop — 7 reps
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 6 reps
Kevin Faires — 5 reps
Gabriel Rheaume — 5 reps
Group Five
Trey Mitchell — 8 reps
Evan Singleton — 6 reps
Mark Felix — 6 reps
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 5 reps
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 5 reps
Paul Smith — 4 reps
Log Ladder
At the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, participants found themselves at the starting line facing five logs with increasing weights. Their goal was to complete all the logs in the shortest time possible, but they also had a time limit of 75 seconds.
Group One
Tom Stoltman — 5 in 41.50 s
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 in 46.00 s
Bobby Thompson — 4 in 25.83 s
Eddie Williams — 4 in 55.89 s
Konstantine Janashia — 4 in 68.35 s
Pa O’Dwyer — 3 in 25.80 s
Group Two
Tom Stoltman — 5 in 41.50 s
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 in 46.00 s
Bobby Thompson — 4 in 25.83 s
Eddie Williams — 4 in 55.89 s
Konstantine Janashia — 4 in 68.35 s
Pa O’Dwyer — 3 in 25.80 s
Group Three
Mitchell Hooper — 5 in 39.51 s
Mathew Ragg — 5 in 55.84 s
Graham Hicks — 4 in 28.31 s
Aivars Smaukstelis — 4 in 30.44 s
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 4 in 33.24 s
Spenser Remick — 4 in 38.79 s
Group Four
Brian Shaw — 4 in 33.99 s
Jaco Schoonwinkel — 4 in 34.77 s
Rauno Heinla — 3 in 21.60 s
Kevin Faires — 3 in 28.93 s
Gabriel Rheaume — 3 in 32.96 s
Adam Bishop — 3 in 33.25 s
Group Five
Trey Mitchell — 5 in 39.44 s
Evan Singleton — 4 in 35.48 s
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 4 in 39.93 s
Paul Smith — 4 in 45.84 s
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 3 in 22.34 s
Mark Felix — 1 in 7.58 s
Related: Mark Felix Retires From World’s Strongest Man Appearances; A Tribute to a Strongman Legend
Previous World’s Strongest Man Winners
Tom Stoltman (2021, 2022)
Oleksii Novikov (2020)
Martins Licis (2019)
Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson (2018)
Eddie Hall (2017)
Brian Shaw (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Žydrūnas Savickas (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)
Phil Pfister (2006)
Vasyl Virastyuk (2004)
Mariusz Pudzianowski (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Svend Karlsen (2001)
Janne Virtanen (2000)
Magnus Samuelson (1998)
Jouko Ahola (1997, 1999)
Gary Taylor (1993)
Ted van der Parre (1992)
Magnús Ver Magnússon (1991, 1994-1996)
Jamie Reeves (1989)
Jón Páll Sigmarsson (1984, 1986, 1988, 1990)
Geoff Capes (1983, 1985)
Bill Kazmaier (1980-1982)
Don Reinhoudt (1979)
Bruce Wilhelm (1977-1978)
Related: Every Winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition Since 1977
FAQs
How Does The Scoring System Work?The resulting system is based on the number of competitors. Seeing that there are six athletes in each group, the winner of the event gets six points, with every following position receiving one point less.
Who Won Last Year’s World’s Strongest Man Title?Tom Stoltman from Scotland is the reigning 2x World’s Strongest Man champion. He won two consecutive titles in 2021 and 2022.
Which World’s Strongest Man Is Inducted Into Hall Of Fame?The WSM Hall of Fame is a club of the most impressive Strongman athletes in history. It was established in 2008, but still features only a small number of athletes. The Hall of Fame has six members as of 2022: Bill Kazmaier, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Svend Karlsen, Magnús Ver Magnússon, Jón Páll Sigmarsson, and Magnus Samuelsson.
Is this the final appearance for Brian Shaw?Yes, Brian Shaw no longer plans on competing at the WSM following this year. However, he will still appear at the 2023 Shaw Classic before retiring from Strongman completely.
Full WSM 2023 Coverage
Discover comprehensive coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition at our WSM coverage hub, featuring exclusive interviews, event recaps, in-depth analysis, and results: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 22 April, 2023 | 10:38 AM EDT
Chris Bumstead Builds A Beastly Back In Off-Season Training
Chris Bumstead is making the most of his time in the gym to stay ahead in the Classic Physique division. Recently, he annihilated a back training session in the gym with the goal to bring ‘a thick back this year’.
The Canadian IFBB Pro bodybuilder has risen to the status of the greatest active bodybuilders with a string of dominant wins on the grandest stage of bodybuilding – The Olympia. After snatching the Classic Physique Olympia title from rival Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia, Bumstead has defended it successfully in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The 28-year-old has been undeterred in the face of adversity and persevered over difficult situations. Fellow Canadian bodybuilder and long-time friend Iain Valliere has coached CBum for the majority of his career. However, the duo mutually decided to end the client-coach relationship before 2022 Olympia so Valliere to focus on his own career in the Men’s Open division.
Even if it was difficult, they swallowed the bitter pill and CBum entered the 2022 Olympia under famed coach Hany Rambod’s guidance. In spite of having suffered a bicep tear, Bumstead managed to bring the Sandows trophy home for the fourth consecutive time.
The champ took his own sweet time after the show and went through the treatment to heal the bicep completely. Having recovered, he is now slowly intensifying the off-season training for the 2023 competitive season.
His recent back training session was a part of this effort and Bumstead tackled it with furious intensity. The video of this session was posted on CBum’s personal YouTube channel. So let’s end the wait and take a look at the exercises he did to build a thick and wide back.
Chris Bumstead goes through a back workout
Bumstead usually prefers to start the training session with cable lat pulldowns or dumbbell exercises to warm up the back muscles before doing the heavy work. However, it was an unusually busy day in the gym and he had to stay away from the cable machine or dumbbell area to save on time. As a result, he started the training session with an unusual warm-up movement.
Hammer Strength Underhand Grip Pulldown
The 28-year-old headed to the machine area. He then went on to do the underhand grip pulldown on the plate loaded machine to warm up the lats before jumping into the heavy movements.
“Avoiding the cable dumbbell area for now. For the first time in my life I’m warming up on something other than cable pulldowns,” Cbum stated.
Bumstead performed multiple warm-up sets of this exercise unilaterally and tackled other heavy movements in the workout as he went along.
Incline Dumbbell Rows
Incline dumbbell rows are among the most effective ways to focus on the muscles and build a thick back. The exercise uses gravity to avoid other muscles from compensating for the back muscles during the lift. Since the chest is supported on the backrest of the bench toward gravity, the back muscles are forced to do all the work required for lifting the dumbbells. Hence, it helps with back development more effectively.
“I’m doing these with 85 (lbs dumbbells) right now given that I am weaker but it’s also lighter… And just squeezing full like deep range of motion like arching my back and pulling back further and pulling my elbows back as far as I can feel good. (The back’s) going to be thick this year…” CBum said.
CBum performed some solid sets of this exercise to get a good pump in the back muscles. He then jumped into the next one.
Machine Rows – 2 variations
Bumstead next performed rows on the Hammer Strength Iso-lateral rows machine. Both weight horns of the machine move independently. This enables removing strength imbalances, if any. CBum pushed through a few sets of the movement using slow and controlled motion. He then took to another variation of machine rows. He performed the exercise on a selectorized machine with a swivel handle and pushed through a few sets of the movement.
Superset – Neutral Grip Lat Pulldown and Bent Over Straight Arm Pulldowns
CBum wrapped up the training session with this superset. He performed the neutral grip lat pulldowns first and superset the movement with bent-over lat pulldowns. Bumstead used a band attachment for doing the bent-over straight-arm pulldowns. Lat pulldowns primarily focus on the latissimus dorsi muscles. On the other hand, straight-arm pulldowns target the latissimus dorsi and the teres minor muscles. Both these muscles are responsible for extending the arm, which happens to be the primary action of this movement.
Chris Bumstead performed all the sets of these exercises in rapid succession with minimal rest periods. Following this, CBum wrapped up the training session and headed back home with exhausted back muscles.
Overall, the workout included:
Chris Bumstead plans to defend the Classic Physique Olympia title a few more times and walk into the sunset. As a result, he is training hard to stay ahead of the curve and fight off hungry, young contenders like Ramon Rocha Queiroz and Urs Kalecinski. If he continues to get better, he can definitely retire as a reigning champion of the world when it is time to walk away.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 22 April, 2023 | 9:03 AM EDT