Tag: 2023 shaw classic
Tom Stoltman Smokes Massive 1,763.7-lb (800-kg) Leg Press for Reps in Prep for Shaw Classic
British strongman Tom Stoltman has established his place as an elite strength athlete with two World’s Strongest Man titles under his belt. However, he was disappointed to lose his title three months ago. So, he is now dedicated more than ever to claim some more prestigious titles, and his feats in training are a proof of that. In a recent post made on Instagram, Stoltman smoked a massive 1,763.7-pound (800-kilogram) leg press for reps in prep for the 2023 Shaw Classic.
Tom Stoltman, one-half of the prolific Stoltman brothers, grew up with a passion for soccer in his younger years. After his brother Luke won the Scotland’s Strongest Man (SSM) competition, Tom decided to start lifting weights and follow in his footsteps. His potential was evident from the start as he won his debut competition. He made waves across the regional circuit and placed runner-up behind Luke at the 2015 SSM.
Tom Stoltman rose to prominence for his insane feats of strength after turning in an impressive performance at the 2017 UK’s Strongest Man, where he took the silver medal. He earned his qualification for the World’s Strongest Man the same year and scored his first SSM win in 2018. Tom created history by becoming the first Scotsman to win the World’s Strongest Man title in 2021.
Stoltman left the fans stunned with his unreal strength by crushing a huge 749.6-lb (340-kg) axle deadlift for 10 reps while gearing up for the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man in Feb. 2022. His hard work paid off as he handily dispatched the competition to win the top prize. He followed up by successfully defending the WSM title in May 2022. Following the victory, Stoltman declared his ambitions to win six trophies and become the winningest athlete in the history of Strongman.
In Jul. 2022, Tom and Luke took on the massive 20,000-calorie breakfast challenge. The pair ordered the entire menu and devoured six big meals to fulfill their appetite.
Tom Stoltman / Instagram
Tom Stoltman was set to participate in the 2022 Shaw Classic but ended up withdrawing from the show at the last minute last August. He explained there were errors in completing paperwork for travel for his wife, and he did not want to go without her. Although he looked for other solutions, he ultimately decided to skip the contest. He also opened up on his plans to score a 505-kg (1,113.3-lb) deadlift after the 2023 WSM.
Tom, also known as ‘The Albatross’, gave fans a look into his grueling shoulders workout last September. He went through a high-volume training routine to enhance his conditioning in the off-season.
Stoltman was then seen in action at the 2023 WSM, which took place Apr. 19-23 in South Carolina. He was looking to score a historic three-peat against a stacked lineup. He won two events in the Finals but could not do enough to edge out Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper. In the end, Hooper won gold and Stoltman took second place. He was last seen competing at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, where he also finished in second-place, but this time behind Evan Singleton.
Tom Stoltman Smokes Massive 1,763.7-lb (800-kg) Leg Press for Reps in Prep for Shaw Classic
In a recent Instagram post, Tom Stoltman crushed a huge 1,763.7-pound (800-kilogram) leg press for reps while in prep for the upcoming 2023 Shaw Classic. One of the events at this competition will be the Car Leg Press. So, Tom hopes that the standard variation of this exercise will have a proper carryover to what will be featured in the competition.
He used bands to perform the lift and incorporated pauses to amp up the intensity. He completed the reps smoothly with proper technique. Tom is probably also lured by the fact that the winner of the 2023 Shaw Classic will be crowned as “The Strongest Man On Earth”. This will be the first time that the Shaw Classic is giving this title away, since Brian got the trademark from Paul Ohl not too long ago.
“A 800kg plus leg press with bands and pauses!” Stoltman wrote. “This took my soul. Prepping hard for @theshawclassic.”
The 2023 Shaw Classic is scheduled for Aug. 19-20 in Loveland, Colorado. It will mark Shaw’s final competition and will be a true festival of strength. Tom Stoltman will be looking to claim the title for the first time and cement his place in Strongman history.
Based on the latest update, it’s clear Tom Stoltman is determined to get back in the winning column when he returns to action in under a month.
Published: 23 July, 2023 | 2:21 PM EDT
Brian Shaw Announces That The Winner of 2023 Shaw Classic Will Be Crowned as ‘Strongest Man On Earth’
Brian Shaw is nearing the end of his Strongman career as a competitor since his final professional appearance will be at the 2023 Shaw Classic on August 19-20. However, seeing how Brian was always focused on improving the sport, he still plans to continue, but from the position of an organizer instead of a competitor. So, wanting to make the Shaw Classic the greatest competition in the world, Brian has acquired the title of ‘Strongest Man On Earth’.
The Shaw Classic will take place for the fourth time this year and will be the first time the winner will be called the ‘Strongest Man On Earth’. Each year the competition gets better, mostly because Brian makes sure to put on as great of a competition as possible. So, he has now added another factor which will lure the greatest Strongman athletes currently to compete in his competition, as the title of ‘Strongest Man On Earth’ will be awarded to the winner.
This title was trademarked by Paul Ohl, who organized a competition called Fortissimus in 2008 and 2009. It was one of the greatest competitions at the time, and the winner earned the title of the ‘Strongest Man On Earth’. However, Paul has now decided to pass down the torch to Brian Shaw, as Paul considers him one of the greatest Strongman champions in history alongside Zydrunas Savickas.
“EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE STRONGEST MAN ON EARTH WILL OFFICIALLY BE CROWNED AT @theshawclassic IN 2023!
In 2023 The Shaw Classic will carry on the torch that has been passed from Paul Ohl and Fortissimus and now crown The Strongest Man on Earth.”
Watch a snippet of Brian Shaw & Paul Ohl’s conversation here:
Related: 2023 Shaw Classic Updates: New Competitor, Arm Wrestling Matches & More Revealed By Brian Shaw
Paul Ohl revealed that he was a fan of Brian Shaw even when he just started the sport. He recognized the greatness in Brian before anyone else and is now delighted to pass down the torch.
“At that time, there was a little hesitation… In January of 2008, I saw you compete, and I saw the first two events. I said this man — that superman should I say — will be a part of the history of the Strongman.” said Paul Ohl.
Apart from the title of The Strongest Man On Earth, Paul Ohl has also given Brian Shaw the blessing to use one of his iconic events — The Louis Cyr Stone. It is a natural stone weighing 533 pounds that is meant to be picked up. However, the events for this year’s Shaw Classic have already been revealed, meaning the Louis Cyr Stone will not be one of them. Therefore, it is likely that this event will be featured in future editions of the show, as Brian made some promising comments regarding it.
Paul then revealed why he trademarked the title of The Strongest Man On Earth and got into the committee for the competition.
“I said I am going to be on that committee for one reason. Athletes are bleeding and sweating 100%, while organizers are looking at the athletes and putting 100% in their pockets. So, I am going to be on that committee to make a bet on the biggest prize money ever.”
Paul Ohl has recognized that Brian Shaw also cares the most about the competitors instead of his own profit. So, he was more than glad to give him a trademark title.
“I am so damn proud that Brian Shaw, at the end of his career, will be the man who will take it over and will carry the torch further. I am sure you will do that. You are the man with the ethics, you are the man with the track record, and you are the man with the passion and knowledge about Strongman amongst all of them.”
Brian Shaw also had a word to say about how much this means to him and what he plans to do with his competition in the future.
“Being able to work into a position like this and have somebody like you endorse the Shaw Classic and now the Shaw Classic being able to legitimately crown the Strongest Man On Earth, is just… I don’t even have the words to say how much that means to me,” said Shaw.
Watch the full conversation here:
Related: Mateusz Kieliszkowski Withdraws From 2023 Shaw Classic; Gavin Bilton Makes His Debut
The lineup and the events for the 2023 Shaw Classic have been revealed, but now the athletes have a much bigger incentive to perform well. There is no doubt that those taking part will now push themselves to their absolute limits to claim the prestigious title, which makes the Shaw Classic arguably the greatest Strongman competition in the world.
Published: 18 July, 2023 | 10:10 AM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Scores a 210-kg (463-lb) Bench Press Three-Rep PR In Preparation For 2023 Shaw Classic
The Canadian Strongman Mitchell Hooper is arguably the biggest name in the sport at this moment in time. He earned this status despite only competing for a year and a few months, since he has already accumulated success that many weren’t able to achieve in over a decade of competing. He often methodically trains for competitions in which he plans to take part, which is also the case with his current preparation for the 2023 Shaw Classic. In order to perform at the highest level possible, Hooper has turned to bench press training, which has resulted in a new 210-kilogram (463-pound) three-rep personal record.
One of the events at the 2023 Shaw Classic will be the standing bench press. So, having not trained this exercise as frequently as needed beforehand, Mitchell Hooper is now pushing his limits in the hopes of making this a successful event for him. In turn, Hooper completed a training session with his coach Laurence “Big Loz” Shahlaei. During this, we saw him press 210 kilograms (463 pounds) for three reps with nothing but elbow sleeves to aid him. This marked the heaviest three-rep bench press that Mitchell has ever done, signaling that some improvement has been made.
“I’m probably the most nervous about this one (Bench Press) at the Shaw Classic. I don’t think I’m a good bench presser. I think a lot of my overhead strength comes from my legs.”
Mitchell Hooper’s coach noticed that his power on the bench press is great, but that his technique could get better. So, he advised him to create tension in the legs and the whole body. Another tip Big Loz gave to Hooper was to “squeeze” the arms rather than “punching” through the motion.
Watch the lift here:
Mitchell Hooper completed the lift at the 13:10 time mark in the YouTube video.
Related: 2023 WSM Mitchell Hooper Attempts Eddie Hall’s Infamous ‘Death By Deadlift’ Set
Mitchell Hooper recently competed at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, where he ended up taking third place. However, he was in the lead for the majority of the competition. Hooper now reflected on the performance and revealed that he is not satisfied, despite getting the bronze medal.
“The longer the third place sits with me, the longer I fu**ing hate it. Losing really doesn’t really sit right with me…”
Mitchell Hooper’s Full Workout
Bench Press
Log Lift
Sandbag Throw
Chest Press
Mitchell Hooper took part in 11 International competitions and won five of them. However, he is currently on a streak of ten consecutive podium finishes, proving that he is always a contender for the title.
Hooper’s greatest achievement so far was winning the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. However, another notable mention was his victory at the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Mitchell Hooper has been active on social media as well, revealing everything about his journey to becoming the World’s Strongest Man. This includes mental health struggles, a look into a day of his life, the supplements he uses, as well as some iconic strength challenges.
Related: 2023 WSM Mitchell Hooper Shares ‘Non-Negotiable’ Supplements, Alcohol & Sugar for Recovery
Mitchell Hooper was on a mind-blowing streak this year, winning three competitions in a row this year already. He will be looking to add some more titles to his name by the end of the year since he plans on making a few more appearances. His main focus currently is the 2023 Shaw Classic, which is evident by the fact that he set a new 210-kilogram (463-pound) bench press three-rep PR. This competition will take place on August 19-20, so just over a month remains.
Published: 12 July, 2023 | 7:20 PM EDT
Mateusz Kieliszkowski Withdraws From 2023 Shaw Classic; Gavin Bilton Makes His Debut
The 2023 Shaw Classic will take place on August 19-20, and will mark the end of Brian Shaw’s professional career. So, it is set to be the most special and emotional competition of the season, which is why Brian is making sure everything is perfect. Also, Brian made sure to choose a perfect 16-man lineup. However, one of his original choices will not be able to attend, as the Polish prodigy, Mateusz Kieliszkowski has withdrawn from the competition.
Brian Shaw initially named 15 athletes for the 2023 Shaw Classic and waited for official confirmation from Mateusz Kieliszkowski who was the 16th man. Unfortunately, despite initially confirming his presence two months ago, Mateusz has now revealed that he won’t compete.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski injured his knee earlier this year and he thinks it will not heal by the time the 2023 Shaw Classic rolls around.
“Unfortunately Mateusz Kieliszkowski doesn’t feel that he will be back in fighting shape by August and has decided to withdraw. We wish him all the best in a full recovery,” stated the caption of Shaw Classic’s Instagram post.
Related: Polish Strongman Mateusz Kielz. Litfs an INSANE 478lbs Stone To Shoulder
Mateusz Kieliszkowski is still young but he has already made a name for himself, having started competing in 2014 at just 21 years old. From then, until 2021, Mateusz took part in 44 International and National competitions, claiming 15 victories in the process.
After suffering multiple injuries in 2021, Mateusz Kieliszkowski did not compete until the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic. His comeback to the sport was very successful, as Mateusz finished in second, only behind Mitchell Hooper. He then took part in the 2023 WSM, but did not qualify for the finals.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski’s Replacement
Coming in to replace Mateusz Kieliszkowski at the 2023 Shaw Classic is Gavin Bilton, also known as the Welsh Bull. Gavin has never competed in Brian Shaw’s competitions. So he will be making his debut in August.
Gavin Bilton is currently riding a success wave, having recently claimed his first International victory at the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia. In addition, he has two National titles to his name as well, having won the 2020 and 2021 UK’s Strongest Man competitions.
In total, Gavin Bilton has taken part in 23 International and National competitions and won three of them. Four appearances came at the World’s Strongest Man competition, but Gavin never made it into the final 10.
Related: Brian Shaw Reveals 10,000+ Calorie Diet Leading Up To His Final Professional Strongman Appearance Ever
2023 Shaw Classic Full Lineup
Trey Mitchell
Mitchell Hooper
Oleksii Novikov
Maxime Boudreault
Kevin Faires
Aivars Šmaukstelis
Evan Singleton
Bobby Thompson
Luke Stoltman
Tom Stoltman
Adam Bishop
Pavlo Kordiyaka
Pavlo Nakonechnyy
Thomas Evans
Brian Shaw
Gavin Bilton
Brian Shaw recently revealed that the 2023 Shaw Classic will also feature arm wrestling matches, grip events, and more. However, the main attraction of the event is still the Strongman competition, and Gavin Bilton, the newest member of the lineup, will do his best to make it awesome. Mateusz Kieliszkowski will still be missed, but there is no doubt that he will continue competing at the highest level once he is recovered.
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 7:38 PM EDT
2023 Shaw Classic Updates: New Competitor, Arm Wrestling Matches & More Revealed By Brian Shaw
The 2023 Shaw Classic competition is growing in anticipation, as it is set to be a truly historic Strongman show for multiple reasons. For one, this will be the final pro Strongman contest for the 4x WSM Brian Shaw, who is also the host of the eponymous contest. However, in a new update video posted on YouTube, Brian has revealed some new information about the 2023 Shaw Classic. This includes the change of the lineup and the addition of arm wrestling matches to the show.
Firstly, Brian Shaw revealed that the 2023 Shaw Classic will be more than just a Strongman competition, but instead an Expo. This will increase the enjoyment of all visitors, as they will have the chance to meet some celebrity figures.
“The Expo is going to be amazing. There’s been a lot of work that’s been put into this. We are going to have a ton of guest speakers that are going to be presenting for free. So, this Expo is for free on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A couple of the confirmed guest speakers are Ed Cohen, Joe Kenn, and Jujimufu. The list is going to be long. We’ll have male and female speakers.”
Addition Of Grip Events & Arm Wrestling To 2023 Shaw Classic
The next thing Brian Shaw addressed was the tedious pause between Strongman events and how he plans on utilizing that time. So, he has two ideas, first one being an addition of two grip events, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. In addition, elite grip athletes will come in specifically to perform these two events and entertain the fans while Strongmen rest.
“Between these strongman events at the Shaw Classic, people are hoping to have a little bit more entertainment. So, we have listened to that. I’ve had these different ideas, and I feel like we’re going to test them out. So, number one, we’re going to have two different grip events. We’re going to have a bunch of ‘grip experts’, guys that are very high level in grip, come in and compete in two different events. So, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.”
However, grip events on their own are not enough to fill out the repertoire for two days of competition. So, Brian is organizing two major arm wrestling matchups with some big names from that scene. The names are not known yet, as they have not officially been paired, but Brian hopes to satisfy both Strongman and Arm Wrestling fans. In addition, he predicts that this will be the biggest arm wrestling event so far in terms of live audience.
“We are going to add arm wrestling this year. So, this is going to be something new. The goal is to have two different matches. One on Saturday as a part of the contest, and one on Sunday as a part of the contest. So, I’m working on everything on the back side of that and then getting the matches actually confirmed because we want to have really competitive matches that are entertaining, exciting, and hopefully appeal to all of the Strongman fans that will be there in attendance, as well as everybody from the arm wrestling world as well. To my knowledge, this will be the biggest live audience that has ever watched an arm wrestling match in person.”
Graham Hicks Replaced by Pavlo Kordiyaka
Going through the actual Strongman portion of the 2023 Shaw Classic, Brian Shaw revealed that Graham Hicks will not appear. He was originally named as a part of the roster, but he has since withdrawn. An incredible replacement has been found for him, as the 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man, Pavlo Kordiyaka, will step in.
“One update to this list is that Graham Hicks has pulled out of the contest. So, he will not be competing, unfortunately. To take Graham’s spot, we have confirmed Pavlo Kordiyaka. Amazing performance from Pavlo this year at the World’s Strongest Man.”
Reveal of The Final Competitor For The 2023 Shaw Classic
In addition, when Brian Shaw originally revealed the lineup, he confirmed fifteen athletes and left one pending. That was because the sixteenth and final competitor was not able to confirm his arrival at that time. However, he has now been given the green light and Brian revealed that the man in question was Mateusz Kieliszkowski. The Polish Strongman has had an incredible start to his career, but has unfortunately encountered a lot of setbacks during the past few years.
“In the sixteenth spot, we have Mateusz Kieliszkowski. So, Mateusz is confirmed now. What I will say is that he is having some treatment done on his knees. That was his biggest concern about confirming for this contest. He ended up kind of tweaking both of his knees with the stone throw event at the Arnold Classic this year. So, that was unfortunate. He is getting treatment on them, he feels like he’s going to be ready to go.”
Finally, just as a precaution, Brian Shaw has revealed who the reserve for the 2023 Shaw Classic will be. He has gone for Gavin Bilton who got his first International victory just a few days ago as well.
Watch the video here:
Related: Brian Shaw Announces Events For 2023 Shaw Classic
2023 Shaw Classic Full Lineup
Brian Shaw is excited and optimistic about the upcoming 2023 Shaw Classic, hoping that it will attract a large and enthusiastic audience, making it a sold-out event. This competition will take place on August 19-20. So, there is still time to prepare. However, although it is just the fourth edition of the show, it seems that it will be one of the biggest contests this year.
Published: 25 May, 2023 | 3:17 PM EDT