The 2019 World’s Strongest Man Arena Tour came to a dramatic close on 7 September at Manchester Arena.
Martins Licis, pro-strongman and gym owner, is making his 4th appearance in the 2019 Tachi Palace World’s Strongest Man.His nickname “The Dragon” comes from the fire inside him. Originally from Latvia and representing the USA, Licis stands 6’3” and weighs 355lbs at the age 28.
- The Atlas Stones represent the last chance for athletes not already qualified for the finals of World's Strongest Man 2019. The stone is passed from man to m.
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The star studded athlete line-up featured a host of international strongmen, including reigning champion Mateusz Kieliszkowski, the Scottish Stoltman Brothers, England-hating American Robert Oberst, Iron Biby and the “T-Rex” Evan Singleton.
The five brutal events featured a 350kg axle deadlift, a giant Mad Max-style 100kg dumbbell made from steel and stone, the 450kg Car Walk and the legendary Pillars of Hercules.
After coming third at Manchester last year, Adam Bishop was hoping to better his place at this year’s show – and he got off to the perfect start in Event 1, hitting 7 reps on the 350kg deadlift and barely pausing for breath, showing that conditioning really is a strong point for the Harlequins Strength and Conditioning coach!
But Bishop wasn’t the only one with a strong start!
Iron Biby, the huge athlete from Burkino Faso has been working on his conditioning and technique – and it showed when he just pipped T-Rex Evan Singleton to the post on the Car Walk.
Keiliskowski smashes car walk world record!
We witnessed an incredible new World Record from Poland’s Mateusz Kieliskowski when he smashed Laurence Shahlaie’s previous record of 11:05 seconds with an incredible 10.0 second sprint.
By the time we got to Event 4, the Pillars of Hercules, it was clear that newcomer Ben Badger Brunning was not to be under-estimated. After coming in 10th place at Britain’s earlier in the year, it is fair to say that Ben was not on anyone’s radar to make the podium at Manchester, particularly as he was a last minute addition to the line-up. But Wales' Strongest Man made sure the world took notice - getting extremely close to Felix's Hercules Hold World Record with a 75.4 second hold.
Of course, all eyes were on Terry Hollands to see if how he would perform in his return to strongman just 5 weeks out from competing in his first ever Body Building show, but Big Tel was suffering with a small Ninja Warrior-related injury - and although he came in 13th place overall, it was fantastic to see him back on the strongman stage and doing what he loves.
Felix does it AGAIN! Another epic WORLD RECORD from the 53 year old strongman!
Competing against guys half his age, 53 year old Mark Felix made another win for old man strength and broke his own 83.62 second world record with a 87.52 hold, to HUGE applause and well-deserved praise from the crowd.
Mind over matter - Shivlyakov continues competition despite hamstring tear
It wasn’t just the World Records that amazed and inspired at Manchester Arena. Despite tearing his hamstring in the axle deadlift, ex-Russian Marine Mikhail Shivlyakov showed some true strongman grit when he battled on through three more events, proving that these athletes really are in another league, not just when it comes to physical strength but mental strength, too.
Coming into the stones, Iron Biby and Novikov were in joint first place with Kieliskowski in second and Singleton and Brunning in joint third, but it was all down to the final event to determine the winner.
How Is The World's Strongest Man
Stones has never been Biby’s strong point and he failed to lift the final 200kg stone, leaving the field open and an edge-of-seat finale to the show.
Massive congratulations must go to Kieliskowski who once again proved he is a force of strength winning his second Giants Live trophy this year and retaining his title of Tour Finals champ, with huge props to newbie Ben Brunning, who shocked the strongman world to take second place ahead of some of the World’s biggest and best athletes and proving he deserves his place among the best of the best. Ukraine Oleskii Novikov, who many had tipped for the title, took the third spot on the podium.
Giants Live World Tour Finals 2019 full results
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What a night of sport and spectacle! Europe’s Strongest Man took place on 6 April 2019 to a packed out first direct Arena in Leeds - the most perfect gladiatorial setting for the World’s Strongest Men to do battle for the European title.
The strongest men from across Europe, including Game of Thrones star and current World’s Strongest Man, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, competed for the European title and a coveted spot at the World’s Strongest Man final.
The full line up for the show included Scottish brothers, Tom and Luke Stoltman, Second World’s Strongest Man, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, and ex Russian Marine, Mikhail Shivlyakov.
Europe’s Strongest Man 2019 Line up
Konstantine Janashia
Mark Felix
Tom Stoltman
Mateusz Kieliszkowski
Adam Bishop
Mikhail Shivlyakov
Luke Strongman
Laurence Shahlaei
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson - The Mountain
The line-up also featured the biggest and best pressers from around the world who joined as special guests for Event 1: The World Log Lift Challenge!
Graham Hicks
IRON Biby
Pro Strongman Rob Kearney
Larry Wheels
4 x World’s Strongest Man, Brian Shaw, and British Legend, Terry Hollands pulled out of the event at the last minute due to injury, but both athletes attended the show to meet fans and support their fellow strongmen.
World’s Strongest Men push the boundaries of human strength to new heights at World Log Lift Challenge 2019
The evening kicked off in grandiose style with the World Log Lift Challenge. It's safe to say the international benchmark for log press was raised to new heights, with multiple international records smashed!
Rob Kearney (known as the ‘World’s Strongest Gay’ after becoming the first openly gay athlete in professional strongman) set a new American Log Press record of 214kg. Kearney has had an incredible run this year after marrying his partner, Joey, and winning the Australian Arnold’s in March. He took the record from 6ft 7” Robert Oberst who, despite signing up to do the event, failed to attend to defend his title due to passport issues.
2019 World's Strongest Man Events
Rob Kearney split-jerks the 214kg log
Eddie ‘the Beast’ Hall then had to watch from the sidelines as current Britain’s Strongest Man, Graham Hicks, took his British Log Press record with a solid 214kg lift.
Graham Hicks sets a new British Record 214kg log
And Burkino Faso’s Iron Biby took to the stage to hoist an astonishing 220kg Log - the second biggest log ever lifted! Despite huge support from the 10,000+ strong crowd in the Arena, Biby failed on his attempt to set a new 229kg World Record, but his 220kg lift was enough to claim the win for the World Log Lift Challenge.
Iron Biby lifts 220kg log – the second biggest log ever lifted!
Graham Hicks also attempted the 220kg log. He pressed it overhead but was unsteady in the lock out position and referee Magnus ver Magnusson refused to allow the lift. It was dissapointing for Hicksy who came so close and was looking stronger than ever in the run up to the competition after his Britain's Strongest Man win earlier this year.
Biby took to the podium, after performing his signature cartwheel for the crowd, of course!
Iron Biby wins World Log Lift Challenge 2019 with 220kg Log Lift - the second biggest log ever lifted! Image credit: DN4Photography
...and that was just Event 1 of 5!
The athletes then went on to deadlift a Giant 350kg Axle for reps, flip tractor tyres and pull giant anchors. Unfortunately, Laurence Shahlaei - the only man to have previously beaten Thor to the European title - had to sit out the flip and drag event and the atlas stones with a small knee injury that he was trying to manage in his preparation for World's Strongest Man.
In a brand new event for 2019, the huge men had to resist the pull of two Giant Pillars of Hercules.
It was Britain’s Mark Felix who stole the show in the penultimate event, managing to hold the huge weight for an astonishing 1 min 22 seconds! At almost 53 years of age and still competitive on the world stage, Felix continues to prove that age really is just a number.
To tremendous applause, the crowd witnessed an emotional finish on the atlas stones as the Stoltman Brothers went head to head. Tom finished the stones in a super speedy 21.81 seconds and in an inspirational show of brotherly love and sportsmanship, ran to support big brother, Luke, shouting encouragement until he hoisted the final 200kg stone onto the platform.
Luke joked after the event, “watching this guy do the stones is so demoralising. He is one of the best stone lifters on the planet... it is such a privilege to share this stage with him. I could get emotional.”.
World’s Strongest Man, Game of Thrones ‘The Mountain’ claims 5th European Title
But after 5 events, it was Thor who came out victorious, claiming his fifth European Title, with Kieliskowski in second place and Janashia in third. Scotland’s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman, proved he truly deserves a place with the best of the best, coming in fourth place.
To top off the evening’s excitement, Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall took on Vytautas Lalas in a nail biting arm wrestle and Colin Bryce announced a $50,000 reward for any athlete who could beat the Beast’s 500kg deadlift at the next stop on the World’s Strongest Man Arena Tour: Giants Live Wembley in July!
If you missed this incredible show, the full live stream is available to watch at officialstrongman.com!
Don’t miss the next strongman showdown! The next stop on the 2019 World’s Strongest Man Arena Tour is Giants Live Wembley *featuring the World Deadlift Championships* on 6 July 2019 at the SSE Arena, Wembley.
Tickets are also on-sale NOW for Europe’s Strongest Man 2020 with an early bird discount of 10% OFF all tickets until Monday 8th April 2019!
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