World's Strongest Man 2016

[Eloi Fournier]

Britain's Strongest Man results (unofficial, but close enough):
1. Eddie Hall 60 pts
2. Mark Felix 51 pts
3. Laurence Shahlaei 50.5 pts
4. Adam Bishop 46.5 pts
5. Terry Hollands 39.5 pts
6. Darren Sadler 36 pts
7. Luke Stoltman 32.5 pts
8. Rob Frampton 28.5 pts
9. Johnny Kelly 21 pts
10. Mark Jeanes 20.5 pts
11. Cuban guy 9 pts

Eddie Hall dominates the field, Felix continues to be in very good form while Shahlaei's comeback proves to be a success. Bishop has improved a lot, beating Terry Hollands as he tries to come back from his retirement. I believe the top five guys will be at WSM, which will be held in April in the USA.

[Neil Mitchell]

I would expect Stoltman to go as one of the reserves as well, Sadler will probably be there to help with equipment.

Any updates on where WSM 2016 will be held?

Updated Qualified Athletes List:-
1. Brian Shaw, USA
2. Zydrunas Savickas, Lithuania
3. Thor Bjornsson, Iceland
4. Mark Felix, England
5. Martins Licis, Latvia
6. Krzysztof Radzikowski, Poland
7. Johannes Arsjo, Sweden
8. Dainis Zageris, Latvia
9. Dimitar Savatinov, USA
10. Ed Hall, England
11. Laurence Shahlaei, England
12. Adam Bishop, England
13. Terry Hollands, England

[Eloi Fournier]

I believe it will be in L.A. in April. Not much info available to be honest.

[Eric Beseler]

Hafthor Bjornsson played basketball before finding strongman. Brian Shaw played basketball before finding strongman. Who wants to see them play a game of one on one half court basketball to determine the winner if a tie breaker is needed?

[Paul D Mouser]

HA! Better make it 3 minute quarters because those boys have put on 150lbs apiece since their basketball days

[Scotty Blyly]

Does anyone have updated info on timing and location for this year's event? It seems like it's dropped off the radar. Will it be held in the Fall as in years gone by?

[Paul D Mouser]

I heard directly from a WSM competitor that this year's competition almost fell apart completely. Apparently somebody at the top that is a driving force behind keeping the competition/show going had some severe health issues and if he hadn't recovered well enough to push and lobby for the event it was in danger of not being held at all.

Randall, do you have any insight into this?

[Neil Mitchell]

The silence around WSM speaks volumes, we have heard the whispers and rumours of where & when it will be held and yet here we are in May and we have still no confirmation.

It's looking likely that it'll be held later in the year, Europe Strongest Man is in July and there is also a qualifier in America in late June.

Looking at the SCL schedule it appears that they have built their itinerary around WSM being held around this time and there really should be some sort of communication from the WSM chiefs to the SCL directors.

[Paul D Mouser]

The silence around WSM speaks volumes, we have heard the whispers and rumours of where & when it will be held and yet here we are in May and we have still no confirmation.

It's looking likely that it'll be held later in the year, Europe Strongest Man is in July and there is also a qualifier in America in late June.

Looking at the SCL schedule it appears that they have built their itinerary around WSM being held around this time and there really should be some sort of communication from the WSM chiefs to the SCL directors.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but this is another problem with WSM being a TV show first and foremost and a sporting event second. This is unlike the world championships of other sports, which are sporting events that happen to be televised.

[michael starkey]

Back to september/october time 😶

[Ben Wynes]

Yeah looks like it will be sometime in August/September after Europe's and the Giants Live in America. Hearing rumours it might be going back to Africa for the first time since 2010. Was expecting it to be LA for sponsorship reasons, but its always nice for the locations to vary.

[Scotty Blyly]

Personally, I'm glad to see WSM held late summer/fall as it traditionally has been. I know it was for The CBS broadcast schedule, but I was not a fan of the Arnold's and WSM within a month or so of each other the last couple years. Two things that I am particularly interested in seeing this year: can a 40 year old man win one more title, and can a 50 year old man make the final again. I am rooting for both.

[Ben Wynes]

The results of Giants Live America this weekend were:

1. Best
2. Felix
3. Devaughn
4. Pritchett
5. Benzel
6. Oberst
7. Carradine
8. Savatinov
9. Thompson

Current qualified athletes:

1. Shaw (2015 finalist)
2. Savickas (2015 finalist)
3. Bjornsson (2015 finalist)
4. Hall (2015 finalist)
5. Caron (2015 finalist)
6. Savatinov (2015 finalist)
7. Felix (2015 finalist)
8. Shivlyakov (2015 finalist)
9. Pritchett (2015 finalist)
10. Arsjo (GL Sweden)
11. Licis (GL Iceland)
12. Radzikowski (ESM)
13. Zageris (ESM)
14. Shahlaei (BSM)
15. Bishop (BSM)
16. Hollands (BSM)
17. Best (GL America)
18. DeVaughn (GL America)
19. Oberst (wildcard)

[Randall Strossen]

The results of Giants Live America this weekend were:

1. Best
2. Felix
3. Devaughn
4. Pritchett
5. Benzel
6. Oberst
7. Carradine
8. Savatinov
9. Thompson

Current qualified athletes:

1. Shaw (2015 finalist)
2. Savickas (2015 finalist)
3. Bjornsson (2015 finalist)
4. Hall (2015 finalist)
5. Caron (2015 finalist)
6. Savatinov (2015 finalist)
7. Felix (2015 finalist)
8. Shivlyakov (2015 finalist)
9. Pritchett (2015 finalist)
10. Arsjo (GL Sweden)
11. Licis (GL Iceland)
12. Radzikowski (ESM)
13. Zageris (ESM)
14. Shahlaei (BSM)
15. Bishop (BSM)
16. Hollands (BSM)
17. Best (GL America)
18. DeVaughn (GL America)
19. Oberst (wildcard)

Ben -

Thanks much for the updates!

[Bill Lyndon]

No word yet of the current SHSM Eben Le Roux in the selection for this event ...Eben pulled a 420 deadlift at Arnold's South Africa..surely that should be a solid number along with SHSM title this year and last ....

[Ben Wynes]

I would imagine Le Roux will get an invite as the SHSM. All of these men could/should get an invite:

Le Roux – There is usually at least one Australian (haven’t seen Brant compete in a while.)
Van Staden – Given that the event appears to be in Africa he should be there. We could also see Scheun if he has recovered from that horrendous injury a couple of years ago.
Lalas – Sure to be there. I believe he is doing ESM and looks to be back to his best. His brother is also in with a shout of an invite given his performances in the SCL.
Kieliszkowski – Surprised he wasn’t there last year. His result at the previous Arnolds suggest he should get an invite.
Kobylarz or Szymanski – Been at the last couple of WSM and there are usually a number of Poles.
Belsak – Brilliant results in SCL, in top 5 this year.
Moonen – Top 5 in SCL last year.
Solvang or Hansen – There always seems to be a Norwegian there.
Belkatis – Won the log lift championships and currently performing well in SCL.
Solvi Pettursson – A former 4^th place at WSM and is coming back to form after a long layoff.
Nagy – Close to the organisers and often gets an invite.
Wildauer – Solid competitor who tends to get an invite.

[Ben Wynes]

What with Eddie Hall's stunning 500k deadlift Europe's Strongest Man got somewhat overshadowed. The top 3 where:

1.Shahlaei
2. Thor
3. Arsjo

All three have already qualified for WSM but a couple of people won't be there next month. Solvi-Pettursson, after such a long lay off and getting his wildcard, picked up another bad injury and looks set to miss WSM. As will Savickas. The back injury that kept him out of Europe's looks set to keep him out of the worlds. Hard to see past Shaw or Thor now.

[Eloi Fournier]

So, some details have emerged in the last few weeks. We know it's in Botswana, from August 13-20. The rumored final events are the following:
-Frame carry
-Circus barbell press
-Kettlebell throw
-Max deadlift
-Plane pull
-Atlas stones

Does anyone else have info like the events and athletes for each heat? If not, I'd expect those to come out soon anyway.

[Neil Mitchell]

Groups & Events are now up on the main WSM site.

Looks underwhelming given the absentees.

[Scotty Blyly]

It isn't too hard to guess the finalists. Groups 1 & 4 would seem to have the only question marks. A lot of big names missing, surely not all from injury?