Who is the Most Powerful Individual Globally?
In the world of strongman competitions, a select group of athletes have risen to the top, showcasing their immense strength and dominance year after year. The annual World's Strongest Man (WSM) and Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) competitions are the premier events in strength competition, attracting the best strongmen and strongwomen from around the globe.
One of the most celebrated figures in the WSM is Zydrunas Savickas, a Lithuanian powerhouse who has won four World's Strongest Man titles, eight Arnold Strongman Classic titles, three Europe's Strongest Man wins, and over 70 world records. Many consider him to be the greatest strongman of all time.
In the 2017 WSM, Eddie Hall from England claimed victory, following third-place finishes in 2014 and 2016. In the same year, he made history with a successful 500 kg deadlift, a record that stood for almost four years.
Rebecca Roberts, a strongwoman from North Wales, made waves in 2023 when she won the World's Strongest Woman title for the second time, after her first victory in 2021. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing between 287 to 397 lbs, Roberts is a force to be reckoned with in the strongman scene.
The 2020 WSM was won by Oleksii Novikov, who has consistently dominated in circus dumbbell press events. Another notable strongman is Hafthor Björnsson, who achieved a unique feat in 2018 by winning the World's Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman, and Europe's Strongest Man titles in the same year. Björnsson, known as "The Mountain," is also famous for his role as Gregor Leclane in "Game of Thrones."
In the 2023 WSM, Mitchell Hooper made history by winning both the WSM title and the ASC, making him only the fourth person in history to hold both titles in the same year.
Among the top competitors in the WSM are Eddie Hall, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, and Austin Andrade, who have all shown promise with strong performances in recent years. In the ASC, Brian Shaw, Mark Felix, and Mateusz Kieliszkowski have consistently been top performers, with Shaw boasting four victories in the ASC.
Other notable competitors include Trey Mitchell, Paddy Haynes, and Evan Singleton, who have all made a name for themselves in strongman competitions like the Giants Live Strongman Classic.
The Arnold Strongman Classic, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, is another renowned strongman contest held annually. In 2024, Evan Singleton placed third in the WSM, and Luke Stoltman, brother of Tom Stoltman, finished in third place in the 2022 ASC. Martins Licis won the WSM title in 2019 and was the runner-up in 2022, while Tom Stoltman, a three-time WSM winner, is the current world's strongest man.
The strongman scene is constantly evolving, with new competitors rising through the ranks. These athletes, however, remain some of the most recognised and successful in the sport.
Sports like strongman competitions have witnessed the emergence of renowned figures, such as Zydrunas Savickas and Hafthor Björnsson, who have broken records and dominated in events such as World's Strongest Man (WSM) and Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). Each year, sports enthusiasts watch these competitions to see who will make history, such as Mitchell Hooper who achieved a rare feat by winning both WSM and ASC titles in 2023.
