Super Hooper Heads Qualifiers as Four Brits Make the Final!

Mitchell Hooper and defending champion, Tom Stoltman, are heading for another classic showdown in Sacramento when the World’s Strongest Man Final gets underway on Saturday morning. Both men looked to be in superb form and successfully negotiated their heats, qualifying in 1^st and 2^nd place respectively, ranked against the ten finalists. Their competitive rivalry, especially at WSM, is already the stuff of strongman legend and the two-day, five-event final promises to provide yet another riveting head-to-head on the sport’s biggest stage!

Africa’s Strongest Man, Rayno Nel, looks to be one of a few athletes that stand a chance of challenging the mighty duo of Stoltman and Hooper. In his first WSM he produced a dominant display, winning his group ahead of Shane Flowers who qualified for his first final. The Englishman is one of four British athletes to make the cut this year, including the Stoltman brothers and WSM rookie Paddy Haynes. Luke Stoltman, the most experienced competitor in the whole contest, won his group to make his 5^th final. Haynes, drawn in an impossibly tough Group 2, went toe-to-toe with Hooper and never looked like missing out, right from the first event.

America’s Trey Mitchell, sporting a Luke Stoltman-style, slimmed down physique, also signalled he’s in terrific form as he breezed through Group 4, producing the highest total reps in the Deadlift. Behind him, Ondřej Fojtů, another debutant, cemented his status among Strongman’s elite by qualifying for the final on is first attempt. Pavlo Kordiyaka makes his third consecutive final whilst Australia’s Eddie Williams rounds of the ten qualifiers with a second-place performance in Group 1, behind Tom Stoltman.

Luke Richardson and Evan Singleton, last year’s 3^rd place finisher, succumbed to suspected biceps tears in the opening event – Loading Medley. Both men were highly fancied coming into this contest, with Luke winning Europe’s Strongest Man last month. Poland’s Mateusz Kieliszkowski was the third man to withdraw. He struggled throughout his heats and eventually threw in the towel due to illness. Finalists from 2024 who failed to make the grade this time around included Mat Ragg, who placed 4^th last year, and was last in Group 2. Austin Andrade also footed Group 1, whilst Canadian’s Wes Derwinsky and Tristain Hoath both missed out.

As is so often the case, the heat played a factor in the athletes’ energy levels and ability to recover between events. In addition, the speed and athleticism required to navigate some of the qualifying events seemed to favour some of the more mobile competitors. In the opening event: Loading Medley, Mitchell Hooper loaded the four 300lb sacks into the Tesla the fastest, clocking 38.60s, just 0.01s ahead of Kordiyaka. Trey Mitchell topped the pile in the Deadlift with 10-reps of the giant 350kg barbell.

No one completed the Overhead Medley, with two reps of the 168kg axle proving too much, after two reps a-piece with a 90kg dumbbell, a 145kg log and an awkward 154kg circus barbell. Tom Stoltman’s 7 reps in 56.95s was the best of the day. In the Titan’s Toss it was again big Tom who headed the pack, clearing the 12-foot bar with all ten 30lb bags in a scorching 31.97s. Maxime Boudreault was the only other man to complete the course but could only place 3^rd in his group.

Replacing the Stone-Off was the Stone Medley, in which all five athletes from each group would take part. Most men were able to press the 123kg block, though the 158kg Inver Stone-to-Shoulder proved more challenging. Mitchell Hooper breezed through these, completed the 176kg Húsafell Stone Carry and successfully loading the 400lb Foundation Stone in just 56.22s – the fastest of the few athletes who matched that feat. It was a performance that saw him leapfrog Tom Stoltman as the top overall performer of the ten qualifiers and saw him take a 1-point advantage over his rival into Saturday’s opening event, the KNAACK Carry and Hoist.

With two lifts for maximum weight (18-inch Deadlift and Flintstone Barbell Press) and a Hercules Hold, the final promises to be more of a test of static power than the heats. There’s a chance we could see records tumble in the 18-inch Deadlift and the Flintstone Barbell Press, and the Hercules Hold and Carry and Hoist could well throw up some surprise results. The final gets underway on Saturday at 10.00am local time in Sacramento.

World’s Strongest Man Final

Group Results

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5