World's Strongest Man just released the event list for the 2022 World's Strongest Man competition scheduled to take place next month from May 24-29th in Sacramento, California. This year's event is different from all the previous WSM events!
2022 World's Strongest Man Events
The most significant difference in this year's edition of WSM is that all athletes in the 6 qualifying heats will be competing in the same events! This is the first time in history that the competition will see all the strongmen compete in the exact same events regardless of the heat they're in. This is great for the fans who want to see how the athletes fare across all the events.
The 30 strongmen are split into 6 heats of 5 athletes. Then they will start competing in the qualifying events during the first 3 days of the competition. The athlete in first place in each of the 6 heats will move onto the finals. The second and third place athletes will have to go head to head in the Stone Off event. The winners from the Stone Off event will move onto the finals.
Qualifying Events
The following events will take place over the course of three days as follows:
Qualifying Day 1 – Tuesday, May 24th, 2022
- Loading Race
- Deadlift Ladder
Qualifying Day 2 – Wednesday, May 25th, 2022
- Car Walk
- Log Lift For Reps
Qualifying Day 3 – Thursday, May 26th, 2022
- Wrecking Ball Hold
- Stone Off
EVENT 1 Loading Race
Loading races are a common way of kicking off a WSM event. Two athletes per heat will compete head-to-head to load 3-4 implements, usually over a distance of 10-12 meters for each implement. These could be sandbags, kegs, anvils, or a local object which generally weigh between 100-140 kg (220-308 lb).
EVENT 2: Deadlift Ladder
This is the first appearance of the deadlift ladder at a WSM event. We did see this event at the 2022 Europe's Strongest Man, so we can expect it to be very similar. There will be two athletes at a time that compete to lift 5 different bars from 300-400kg (660-880 lb). Each lift might increase 20 kg (44 lb); let's see how the big men can conquer this intense event.
EVENT: 3 Car Walk
This is the first time the famous car walk is coming back since 2014 WSM. Athletes will be positioned inside the car and will have to walk a distance for time. This event is similar to the yoke event except for the fact there's more instability in the car walk as the weight can bounce around while moving it from point A to B. It might weigh around 1000 lb if it's similar to past events.
EVENT 4: Log Lift For Reps
The fourth event sees the athletes competing using the wooden Slater logs. This is a common event in WSM; usually, the load will range around 150-160 kg (330-352 lb). The athletes will clean the load from the floor to overhead with their arms locked out for as many reps as possible.
EVENT 5: Wrecking Ball Hold
The wrecking ball hold is a new event to WSM; it is basically a grip strength test. Athletes will be on a raised platform while holding a wrecking ball dangling down beneath them. The athletes will have to try to hold the ball for the longest time possible. This event is similar to a Hercules hold or car hold; it will be interesting to see how the giants fare with this one.
EVENT 6: Stone Off
This event will only see the two athletes in second and third place in each heat battle it out for a chance to move onto the finals. The two will go back and forth, passing a large stone over a barrier. The advantage is being in second place as they just have to match what the third-place athlete is doing. If they're tied at the end of the course, they will go back and forth until one man can't go any longer.
Final events
The final events of 2022 WSM will take place over two days with the schedule as follows:
Finals Day 1 – Saturday, May 28th, 2022
- KNAACK Giant’s Medley
- Deadlift For Reps
- Flintstone Barbell
- Vehicle Pull
- Reign Total Body Fuel Power Stairs
- Atlas Stones
EVENT 1: KNAACK Giant's Medley
This event includes a box carry and a super yoke. The athletes will have to carry a heavy box and then either place the box on the yoke or close by; then, they'll have to pick up the yoke and carry it for a distance. This could be a heavy load of around 1000 lb.
Event 2: Deadlift For Reps
The deadlift for reps is more of a traditional deadlift for maximum reps. The athletes will most likely have straps and deadlift suits and then will have to perform as many deadlifts as they can. The load could be anywhere from 300-350 kg (660-770 lb).
Event 3: Flintsone Barbell
The last time we saw the Flintsone Barbell in a WSM event was back in 1997 as a qualifying event. The athletes might be lifting a load of around 200-230 kg (440-506 lb). The athletes can press the load up from behind the neck until it's locked out above the head. The name comes from the style weights used which are rough-looking stones look like something out of the Flintstones.
Event 4: Vehicle Pull
This is a classic WSM event where athletes will have to pull a bus a predetermined distance while strapped into a harness. The distance could be around 25 meters, with the load expected to be massive.
Event 5: Reign Total Body Fuel Power Stairs
This is an event we haven't seen since the 2015 WSM. This is a great event to test the athlete's strength and endurance as they lift heavy loads up a set of stairs.
Event 6: Atlas Stones
This is a super traditional event where the athletes will have to carry the stones in before they bring the stones up onto the platforms. This event is sure to push the athletes to their limits.
2022 World's Strongest Man Lineup
Below is the complete list of strongmen that are set to compete next month after Mateusz Kieliszkowski dropped out then Rauno Heinla withdrew. Athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
- Nedžmin Ambešković (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Gavin Bilton (UK)
- Adam Bishop (UK)
- Maxime Boudreault (Canada)
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf (Australia)
- Kevin Faires (USA)
- Mark Felix (UK)
- Shane Flowers (UK)
- Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
- Konstantine Janashia (Georgia)
- Rob Kearney (USA)
- Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
- Martins Licis (USA)
- Peiman Maheripourehir (Iran)
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted (Iceland)
- Trey Mitchell (USA)
- Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
- Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
- Gabriel Peña (Mexico)
- Gabriel Rheaume (Canada)
- Kelvin de Ruiter (Netherlands)
- Brian Shaw (USA)
- Evan Singleton (USA)
- Aivars Smaukstelis (Latvia)
- Luke Stoltman (UK)
- Tom Stoltman (UK)
- Grzegorz Szymański (PL)
- Bobby Thompson (USA)
- Mika Törrö (Finland)
- Kim Ujarak (Greenland)
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This is shaping up to be a fantastic WSM event. We are happy to see that the organizers finally have the athletes across all the heats compete in the same exact events. This makes the contest fairer for everyone.
To win the WSM comes down to consistency, which strongman can stay competitive throughout the variety of events.
Now that we know what events are scheduled, who do you think has the best chance to win the 2022 WSM?
Andrew Lenau
Author