Strongman Rauno Heinla has withdrawn from the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition that’s set to take place in less than a month from now, on May 24-29 in Sacramento, California. The Instagram account of World’s Strongest Man shared the news of Heinla dropping out and named his replacement. Check in below for the man who will replace Heinla.
Ruano Heinla Withdraws From 2022 World’s Strongest Man
World’s Strongest Man dropped a post on their Instagram with the announcement that the Estonian strongman, Rauno Heinla, wouldn’t be competing at the 2022 WSM event next month. Heinla last competed at the 2022 Europe’s Strongest Man competition, where he placed 12th place after withdrawing early from the competition.
Heinla isn't the first big name to drop out of the event as Mateusz Kieliszkowski also withdrew due to injury. Kieliszkowski was soon replaced by fellow Polish strongman Grzegorz Szymański.
According to Heinla’s Instagram, he was performing the Silver Dollar deadlift when he suffered a stomach injury and spent a few days in the hospital. He mentioned that he would take a few months to recover from the injury. We wish Heinla a speedy recovery and hope to see him back competing soon.
World’s Strongest Man named Mitchell Hooper of Canada as Heinla’s replacement. Mitchell Hooper, AKA The Moose, is no stranger to lifting heavy loads as he was able to deadlift 475 kg (1,045 lb) even though he weighed under 140 kg (308 lb). Hooper also put up a total of 665 kg (1463 lb) at the 2021 Static Monsters Worldwide event.
The 2022 WSM competition will be Hooper’s biggest event that he's competed in; we wish him well.
2022 WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN COMPLETE LINEUP
Below is the complete list of strongmen that are set to compete next month. 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
Next month we get to see some heavy-hitters go head to head in the world’s most prestigious strongman event at the 2022 WSM. The lineup is packed with talent; we can’t wait to see who will reign supreme. Make sure to stay tuned in for updates related to WSM.
Kiel DiGiovanni
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