The 45th annual World’s Strongest Man (WSM) ran from Tuesday, May 24 through Sunday, May 29, with a one-day break between the Qualifying Stage and the Finals. The biggest event in strength sports was held at the Capitol Mall in Sacramento, CA.
The Top 10 finalists for the 2022 WSM was determined at the end of the Qualifying round on Thursday, May 26 — 2021 WSM champion Tom Stoltman, 2020 WSM champion Oleksii Novikov, 2019 WSM champion Martins Licis, Four-time WSM champion Brian Shaw, Maxime Boudreault, Mitchell Hooper, Trey Mitchell, Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted, Gabriel Rheaume, and Luke Stoltman.
By day’s end, Tom Stoltman rose to victory securing his second consecutive WSM title.
Breaking Muscle kept this results page consistently updated to keep you on top of all the action throughout this year’s contest. There was no livestream of the event, but WSM offered a post-show featuring results and interviews with athletes, hosted by former WSM competitor Terry Hollands.
Editor’s Note: Results were provided by our official reporter in attendance. These results were not considered official until after the World’s Strongest Man Facebook Live show: Backstage Live! Presented by The Beard Struggle, which aired throughout the competition.
2022 WSM Finals Leaderboard
| Rank | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom | 53.5 |
| 2 | Martins Licis — USA | 43 |
| 3 | Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine | 43 |
| 4 | Brian Shaw — USA | 37.5 |
| 5 | Maxime Boudreault — Canada | 34.5 |
| 6 | Trey Mitchell — USA | 34 |
| 7 | Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom | 30.5 |
| 8 | Mitchell Hooper — Canada | 30 |
| 9 | Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland | 13 |
| 10 | Gabriel Rheaume — Canada | 11 |
2022 WSM Day Five
After the first round of Finals, competitors had a clear idea of where they stood and how much extra focus and determination were needed to secure a win. The final three events, and last opportunities to score points, were classic WSM events — the bus pull, the Reign Total Body Fuel Power Stairs, and the Atlas Stones.
Bus Pull Results
The bus pull is one of the more visually impressive events in any WSM contest. This year, competitors were harnessed to a Sacramento transit bus, weighing 40,000 pounds, and pulled the vehicle down the length of the 30-meter (98-foot) course as quickly as possible.
- Oleksii Novikov — 0:41.51s
- Martins Licis — 0:42.18s
- Tom Stoltman — 0:44.50s
- Brian Shaw — 0:44.69s
- Trey Mitchell — 0:45.72s
- Luke Stoltman — 0:47.00s
- Maxime Boudreault — 0:47.20s
- Mitchell Hooper — 0:49.24s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 0:51.32s
- Gabriel Rheaume — 0:53.22s
Reign Total Body Fuel Power Stairs
In this grip and lower-body intensive event, competitors lifted three 226-kilogram (500-pound) blocks up three large steps in the shortest time. One block on one step counts as a single rep, for a total of nine potential reps.
- Maxime Boudreault — 9 reps in 0:39.07s
- Tom Stoltman — 9 reps in 0:41.04s
- Martins Licis — 9 reps in 0:44.50s
- Brian Shaw — 8 reps in 1:09.03s
- Mitchell Hooper — 7 reps in 0:32.36s
- Luke Stoltman — 7 reps in 0:59.47s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 6 reps in 0:35.78s
- Oleksii Novikov — 6 reps in 0:34.20s
- Trey Mitchell — 6 reps in 1:10.22s
- Gabriel Rheaume — 5 reps in 0:35.78s
Atlas Stones
In one of the quintessential strongman events, contestants loaded increasingly heavier stones onto a platform while racing against the clock.
- Tom Stoltman — 5 reps in 0:25.76s
- Maxime Boudreault — 5 reps in 0:28.04s
- Trey Mitchell — 5 reps in 0:33.06s
- Brian Shaw — 5 reps in 0:39.29s
- Martins Licis — 5 reps in 0:45.74s
- Luke Stoltman — 4 reps in 0:25.78s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 4 reps in 0:28.87s
- Gabriel Rheaume — 4 reps in 0:33.55s
- Mitchell Hooper — 4 reps in 0:33.78s
- Oleksii Novikov — 4 reps in 0:36.70s
After the final three events, Tom Stoltman is the 2022 World’s Strongest Man winner, taking his second consecutive title.
2022 WSM Day Four
After a full day’s rest yesterday, the Top 10 competitors entered the first day of Finals with three massive events scheduled. The KNAACK Giant’s Medley tested strength, endurance, and agility. The classic deadlift was a straightforward test of pulling strength. The Flintstone barbell, making a long-awaited return to the WSM contest, tested overhead pressing strength.
KNAACK Giant’s Medley Results
The competitors were challenged with carrying two separate KNAACK industrial tool storage lockers, each filled with 125 kilograms (276 pounds), on a trip halfway down a 20-meter (66-foot) course and back to the start. They then had to immediately carry a 455-kilogram (1,000-pound) yoke through the full course. As a medley, the entire event is performed to achieve the quickest time.
- Mitchell Hooper —0:21.96s
- Tom Stoltman — 0:24.75s
- Oleksii Novikov — 0:24.84s
- Luke Stoltman — 0:28.72s
- Martins Licis — 0:30.60s
- Brian Shaw — 0:30.78s
- Trey Mitchell — 0:32.54s
- Gabriel Rheaume — 0:33.87s
- Maxime Boudreault — 0:34.11s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 0:37.61s
Deadlift Results
The finalists are performing arguably the most relatable event for spectators — a 360kg (794-pound) deadlift for maximum reps in 75 seconds.
- Oleksii Novikov — 15 reps
- Tom Stoltman — 13 reps
- Trey Mitchell — 13 reps
- Mitchell Hooper —12 reps
- Brian Shaw — 12 reps
- Martins Licis — 12 reps
- Maxime Boudreault — 10 reps
- Luke Stoltman — 9 reps
- Gabriel Rheaume — 8 reps
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 8 reps
Flintstone Barbell Results
The Flintstone barbell is an overhead press event, with the competitors needing to lift six progressively heavier bars loaded with primitive stones rather than weight plates. The weights progress 175kg (385 pounds), 190kg (420 pounds), 200kg (440 pounds), 212kg (470 pounds), 221kg (490 pounds), and finally 230kg (510 pounds).
In an unexpected turn of events, organizers needed to add additional rounds to continue challenging the top competitors. Extra rounds with 240kg (530 pounds) followed by 245kg (540 pounds) were needed to determine the decisive winner.
- Oleksii Novikov — 8 stones
- Tom Stoltman — 7 stones
- Martins Licis — 6 stones
- Luke Stoltman — 4 stones
- Brian Shaw — 4 stones
- Trey Mitchell — 4 stones
- Maxime Boudreault — 4 stones
- Mitchell Hooper — 3 stones
- Gabriel Rheaume — 2 stones
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 2 stones
2022 WSM Qualifying Round Leaderboard
| Rank | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | ||
| 1 | Tom Stoltman — United Kingdom | 25 |
| 2 | Kevin Faires — USA | 24 |
| 3 | Gabriel Rheaume — Canada | 20 |
| 4 | Aivars Smaukstelis — Latvia | 15 |
| 5 | Andy Black — United Kingdom | 12 |
| 6 | Manuel Angulo — Chile | 6 |
| Group 2 | ||
| 1 | Mitchell Hooper — Canada | 23.5 |
| 2 | Bobby Thompson — USA | 22 |
| 3 | Brian Shaw — USA | 17.5 |
| 4 | Mark Felix — Canada | 15 |
| 5 | Konstantine Janashia — Georgia | 13 |
| 6 | Gabriel Pena — Mexico | 13 |
| Group 3 | ||
| 1 | Oleksii Novikov — Ukraine | 24.5 |
| 2 | Trey Mitchell — USA | 21.5 |
| 3 | Adam Bishop — United Kingdom | 18 |
| 4 | Rob Kearney — USA | 15 |
| 5 | Grzegorz Szymanski — Poland | 13 |
| 6 | Mika Törrö — Finland | 13 |
| Group 4 | ||
| 1 | Martins Licis — USA | 25.5 |
| 2 | Maxime Boudreault — Canada | 23 |
| 3 | Pavlo Kordiyaka — Ukraine | 21.5 |
| 4 | Gavin Bilton — United Kingdom | 17 |
| 5 | Nedžmin Ambešković — Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 |
| 6 | Shane Flowers — United Kingdom (withdrawn) | 6 |
| Group 5 | ||
| 1 | Luke Stoltman — United Kingdom | 23 |
| 2 | Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Iceland | 20 |
| 3 | Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — France | 18 |
| 4 | Kelvin De Ruiter — Netherlands | 116.5 |
| 5 | Evan Singleton — USA | 14.5 |
| 6 | Kim Ujarak Lorentzen — Greenland | 11 |
2022 WSM Day Three Results
Competitors entered the last Qualifying day with only the Wrecking Ball Hold and the Stone Off events as their remaining chances to rack up enough points to secure a spot in this weekend’s Finals.
Wrecking Ball Hold Results
This static strength event made its first appearance in a WSM contest.
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In a test of grip strength, as well as total-body endurance, competitors stood on an elevated platform and held a bar supporting a 228kg (500-pound) wrecking ball for as long as possible.
Group 1
- Kevin Faires — 1:35.18s
- Andy Black — 1:26.92s
- Gabriel Rhéaume — 1:24.10s
- Manuel Angulo — 1:11.66s
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 0:57.44s
- Tom Stoltman — 0:04.63s
Group 2
- Mark Felix — 2:20.49s
- Bobby Thompson — 1:21.33s
- Brian Shaw — 1:06.13s
- Konstantine Janashia — 1:01.38s
- Gabriel Peña — 0:48.27s
- Mitchell Hooper — 0:06.40s
Group 3
- Trey Mitchell — 2:06.46s
- Mika Törrö — 1:53.17s
- Grzegorz Szymanski — 1:46.49s
- Oleksii Novikov — 1:38.63s
- Adam Bishop — 1:31.35s
- Rob Kearney — 1:01.95s
Group 4
- Maxime Boudreault — 1:33.93s
- Pavlo Kordiyaka — 1:31.33s
- Martins Licis — 1:25.63s
- Nedžmin Ambešković — 1:12.47s
- Gavin Bilton — 1:07.15s
- Shane Flowers — Withdrawn
Group 5
- Kelvin De Ruiter — 1:45.65s
- Evan Singleton — 1:40.34s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 1:03.42s
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 1:00.70s
- Kim Ujarak — 0:36.24s
- Luke Stoltman — No time completed
The top competitor from each group will be advancing to this weekend’s Finals — Tom Stoltman, Mitchell Hooper, Oleksii Novikov, Martins Licis, and Luke Stoltman. While Mark Felix didn’t place well enough to reach the Finals, the grip-strength expert did set a world record with his time of two minutes and 20 seconds.
The second and third place competitors in each group proceeded to challenge each other in the Stone Off event, where the winner from each pairing moved on to Finals.
Stone Off Results
In their last attempt to fight for the title, competitors were challenged by six stones — 150kg (330 pounds), two stones at 160kg (353 pounds), two stones at 180kg (397 pounds), and ending with 200kg (440 pounds). To further test their abilities, the last stone was lifted for as many reps as possible until one competitor failed.
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Due to the unique placements coming into this event, the competitor who was second place in their group had the advantage of lifting the stone second. So, if their head-to-head competitor failed their lift, the advantage was an automatic win.
Group 1
- Kevin Faires
- Gabriel Rheaume — Winner
Group 2
- Bobby Thompson
- Brian Shaw — Winner
Group 3
- Trey Mitchell — Winner
- Adam Bishop
Group 4
- Maxime Boudreault – Winner
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
Group 5
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted – Winner
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf
2022 WSM Day Two Results
Sacramento’s weather started off in the high-70s, compared to yesterday’s 100-degree heat, but competitors may not have noticed. They were too focused on the car walk and log lift — two classic WSM events.
Car Walk Results
Competitors stepped into the center of a roofless, hollowed-out car set around a yoke-style bar. They then carried the 430kg (950-pound) vehicle 20 meters (66 feet) as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, Shane Flowers withdrew due to an apparent foot or ankle injury sustained during the Loading Race on Day One. While he showed the grit of a champion in completing yesterday’s Deadlift Ladder as well, he was unable to continue competing on Day Two and had to withdraw from his first appearance at the WSM.
Group 1
- Tom Stoltman — 0:14.65s
- Gabriel Rhéaume — 0:16.44s
- Kevin Faires — 0:19.32s
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 0:19.91s
- Andy Black — 0:32.71s
- Manuel Angulo — 1:00.00s
Group 2
- Mitchell Hooper — 0:11.64s
- Mark Felix — 0:13.96s
- Bobby Thompson — 0:16.05s
- Konstantine Janashia — 0:18.16s
- Brian Shaw — 0:19.97s
- Gabriel Peña — 18.90m (Did not finish course)
Group 3
- Rob Kearney — 0:11.63s
- Grzegorz Szymanski — 0:14.26s
- Oleksii Novikov — 0:15.23s
- Trey Mitchell — 0:19.24s
- Adam Bishop — 0:23.38s
- Mika Törrö — 9.50m (Did not finish course)
Group 4
- Pavlo Kordiyaka — 0:12.92s
- Martins Licis — 0:18.93s
- Gavin Bilton — 0:23.67s
- Maxime Boudreault — 0:49.28s
- Nedžmin Ambešković — 13.60m (Did not finish course)
- Shane Flowers — Withdrawn
Group 5
- Evan Singleton — 0:09.86s
- Luke Stoltman — 0:16.65s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 0:29.07s
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 0:41.34s
- Kelvin De Ruiter — 1:00.00s
- Kim Ujarak — 11.40m (Did not finish course)
Log Lift Results
This time-honored event first appeared in the 1980 WSM contest. In this year’s challenge, competitors lifted the 145kg (320-pound) log from the ground to overhead for as many reps as possible within the 75-second time limit.
With the temperature spiking well-above 100 degrees, the log itself became heated and simply holding the weight for the duration was a challenge for many competitors. Event organizers were keeping the log covered in an attempt to provide shade and make the event a test of strength rather than pain tolerance.
Group 1
- Tom Stoltman — 8 reps
- Kevin Faires — 7 reps
- Gabriel Rhéaume — 6 rep
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 4 reps
- Andy Black — No reps
- Manuel Angulo — No reps
Group 2
- Bobby Thompson — 8 reps
- Mitchell Hooper — 7 reps
- Brian Shaw — 7 reps
- Konstantine Janashia — 5 reps
- Gabriel Peña — 1 rep
- Mark Felix — No reps
Group 3
- Oleksii Novikov — 9 reps
- Trey Mitchell — 9 reps
- Adam Bishop — 7 reps
- Rob Kearney — 6 reps
- Grzegorz Szymanski — 3 reps
- Mika Törrö — 2 reps
Group 4
- Maxime Boudreault — 10 reps
- Martins Licis — 9 reps
- Pavlo Kordiyaka — 9 reps
- Gavin Bilton — 7 reps
- Nedžmin Ambešković — 2 reps
- Shane Flowers — Withdrawn
Group 5
- Luke Stoltman — 10 reps
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 8 reps
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 7 reps
- Kim Ujarak — 6 reps
- Kelvin De Ruiter — 1 rep
- Evan Singleton — 1 rep
2022 WSM Day One Results
With Sacramento temperatures over 100 degrees, heavy weights and fierce competitors weren’t the only obstacles to winning today’s two events — a loading race and a deadlift ladder. Here are the results from each competitive Group, including each athlete’s results, corresponding time, and placing within the event.
Loading Race Results
Competitors completed a loading race traveling eight meters while carrying five separate implements — a 220-pound “cannonball” atlas stone, a 265-pound keg, a 275-pound anvil, and two Rogue sandbags weighing just under 300 pounds each.
Evan Singleton appeared to suffer an injury during the event and initially withdrew from competition, marking the third consecutive year his WSM contest was interrupted (after tearing his biceps in 2020 and catching a stomach virus in ’21). However, he was later cleared to continue competing.
Group 1
- Tom Stoltman — Five implements, 38.39 seconds
- Kevin Faires — Five implements, 43.36 seconds
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — Five implements, 44.37 seconds
- Andy Black —Five implements, 50.81 seconds
- Gabriel Rhéaume — Five implements, 53.39 seconds
- Manuel Angulo — Four implements, 70 seconds
Group 2
- Mitchell Hooper — Five implements, 38.31 seconds
- Brian Shaw — Five implements, 45 seconds
- Gabriel Peña — Five implements, 45.88 seconds
- Konstantine Janashia — Five implements, 49.47
- Bobby Thompson — Five implements, 49.70 seconds
- Mark Felix — Five implements, 54.96 seconds
Group 3
- Oleksii Novikov — Five implements, 37.25 seconds
- Adam Bishop — Five implements, 45.85 seconds
- Mika Törrö — Five implements, 47.84 seconds
- Trey Mitchell — Five implements, 48.76 seconds
- Rob Kearney — Five implements, 54.62 seconds
- Grzegorz Szymanski — Four implements, 29.89 seconds
Group 4
- Martins Licis — Five implements, 37.73 seconds
- Maxime Boudreault — Five implements, 40.68 seconds
- Pavlo Kordiyaka — Five implements, 43.70 seconds
- Gavin Bilton — Five implements, 45.76 seconds
- Shane Flowers — Five implements, 48.70 seconds
- Nedžmin Ambešković — One implement, 10.2 seconds
Group 5
- Luke Stoltman — Five implements, 37.95 seconds
- Kelvin De Ruiter — Five implements, 39.18 seconds
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — Five implements, 49.69 seconds
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — Five implements, 52.70 seconds
- Evan Singleton — Five implements, 1:08 (withdrawn)
- Kim Ujarak — Four implements, 34.49 seconds
Deadlift Ladder Results
The deadlift ladder is a serious test of strength, endurance, and fortitude. The competitors were challenged to perform one deadlift using five progressively heavier barbells — 300 kilograms (660 pounds), 320kg (705 pounds), 340kg (750 pounds), 360kg (795 pounds), and finally 380kg (840 pounds).
Shane Flowers had a bandage applied to his foot and ankle after his final deadlift attempt, possibly related to an injury initiated after the Loading Race event earlier in the day.
Group 1
- Tom Stoltman — 5 reps in 0:51.46s
- Kevin Faires — 4 reps in 0:45.89s
- Gabriel Rhéaume — 4 reps in 0:39.40s
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 4 reps in 0:55.91s
- Andy Black —4 reps in 1:02.30s
- Manuel Angulo — 3 reps in 0:38.62s
Group 2
- Mitchell Hooper — 5 reps in 0:31.21s
- Bobby Thompson — 5 reps in 0:42.56s
- Gabriel Peña — 5 reps in 0:52.53s
- Mark Felix — 4 reps in 0:28.64s
- Brian Shaw — 4 reps in 0:32.20s
- Konstantine Janashia — 3 reps in 0:19.05s
Group 3
- Oleksii Novikov — 5 reps in 0:35.64s
- Adam Bishop — 5 reps in 0:37.44s
- Trey Mitchell — 5 reps in 0:59.00s
- Rob Kearney — 4 reps in 0:41.28s
- Mika Törrö — 2 reps in 0:26.65s
- Grzegorz Szymanski — 2 reps in 0:26.91s
Group 4
- Martins Licis — 5 reps in 0:43.59s
- Gavin Bilton — 5 reps in 0:52.28s
- Shane Flowers — 4 reps in 0:36.69s
- Maxime Boudreault — 3 reps in 0:21.12s
- Pavlo Kordiyaka — 3 reps in 0:38.50s
- Nedžmin Ambešković — 3 reps in 0:45.45s
Group 5
- Luke Stoltman — 4 reps in 0:42.87s
- Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf — 4 reps in 0:53.87s
- Kim Ujarak — 4 reps in 0:56.48s
- Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 3 reps in 0:40.88s
- Kelvin De Ruiter — 3 reps in 0:56.44s
- Evan Singleton — (withdrawn)
2022 WSM Events
Here’s the complete schedule for the competition, including the three-day Qualifiers and the two-day Final.
Qualifying Round — Day One
- Loading Race
- Deadlift Ladder
Qualifying Round — Day Two
- Car Walk
- Log Lift
Qualifying Round — Day Three
- Wrecking Ball Hold
- Stone Off
[Rest Day/No Events]
Final — Day One
- KNAACK Giant’s Medley
- Deadlift
- Flintstone Barbell
Final — Day Two
- Bus Pull
- Reign Total Body Fuel Power Stairs
- Atlas Stones
2022 WSM Competitor Withdrawals
While 30 men qualified to enter this year’s WSM, unexpected scenarios can occur. Here’s a list of the competitors who have withdrawn from the contest.
- Peiman Maheripourehir: Due to visa issues.
- Rauno Heinla: No reason specified, potential injury in training.
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski: Leg injury during training.
- Pa O’Dwyer: No reason specified.
- Shane Flowers: Injury sustained on Day One, withdrew after attempting to continue on Day Two.
How Strongman is Scored
Scoring points in competitive strongman events relates to the overall field of competitors. First place can earn as many points as there are competitors, and points descend accordingly.
In the Qualifying stage, you can earn a maximum of six points because there are six athletes in each group. First place gets six points; second gets five, and so on. In the Finals, there will be 10 competitors in total, so first place earns 10 points; second gets nine; third gets eight; and so on.
In the event of any tied scores, points are split evenly. If two athletes tie for second, you would add up the second and third place points and divide by two. For example, in the WSM Finals, if two athletes tie for second place, they would each earn 8.5 points (nine plus eight divided by two).
Featured Image: World’s Strongest Man
