On Apr. 3, 2023, the WSM organization’s Instagram page announced that Pa O’Dwyer was joining the 2023 competition’s roster. O’Dwyer does not appear to be replacing anyone. He is merely another confirmed addition in the aftermath of the 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM). The athlete might be best known for winning the 2018 UK’s Strongest Man. In 2020, O’Dwyer’s only other WSM appearance, he failed to advance to the Finals.

O’Dwyer’s confirmation comes on the heels of the announcement of overhead pressing phenom Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou making his WSM debut and the recent reveal of Thomas Evans and Kane Francis as reserves.

With O’Dwyer’s in the mix, here is where the 28-competitor 2023 WSM roster stands at the time of this article’s publication. If the contest is to follow recent precedent, two more athletes are expected to be added in the coming days to round out this field of 30 strongmen.

2023 World’s Strongest Man Roster

• Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom) — Defending two-time WSM champion
• Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
• Evan Singleton (United States)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Trey Mitchell (United States)
• Adam Bishop (United Kingdom)
• Aivars Šmaukstelis (Latvia)
• Kevin Faires (United States)
• Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted (Iceland)
• Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
• Rauno Heinla (Estonia)
• Bobby Thompson (United States)
• Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
• Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
• Spenser Remick (United States)
• Eddie Williams (Australia)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Konstantine Janashia (Georgia)
• Graham Hicks (United Kingdom)
• Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Mathew Ragg (New Zealand)
• Gabriel Rhéaume (Canada)
• Brian Shaw (United States)
• Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
• Mark Felix (Grenada)
• Fadi El Masri (Lebanon)
• Cheick Sanou (Burkina Faso)
• Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
• Thomas Evans (United States) | Reserve
• Kane Francis (United Kingdom) | Reserve
• *Maxime Boudreault (Canada) (qualified but withdrew due to shin injury)

The 2023 WSM will be the last competitive appearance of four-time champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) Brian Shaw. It will also be Mark Felix’s last appearance while marking his 18th berth in the competition since 2004.

According to the WSM Instagram page, the official groups for the 2023 competition’s Qualifying Round will be revealed on Tues, Apr. 18, 2023, just one day before the contest begins. While unconfirmed, it is likely there will be five groups of six strongmen per recent iterations of the WSM.

2023 World’s Strongest Man Events

Here are the events for 2023 WSM, taking place over five days, with a one-day break between the Qualifying Round and Final on Fri, Apr. 21, 2023:

Qualifying Stage — Wednesday, April 19

• Event One — Loading Race
• Event Two — Deadlift Machine
• Event Three — Log Ladder

Qualifying Stage — Thursday, April 20

• Event Four — Conan’s Wheel
• Event Five — Kettlebell Toss
• Event Six — Stone Off

Final — Saturday, April 22

• Event One — Fingal’s Fingers
• Event Two — KNAACK Deadlift
• Event Three — Reign Shield Carry

Final — Sunday, April 23

• Event Four — Max Dumbbell Press
• Event Five — Vehicle Pull
• Event Six — Atlas Stones

The WSM organization has not released details for the weight of implements or the precise format of each event. Though, spectators can probably expect familiar events like the Stone Off to stay aligned with previous years. In the past, this concluding event has featured second and third-place finishers from each Qualifying Round group squaring off in an Atlas Stones battle to vie for a Final berth.

The 2023 WSM might be less than three weeks away, but there’s a lot of business to take care of before the South Carolina proceedings. O’Dwyer’s addition surely won’t be the last bit of important news to come to light near the finish line.

Featured image: @theworldsstrongestman on Instagram

The post Pa O’Dwyer Joins The 2023 World’s Strongest Man Roster appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Before the announcement of O’Dwyer’s addition was made, there were two open slots — a Wild Card and a space that Adam Bishop vacated after a triceps tear in early July 2022. At the time of this writing, it is unclear whether O’Dwyer is the Wild Card or is replacing Bishop. Nonetheless, the Irish athlete’s addition to the roster should present him with a great opportunity in a strength contest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by GIANTS LIVE: WSM Arena Tour (@giantslivestrongman)

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According to Strongman Archives, O’Dwyer most significant victory is the 2018 UK’s Strongest Man. He is also a five-time winner of Ireland’s Strongest Man (2016-2019, 2021). In 2022, the athlete has stayed close to home for his strongman competitions. In February, at the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man (BSM), O’Dwyer took home a fifth-place result. Later, in early April, the Irishman finished in 10th place at the 2022 Europe’s Strongest Man.

O’Dwyer will undoubtedly look to improve upon his recent results at the Giants Live World and World Deadlift Championships in early August. With his addition official, here is the confirmed full roster for the contest:

2022 Giants Live World Open & World Deadlift Championships Roster

• Evan Singleton (United States) — 2021 Giants Live World Open Champion
• Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) — 2021 Third place
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Ivan Makarov (Russia) — 2021 WDC Champion
• Gabriel Peña (Mexico)
• Rauno Heinla (Estonia)
• Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
• Asko Karu (Estonia)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Peiman Maheripourehir (Iran)
• Wild card — Announced at a later date

In his first Giants Live World Open and WDC, O’Dwyer joins a loaded field of top-tier strongmen.

Some names include defending Giants Live World Open Champion, Evan Singleton. Then comes stellar deadlifter and reigning WDC champ, Ivan Makarov. Rising strongman star Mitchell Hooper is also a part of the overall fray, as is Peiman Maheripourehir — whose 492-kilogram (1,084-pound) deadlift from March 2021 stands as the fourth-heaviest caught on camera.

Throw in former World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Champion (2020), Oleksii Novikov — who also won the recent Giants Live Strongman Classic — and this joint competition could prove to be a fascinating battle all around. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__)

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At the time of this article’s publication, the Giants Live organization has not revealed the event format or schedule for the World Open portion of the competition. The only fact known concerns the Max Deadlift — which doubles as the 2022 WDC.

Notably, if any of the athletes can deadlift 505 kilograms (1,113 pounds) during the contest, Giants Live will reward them with a $55,000 prize. That mark would surpass the current all-time World Record held by 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Hafthor Björnsson — who pulled 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds) in the World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” series in May 2020. O’Dwyer did log a 420-kilogram (925.9-pound) deadlift during a June 2022 training session, but he has work to do before he can challenge for that prize. 

Only time will tell whether O’Dwyer can answer the bell and topple his peers in his first appearance at this competition. If his performance around the United Kingdom says anything, he’ll definitely be a competitor to keep an eye on. 

Featured image: @giantslivestrongman

The post Strongman Pa O’Dwyer Added to 2022 Giants Live World Open & World Deadlift Championships Roster appeared first on Breaking Muscle.