2023 World’s Strongest Man Event One “Loading Race” Results

The 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest’s opening occasion on the Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place in Myrtle Seaside, SC, occurred on April 19, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. on the Sand Stage — one in every of three phases the place the strongmen will compete all through the competitors. It was a cool 60-degree sunny day to begin and acquired progressively hotter because the solar moved farther overhead.

Every of the six groups in the Qualifying Stage competed within the Loading Race, which challenged athletes to load a 265-pound sandbag Husafell for six meters, a 265-pound heavy sandbag for 4 meters, a 275-pound anvil, and two log bundles weighing 234 kilos and 253 kilos onto a platform as quick as attainable inside the 90-second time cap.

Racing on the sand is a rise in issue from the 2022 WSM contest, which was on asphalt. The outcomes for the Loading Race are under:

[Related: 2023 World’s Strongest Man Results and Leaderboard]

[Related: Cardio for Strongmen and Strongwomen to Supercharge Your Conditioning]

2023 World’s Strongest Man Loading Race Outcomes

Under are the outcomes for every of the teams:

Group One

1. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 5 in 41.38 seconds
2. Tom Stoltman — 5 in 43.83 seconds
3. Bobby Thompson — 5 in 56.56 seconds
4. Konstantine Janashia — 61.1 seconds
5. Pa O’Dwyer — 65.89 seconds
6. Eddie Williams — 5 in 66.04 seconds

The opening warmth was Eddie Williams vs. 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man champion Pavlo Kordiyaka vs. two-time reigning WSM champion Tom Stoltman. They acquired a really feel for the sand and shook off their nerves.

Kordiyaka and Williams raced out of the gate as Stoltman fell behind. A stumble by Williams left the door open for Kordiyaka to assert the warmth one victory, however Stoltman regained some floor. Williams dropped the ultimate sandbag on the end, and it value him priceless time.

After the sand was reset, Konstantine Janashia, Bobby Thompson, and Pa O’Dwyer lined up for warmth two. A dialed-in Thompson took the early lead by the second log bundle and by no means let it go. Janashia fought the cardio rigors of the occasion to carry off O’Dwyer for second place within the warmth and fourth within the group.

Group Two

1. Oleksii Novikov — 5 in 52.15 seconds 
2. Kristjan Jon Haraldsson — 5 in 54.58 seconds
3. Thomas Evans — 5 in 57.40 seconds
4. Luke Stoltman — 5 in 62.78 seconds
5. Gavin Bilton — 5 in 63.01 seconds
6. Fadi El Masri — 4 in 49.57 seconds

Oleksii Novikov, Luke Stoltman, and Thomas Evans bopped onto the sand stage for warmth one in every of Group Two. Evans’ debut WSM occasion was in entrance of a giant and loud crowd below the solar.

Novikov and Stoltman grunted and slapped their thighs to rev up, and the race was on. They have been neck and neck till a stumble by Stoltman with the second log bundle left area for Novikov to command the lead and take the warmth win. Stoltman’s legs sunk into the sand with every step, and he couldn’t overtake Evans as a consequence of his early falter.

Gavin Bilton and Fasi El Masri have been joined in warmth two by the primary curveball of the competitors: Iceland’s Kristjan Jon Haraldsson changing Iron Biby, who withdrew from the competitors earlier within the morning for a yet-to-be-disclosed cause. El Masri and Haraldsson are each making their WSM debuts.

Haraldsson was the lightest athlete within the warmth, however which will have performed to his benefit as he commanded an honest lead by the anvil. Bilton slowed because the occasion went on, and El Masri couldn’t preserve the tempo. The Lebanese strongman was the primary athlete of the day to fail to load all 5 implements. 

Group Three

1. Mitchell Hooper — 5 in 42.05 seconds
2. Aivars Šmaukstelis — 5 in 52.71 seconds
3. Matthew Ragg — 5 in 58.72 seconds
4. Spenser Remick — 5 in 67.15 seconds
5. Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 5 in 67.53 seconds
6. Graham Hicks — 4 in 53.4 seconds

Mitchell Hooper, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, and Aivars Šmaukstelis drew warmth one in Group Three. They every located their implements and acquired into the beginning place. Hooper darted to the lead as Kieliszkowski ran the primary log bundle into the platform, shedding a ton of time. Hooper by no means conceded the lead. Šmaukstelis took benefit of Kieliszkowski’s stumble to take second within the warmth and the occasion.

Graham Hicks, Matthew Ragg, and Spenser Remick mounted the sand stage for warmth two. All three are among the many heavier athletes within the group and appeared to be conscious that mild toes on the sand have been their ticket to a quick time.

Ragg used his peak to load the primary log bundle and take the lead. Hicks struggled along with his stride within the sand and fell behind Remick. Ragg closed the door to win the warmth as Hicks failed to complete inside the time cap. 

Group 4

1. Jaco Schoonwinkel — 5 in 47.1 seconds
2. Rauno Heinla — 5 in 51.41 seconds
3. Brian Shaw — 5 in 53.7 seconds
4. Adam Bishop — 4 in 43.12 seconds
5. Gabriel Rhéaume — 4 in 51.03 seconds
6. Kevin Faires — three in 65.3 seconds

Brian Shaw stepped up for warmth one in his ultimate WSM man look. He competed towards Jaco Schoonwinkel and Gabriel Rhéaume on the sand.

Schoonwinkel blitzed the primary three implements and refused to let up as Shaw took his time to keep away from errors. An enormous win within the warmth and the occasion for the South African, as Rhéaume was unable to complete inside the time cap.

Adam Bishop, Kevin Faires, and Rauno Heinla comprised warmth two because the solar beating down made the 68-degree climate really feel extra scorching on the sand. Bishop took a tough hit when he rammed the primary log bundle into the platform however continued unfazed.

Faires’ second log bundle fell off the platform after he loaded it, costing him time and the power to load all 5 objects — he couldn’t reload the log bundle earlier than the time cap and was solely scored for 3 implements. Solely Heinla accomplished all 5 objects as Bishop faltered on the very finish of the run.

Group 5

1. Evan Singleton — 5 in 46.9 seconds
2. Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 5 in 56.41 seconds
3. Trey Mitchell — 5 in 66.64 seconds
4. Paul Smith — 4 in 44.79 seconds
5. Mark Felix — 4 in  54.32 seconds
6. Jean-Stephan Coraboeuf — three in 40.63 seconds

Evan Singleton, Trey Mitchell, and Paul Smith checked on their implements for warmth one within the ultimate group. Smith was the primary athlete to put on gloves throughout this occasion to assist his grip.

A sluggish begin for Mitchell gave Singleton the inexperienced mild to scorch the tempo and win the warmth. Mitchell stayed regular to load all 5 implements as Smith solely managed to safe 4 implements.

Mark Felix, Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted, and Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf comprised the ultimate warmth of the occasion. Ingolfsson Melsted set the tempo as Coraboeuf fell properly behind.

The 57-year-old Felix acquired the assist of the group as he lifted the fifth implement. He acquired it to the platform however didn’t have time to load it. Coraboeuf solely loaded three implements whereas Ingolfsson Melsted took the warmth win.

On To Occasion Two

The Deadlift Machine is the following occasion on Day Certainly one of competitors. It’s scheduled for 11:29 a.m. EST on the Land Stage. The Log Ladder will shut Day Certainly one of competitors, beginning at 4:49 p.m. EST on the Sand Stage.

Featured picture courtesy of World’s Strongest Man