We have entered the era of four-time World Strongest Man (WSM) champions putting on their strongman shows. Strongman greats are giving back to the sport, first with the Žydrūnas Savickas Classic in 2016 and then the Shaw Classic in 2020. Four-time WSM winner Magnus ver Magnusson (1991, 1994-96) is hopping into the mix by creating his eponymous show — The Magnus Ver Magnusson Strongman Classic (MvMSC).
Initially announced in February and slated for a July event date, Magnusson recently posted an update on his Instagram page stating the competition will instead be held at various locations in Iceland on the weekend of Nov. 18-20, 2021. He has not officially announced where spectators can watch the event but confirmed that it would be live-streamed. Specific locations for the competition and whether or not in-person spectators will be allowed have yet to be announced.
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2021 Magnus ver Magnusson Classic Roster
- Sami Ahola, Finland
- Maxime Boudreault, Canada
- Stan Carradine, USA
- Ryan England, UK
- Sigfús Fossdal, Iceland
- Theodor Mar Guðmundsson, Iceland
- Kristján Jón Haraldsson, Iceland
- Dennis Kohlruss, Germany
- Lautaruo Jauregui Lorda, Argentina
- Kim Ujarak Lorentzen, Greenland
- Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsted, Iceland
- Pierre Motal, France
- Tómas Darri þorsteinsson, Iceland
- Ervin Toots, Estonia
2021 UK’s Strongest Man Gavin Bilton of Wales was initially on the roster but withdrew on Oct. 17, 2021. Bilton’s replacement has yet to be confirmed.
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2021 Magnus ver Magnusson Strongman Classic Events
The MvMSC will consist of six events over two days. Similar to how the Log Lift World Championship was a featured event of the 2021 Giants Live World Tour Finals, the Stone Press World Championship is the featured event of the MvMSC.
- Stone Press World Championship
- Axle Deadlift for Reps
- Log Lift Medley
- Stone to Shoulder Medley
- Husafell Stone Carry
- Super Yoke and Farmer’s Carry Medley
Each of the events will take place in a different location. Laurence “Big Loz” Shahlaei speculated that the stones would start in the 80- to 90-kilogram range.
[Related: 2021 Strongman Corporation Nationals Official Results]
Athletes to Watch
The strongmen on the MvMSC roster have consistently scored strong finishes over the past several years in various federations and leagues. As it currently stands, Maxime Bourdreault has the best international track record as the bronze medalist from the 2021 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competition. However, this field of athletes has no shortage of heavy hitters.
Maxime Boudreault
Boudreault recently came third at the 2021 WSM competition — his Finals debut at that contest. He has proven versatile when it comes to pressing weight overhead and currently holds the Canadian log lift record of 205 kilograms (452 pounds), set at the 2021 WSM.
We’ll see if Boudreault’s pressing power can challenge Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsted’s current stone press world record of 137 kilograms (302 pounds).
Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsted
A three-time runner-up at Iceland’s Strongest Man, Melsted represented Iceland at the 2020 and 2021 WSM competitions — his highest rank was 10th overall in 2021.
Melsted holds the natural stone press record at 137 kilograms (302 pounds), breaking a decade-long record previously held by the event’s organizer, Magnus ver Magnusson. Melsted is one of the few athletes with experience using the equipment at the MvMSC, having previously trained at ver Magnusson’s gym, Jakaból. Melsted’s combination of strength and experience make him dangerous in the MvMSC events.
Kim Ujarak Lorentzen
Lorentzen’s abilities as a strongman could serve him well in this style of competition. A five-time winner of Greenland’s Strongest Man, Kim boasts a 410.5-kilogram (905-pound) deadlift. He recently won the Arnold Log and Deadlift Rep Championship at the inaugural Arnold Sports Festival UK. His ability to rep out heavy deadlifts and logs, combined with his speed in moving events, make him a contender for a top spot.
Onward to Iceland
Unlike many of the Giants Live contests this year that are single-day endeavors, the MvMSC holds six events over three days. This means there will be sufficiently more recovery time between events, giving a slight edge to athletes prepared to lift heavy rather than athletes who are better at handling a higher workload.
Athletes will experience more traditional stone lifting combined with modernized log lifts, deadlifts, and medleys that are now staples of the sport. Assuming this is the first of many shows hosted by the former four-time WSM champion, elite yearly strongman events just got another premier event.
Feature image: @magnusvermag on Instagram | photo by Zoie Carter-Ingham
