A few weeks ago, four-time World’s Strongest Man Brian Shaw had announced that the 2021 Shaw Classic would be held in October 2021 in Estes Park, Colorado. On Feb. 2, 2021, Shaw released another YouTube video, this time to announce the list of competitors taking part in the 2021 Shaw Classic that he promises to be bigger and better. Check out the full video below:
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Before he shared the list of athletes, Shaw announced a greater prize purse for this year’s contest. He also hints that there may be more to come.
“This year, I’m putting up $50,000 (USD) to start the prize pool for the athletes,” Shaw said in the video. “My goal is to start with that $50,000 and increase it. We have a lot of plans to do that, and I’m very excited about that.”
Furthermore, Shaw has increased the number of athletes participating from 10 to 16. So within the first few weeks of his planning for this contest, he has offered a bigger venue, more prize money, and more athletes. He also teased another upcoming video, where he will detail an increase in the number of events.
2021 Shaw Classic Roster
The first iteration of Shaw’s namesake show was a big success. It was well-received by fans and competitors, and Shaw was praised for his athlete-first production. For example, Shaw put in $25,000 of his own money into the 2020 Shaw Classic prize pool and, even though he won, refused to accept any of the winnings.
This year’s roster will see the addition of six athletes. It should be noted that this is the second time Martins Licis, the 2019 World’s Strongest Man winner, was invited to the event but has not responded.
Brian Shaw
Yes, the promoter and reigning Shaw Classic champion will be in this year’s lineup. Like last year, Shaw says that he will not accept any prize money for wherever he places.
JF Caron
Caron is coming off a third-place finish at the 2020 World’s Strongest Man and was the runner-up at the 2020 Shaw Classic. In the latter contest, he performed a 545 kilogram (1,202 pounds) Hummer Tire Deadlift, which is believed to be a world record.
Oleksii Novikov
Oleksii Novikov is the 2020 World’s Strongest Man and finished in third place at Shaw’s last contest. The 24-year-old recently had a world-record deadlift of his own. At the 2020 WSM contest, he pulled 527 kilograms (1,183 pounds) in the 18-inch deadlift.
Trey Mitchell III
Mitchell was a last-minute invitee to the 2020 Shaw Classic, but he managed to place fourth in that contest.
Jerry Pritchett
Jerry Pritchett finished in fourth place at the 2020 WSM contest, which was his highest placing in his career at that contest. He was fifth at Shaw’s 2020 contest.
Adam Bishop
Bishop won Britain’s Strongest Man contest in 2020. He also placed sixth in both the WSM and the Shaw Classic last year.
Luke Stoltman
The seventh-place finisher in last year’s Shaw Classic will return in 2021. Among his 2020 highlights was setting the British record in the Log Press on World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” series.
Tom Stoltman
The younger Stoltman brother and runner-up at the World’s Strongest Man is the world record holder in the Atlas Stone Over Bar event. “The King of Stones” didn’t take part in Shaw’s contest in 2020.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski
Kieliszkowski was last seen at the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic. He is recovering from an injury that kept him from competing in the World’s Strongest Man contest. He was considered a favorite going into that contest and could be the same for this year’s Shaw Classic.
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Robert Oberst
The “American Monster” was unable to take part in Shaw’s contest due to personal reasons. However, he has committed to being in this year’s lineup. He currently has his sights on reclaiming the American Log Press record later this year.
Evan Singleton
Singleton had been invited to compete in the first Shaw contest but was injured at the World’s Strongest Man and couldn’t make it.
Graham Hicks
Much like Singleton, Hicks was also invited by Shaw to compete in 2020, but the British competitor was injured during the WSM finals and had to pass on the opportunity.
Kevin Faires
The American was seventh at the 2020 WSM and ninth at last year’s Shaw Classic. He is considered by many in the strongman community to be a strong prospect for future events.
Luke Richardson
The 2020 Europe’s Strongest Man champ will be making his first appearance at the Shaw Classic in 2021.
Aivars Smaukstelis
The Latvian strongman will be making his first appearance at this contest. He came in eighth at the WSM contest.
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Maxime Boudreault
Boudreault made his name known at the 2020 Arnold Santa Monica event, where he pushed Shaw and Martins Licis to the limit by winning the first three events. Licis would go on to win that contest, however, with Boudreault finishing in third.
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