2023 World’s Strongest Viking Results — Johan Espenkrona Conquers

The day was Feb. 24, 2023, when 14 strongmen stepped onto the competitive battleground that was Vinstra, Norway, for the 2023 World’s Strongest Viking contest. The contest tested these goliaths across a range of six grueling events: the Viking Press, Boat Pull, Power Stairs, Wheel of Pain, Hercules Hold, and the Atlas Stones.

In a war against eventual runner-up Eric Dawson of the USA, Johan Espenkrona of Sweden emerged triumphant among his peers scoring 71 of a possible 84 points. Check out the full results below, followed by the results of each of the six individual events that comprised Espenkrona’s victory:

2023 World’s Strongest Viking Results

1. Johan Espenkrona (Sweden) — 71 points
2. Eric Dawson (USA) — 67 points
3. Øyvind Gustavsen (Norway) — 60 points
4. Veli-Pekka Kauhanen (Finland) — 59 points
5. Fredrik Svensson (Sweden) — 57 points
6. Romek Velt (Estonia) — 55 points
7. Peter Rundberg (Sweden) — 54 points
8. Mark Felix (UK) — 52.5 points
9. Ole Martin Hansen (Norway) — 50 points
10. Michael Bishop (UK) — 23 points
11. Ken McClelland (USA) — 22 points
12. Vaughn Sikorski (USA) — (21 points)
13. Ryan Myler (UK) — 17 points
14. Lars Besand (Denmark) — 15.5 points

Seven different countries were represented in Norway. Sweden, USA, and the UK tied for the most representation with three competitors each. Finland and Norway were each represented by two strongmen.

[Related: Maxime Boudreault Withdraws From the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic, 2023 World’s Strongest Man Due to Injury]

Viking Press

The Viking Press event challenged each strongman to lockout as many reps as possible of 140 kilograms (308.7 pounds) in 60 seconds.

1. Eric Dawson — 14 reps
2. Johan Espenkrona — 12 reps
3. Romek Velt — 10 reps
4. Fredrik Svensson — Nine reps
5. Veli-Pekka Kauhanen — Eight reps
6. Øyvind Gustavsen — Six reps (T-sixth)
7. Ole Martin Hansen — Six reps (T-sixth)
8. Ken McClelland — Six reps (T-sixth)
9. Peter Rundberg — Five reps
10. Mark Felix — Three reps (T-10th)
11. Lars Besand — Three reps (T-10th)
12. Vaughn Sikorski — One rep
13. Michael Bishop — no reps
14. Ryan Myler — no reps

Boat Pull

With a 60-second time limit, each strongman attempted to pull a 3,500-kilogram (7,716.2-pound) boat across a 30-meter course. The faster the time, the higher an athlete’s rank.

1. Johan Espenkrona — 17.09 seconds
2. Veli-Pekka Kauhanen — 18.10 seconds
3. Eric Dawson — 18.31 seconds
4. Øyvind Gustavsen — 18.32 seconds
5. Romek Velt — 18.54 seconds
6. Fredrik Svensson — 18.69 seconds
7. Peter Rundberg — 19.40 seconds
8. Ole Martin Hansen — 20.49 seconds
9. Ken McClelland — 20.74 seconds
10. Mark Felix — 24.29 seconds
11. Vaughn Sikorski — 26.21 seconcds
12. Lars Besand — 26.80 seconds
13. Michael Bishop — 26.86 seconds
14. Ryan Myler — 21.4 meters

Power Stairs

The Power Stairs comprised three implements weighing 180, 1990, and 200 kilograms (396.8, 418.9, 440.9 pounds). The strongmen had to ascend each up four steps.

1. Øyvind Gustavsen — 24.81 seconds
2. Johan Espenkrona — 25.84 seconds
3. Mark Felix — 27.96 seconds
4. Ole Martin Hansen — 28.35 seconds
5. Veli-Pekka Kauhanen — 28.82 seconds
6. Fredrik Svensson — 29.32 seconds
7. Ken McClelland — 32.34 seconds
8. Peter Rundberg — 33.06 seconds
9. Romek Velt — 33.81 seconds
10. Eric Dawson — 35.22 seconds
11. Vaughn Sikorski — 50.50 seconds
12. Michael Bishop — 11 steps
13. Ryan Myler — Nine steps
14. Lars Besand — Five steps

Wheel of Pain

Each strongman attempted to move the Wheel of Pain as many meters as possible in 60 seconds. Before this event McClelland withdrew from the competition.

1. Øyvind Gustavsen — 78.82 meters
2. Veli-Pekka Kauhanen — 76.51 meters
3. Fredrik Svensson — 74.28 meters
4. Eric Dawson — 73.5 meters
5. Peter Rundberg — 72.2 meters
6. Johan Espenkrona — 72 meters
7. Ole Martin Hansen — 70.24 meters
8. Romek Velt — 65.4 meters
9. Mark Felix — 57.4 meters
10. Michael Bishop — 54.2 meters
11. Ryan Myler — 52.27 meters
12. Vaughn Sikorski — 51.32 meters
13. Lars Besand — 27.27 meters
14. Ken McClelland — withdrew

Hercules Hold

Challenged the maintain the 150-kilogram pillars in the Hercules Hold, the unrivaled Mark Felix and his unparalleled grip emerged victorious by more than 20 seconds over the next closest competitior.

1. Mark Felix — 76.54 seconds
2. Peter Rundberg — 54.75 seconds
3. Eric Dawson — 54.35 seconds
4. Romek Velt — 49.70 seconds
5. Johan Espenkrona — 46.18 seconds
6. Øyvind Gustavsen — 43.02 seconds
7. Ole Martin Hansen — 41.40 seconds
8. Veli-Pekka Kauhanen — 36.71 seconds
9. Michael Bishop — 36.65 seconds
10. Ryan Myler — 31.11 seconds
11. Vaughn Sikorski — 30.90 seconds
12. Lars Besand — 27.87 seconds
13. Fredrik Svensson — 22.87 seconds
14. Ken McClelland — withdrew

Atlas Stones

There were 60 seconds on the clock for each strongman to load five stones weighing 100 to 180 kilograms (220.5 to 396.8 pounds).