The 2024 Strongman Classic is set for July 13, 2024, in London, England. The single-day competition will feature many of the world’s elite strongmen competing for the coveted title that partly comprises the Giants Live contest circuit.
Thirteen strongmen will contend through five events at the Royal Albert Hall. The full roster and events are listed below:
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2024 Strongman Classic Roster
- Tom Stoltman (UK) — Three-Time Reigning World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion
- Evan Singleton (USA) — Defending Strongman Classic Champion
- Mitchell Hooper (CAN) — 2023 WSM, 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational Champion, Reigning Two-Time Arnold Strongman Classic Champion
- Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (BF) — Log Press World Record Holder, Axle Press World Record Holder
- Pavlo Kordiyaka (UKR) — 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man
- Oleksii Novikov (UKR) — 2020 WSM, 2022 Rogue Strongman Invitational Champion
- Gavin Bilton (UK) — 2023 Strongman Champions League (SCL) Serbia Champion
- Eddie Williams (AUS) — Nicol Stones World Record Holder
- Pa O’Dwyer (IRL)
- Kane Francis (UK) — 2024 England’s Strongest Man
- Mathew Ragg (NZL) — 2024 Beasts of Burden Champion
- Tristain Hoath (CAN) — 2024 Magnus Ver Magnússon Strongman Classic Champion
- Andrew Flynn (UK) — 2024 England’s Strongest Man Runner-Up
[Related: 2024 SCL World Record Breakers Results — Aivars Šmaukstelis Atop the Podium]
2024 Strongman Classic Events
- Max Axle Press
- Deadlift
- Conan’s Wheel
- Wrecking Ball Hold
- Atlas Stones
Who’s Favored?
Single-day competitions typically have more variance than multiple-day contests like the WSM or Rogue Invitational. Conserving energy for a longer competition is not a consideration at the Strongman Classic. However, with fewer events, there is also less room for error.
Max Axle Press
No one entering the competition should expect to out lift Iron Biby in this event. Iron Biby is the world record holder and could very well attempt to exeed the record of 217 kilograms at the Royal Albert Hall.
That being said, the other competitors should consider a silver-medal finish in this event as the gold standard. Iron Biby has podiumed at Giants Live before, so if he can maintain position in the non-static-strength events — Conan’s Wheel and Atlas Stones — he could be in medal contention this time around too.
Deadlift
Mitchell Hooper is arguably the strongest deadlifter in this lineup. Of course, Tom Stoltman has vastly improved his deadlift over the past few years and Mathew Ragg could lift a house if he feels good on the day.
If Novikov is fully healed from his biceps injury, he could pull out a massive deadlift as well to post significant points on the board. Expect Singleton to bring some intense heat for his title defense and challenge his limits.
Conan’s Wheel
O’Dwyer is really strong in this event, though that might fly under the radar. He’s arguably one of the favorites to pull out a huge number to beat early in the event. Novikov’s performance here will be highly dependant on the health of his biceps.
Kordiyaka should be the pick to win this event given his prowess is these kinds of distance-based hold events. When it comes to carries while moving, Kordiyaka is king.
If Stoltman and Hooper are toward the backend of the lineup and know the distance to beat, then they are almost certainly contending for top points in this event as well.
Wrecking Hall Hold
Grip events often reward many strongmen who don’t neccessarily excel elsewhere. Grip is just a different animal from high-velocity movement or static strength. Given that Williams is the Nicol Stones world record holder, he should post a significant early time to beat.
Hooper has held a stone hold record previously and could post something huge here as well. Singleton having defender’s edge fueling his commitment throughout the competition could push through the pain if he knows what a winning time looks like.
Atlas Stones
If the top of the roster is close on points, then the Atlas Stones will come down to whether or not Stoltman is in that mix. Stoltman is the “King of the Stones” for a reason and is unlikely to score anything other than first-place points.
However, if Stoltman is off the top of the podium by three or more points entering the Atlas Stones, then Singleton, Hooper, a healthy Novikov, or Ragg, to name a few, could post top-end times to stave off Stoltman from capturing the gold.
Going Classic
What’s wonderful about this kind of contest is the roster is so stacked and the events are widely varied enough, that legitimate arguments could be made for more than half the field to be gold-medal favorites. The only way to find out is to let the action unfold.
Anyone who wants to watch the contest at the Royal Albert Hall can purchase tickets to see it in person or watch coverage at officialstrongman.com.
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Featured image: @giantslivestrongman on Instagram
