After an intense and hot first day of the 2024 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), the athletes and fans were ready for more on May 2, 2024. Day Two of the Qualifying Stage kicked off with the Globe Viking Press. This is the first time a Viking Press was a part of this contest since 2017, when Eddie Hall won the title.
Each strongman pressed the globe via handles to an overhead lockout. The head judge gave the down command for every good rep. Before beginning the next rep, the handles must drop below the athletes’ ears.
Whoever performed the highest number of reps in 60 seconds determined the winner; the strongmen competed in two-athlete heats. Double dipping — bending the knees while pressing — is illegal and double-dipped reps do not count.
[Related: 2024 World’s Strongest Man Results & Leaderboard]
[Related: 2024 World’s Strongest Man Day 1 Recap]
2024 World’s Strongest Man Results — Globe Viking Press
The final results for all five groups are as follows.
Group 1
- Trey Mitchell (USA) — 16 reps
- Tristain Hoath (CAN) — 15 reps
- Kevin Faires (USA) — 11 reps
- Luke Stoltman (UK) — 11 reps
- Eddie Williams (AUS) — 10 reps (T-fifth)
- Oskar Ziółkowski (POL) — 10 reps (T-fifth)
Kevin Faires and Oskar Ziółkowski kicked the day off and seemed evenly matched. They each reached the double-digit milestone.
Trey Mitchell’s parents were in attendance and saw their son venture onto the contest stage for the second heat against Eddie Williams of Australia. Mitchell was a machine for the first 40 seconds, scoring a whopping 16 reps. Six months after suffering in Achilles tear, Mitchell won the event in an inspiring performance.
Finally, Group 1 closed with Tristain Hoath and “The Highland Oak” Luke Stoltman. Stoltman matched Faires 11 reps but couldn’t keep pace with Hoath, who fell one rep short of tying Mitchell’s 16.
Between events, Colin Bryce announced that Faires and Stoltman would have one rep added to their total due to a lack of a warning call.
Group 2
- Ondrej Fojtu (CZE) — 15 reps
- Mitchell Hooper (CAN) — 14 reps
- Austin Andrade (MEX) — 12 reps
- Nicolas Cambi (IT) — 13 reps (T-fourth)
- Spenser Remick (USA) — 13 reps (T-fourth)
- Gavin Bilton (UK) – Withdrawn
Before Group Two competed, it was confirmed that Gavin Bilton would withdraw after suffering medical issues on Day One. Bilton was advised by on-site medical staff to pull out.
With Bilton out of the contest, Nicolas Cambi competed in the first heat solo. Despite a forearm injury suffered on Day One, Cambi’s overhead prowess secured him 13 reps within the time limit. Austin Andrade and Spenser Remick clashed in heat two, the latter. besting the former by a single rep.
Mitchell Hooper and Ondrej Fojtu went head-to-head, as they have all contest thus far, in the final heat. Hooper stopped before the time cap, comfortable with the execution of his game plan. Fojtu scored the event win by one rep more than Hooper.
Group 3
- Thomas Evans (USA) — 17 reps
- Aivars Šmaukstelis (LVA) — 14 reps
- Mathew Ragg (NZ) — 12 reps
- Rob Kearney (USA) — 11 reps
- Pa O’Dwyer (IRL) — 7 reps
- Adam Bishop (UK) — 7 reps
Thomas Evans and Aivars Šmaukstelis clashed in heat one for Group Three. They pushed each other to the end. Evans locked out the highest total of the day thus far — within one rep of the world record. Their efforts held the rare feat of withstanding the performances of the strongmen thereafter, who knew the mark to beat.
Rob Kearney versus Pa O’Dwyer was the menu for heat two, and Mathew Ragg versus Adam Bishop closed the group. Ragg’s 12 reps were enough for bronze in the event and the overall lead in the group with one event to go before the Stone-Off.
Group 4
- Evan Singleton (USA) — 16 reps
- Pavlo Kordiyaka (UA) — 14 reps
- Marcus Crowder (USA)— 12 reps
- Kane Francis (UK)— 12 reps
- Rauno Heinla (EST)— 9 reps
- Evans Nana (GHA)— 8 reps
Heats for Group Four were Rauno Heinla versus Marcus Crowder, Kane Francis versus Evans Nana, and Evan Singleton versus Pablo Kordiyaka in that order. Singleton continued his dominance of the group, locking out 16 reps.
Singleton’s win here made him the first athlete to qualify for the 2024 WSM Final.
Group 5
- Tom Stoltman (UK) — 14 reps
- Adam Roszkowski (POL) — 14 reps
- Wesley Derwinsky (CAN) — 13 reps
- Nathan Goltry (USA) — 13 reps
- Jaco Schoonwinkel (SA) — 12 reps
The Globe Viking Press concluded with Group Five as the morning transitioned to the afternoon. Only five strongmen remained in the group following Bobby Thompson’s withdrawal on Day One. As a result, Adam Roszkowski competed onstage alone.
After 14 reps, to the crowd’s delight, Roszkowski was followed by Wesley Derwinsky versus Nathan Goltry. Derwinsky and Goltry tied with 13 reps, which meant Roszkowski’s performance was the mark to beat for two-time WSM Tom Stoltman and Jaco Schoonwinkel. Stoltman excited the crowd with his 14-rep performance to tie for first place.
Dig Into Day Two
We’re only a day into the 2024 WSM and sparks are flying. With the Globe Viking Press done and dusted, the best strongman athletes on Earth turn their gaze toward the remaining two events slated for May 2:
- Qualifying Event 5: Car Walk — 1:00 PM
- Qualifying Event 6: Stone-Off — 5:00 PM
Stay tuned to BarBend‘s live event coverage to keep up with all the action down in Myrtle Beach. Missed out on Day One? You’d better study up:
- Event 1 “Webster Stones” Results
- Event 2 “Deadlift Ladder” Results
- Event 3 “Sandbag Steeplechase” Results
Featured image: Rich Storry / World’s Strongest Man
