Unfortunately, day one of the qualifying stage for the 2020 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competition was canceled due to inclement weather near the contest’s outdoor venue in Bradenton, FL. Even though the competition’s schedule may be tossed into flux due to this abrupt, albeit foreseeable, turn of events, that doesn’t mean the strongmen competing are not already there and cleared to compete.
Four-time WSM champion Brian Shaw filmed some behind-the-scenes footage trying out some of the equipment for the events in the qualifying stage. The official list of 2020 WSM events includes a log lift, a farmer’s carry for max distance, and a loading medley with a unique twist.
Check out the full behind-the-scenes video below from Shaw’s YouTube channel:
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The five qualifier groups were officially announced on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2020 in the first episode of the WSM Facebook Live Stream. Shaw was placed in group five alongside Luke Stoltman, Aivars Smaukstelis, Terry Hollands, and Nick Best. Stoltman recently pushed a new British log press record on World’s Ultimate Strongman’s “Feats of Strength” series. The hype for a battle between him and Shaw in that event is palpable.
A staple event at the WSM is a loading medley, but the 2020 competition has a bit more spectacle to it. Rather than sandbags or a more common piece of equipment, the competitors will have to load various parts of a monster truck this year. Shaw, who is 2017 WSM champion Eddie Hall’s predicted winner for 2020, found those car parts to be a bit cumbersome to grip, but not as heavy as expected.
According to Event Director Collin Bryce, the competition’s final event will be a partial deadlift (also known as a silver dollar deadlift). Though Shaw didn’t know this at the time, he recently pulled a colossal 1,091-Pound (494.8-Kilogram) deadlift off blocks in training. If Hall’s prediction comes true, a Shaw victory will tie him for the most WSM titles with Mariusz Pudzianowski at five.
Featured image: Brian Shaw’s YouTube channel.
