Big news from Luke Stoltman and two-time reigning World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Tom Stoltman. Their first sanctioned contest of the 2023 season will be the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) on March 4, 2023, in Columbus, OH. That’s according to a YouTube video the brothers published on Jan. 1, 2023.
While it’s not surprising that the Stoltman brothers will compete at the 2023 ASC, where they both have a strong chance to podium, if not outright win the contest, it means that Tom Stoltman will not compete at the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Man (BSM) contest, scheduled for Jan. 28, 2023, in Sheffield, England. Tom Stoltman won the BSM contest in 2021 and 2022.
Check out the video below, wherein the Stoltman brothers train their Elephant Bar deadlift as part of Tom Stoltman’s journey to an all-time deadlift world record attempt of 505 kilograms in 2024:
2023 Britain’s Strongest Man Roster
Below is the updated 2023 BSM roster without Pa O’Dwyer, who was on the initial roster but had to withdraw, and his replacement: Andy Black.
- Terry Hollands (England)
- Andy Black (Scotland)
- Adam Bishop (England)
- Luke Richardson (England)
- Mark Felix (England)
- Louis Jack (Scotland)
- Zake Muluzi (Scotland)
- Gavin Bilton (Wales)
- Graham Hicks (England)
- Paul Smith (England)
- Ryan Bennett (England)
- Shane Flowers (England)
While specifics were not disclosed, O’Dwyer’s reason for withdrawal was due to injury, according to the announcement of his withdrawal on the Giants Live Instagram page. O’Dwyer was the runner-up to Tom Stoltman at the 2022 BSM contest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm9fhR5oOrE/
[Related: Watch World Record-Holding Powerlifter Tamara Walcott (+90KG) Hit a Log Press PR]
With the Stoltmans and O’Dwyer out of the 2023 BSM, the only podium finisher since 2020 competing is Adam Bishop, who won the contest that year. However, Bishop is not the lone former BSM champion in the line-up. Hicks won the 2019 BSM contest — Bishop was the runner-up that year.
The 2023 BSM competition is likely to be a roller coaster of a battle, although the events have not yet been released at the time of this article’s publication. With a wide-open podium and the guarantee of a new champion, anything could happen in Sheffield.
Featured image: @stoltmanbrothers on Instagram
