A second athlete has withdrawn from the 2024 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) after the competition started in Myrtle Beach, SC. Gavin Bilton was ready to compete on Day Two of the Qualifying Stage, but medical advised against it following Bilton’s need for oxygen during the Sandbag Steeplechase event. Bilton paid heed to medical’s recommendation.
Bilton competed in Group Two against Ondrej Fojtu, Mitchell Hooper, Austin Andrade, Nicolas Cambi, and Spenser Remick.
[Related: 2024 World’s Strongest Man Results & Leaderboard]
[Related: 2024 World’s Strongest Man Day 1 Recap]
The initial sign of injury struck at the end of Day One during the third and final event of the day — the Sandbag Steeplechase. Bilton stopped mid-event to receive treatment from medical that included oxygen and water in the Myrtle Beach heat.
The “Year of Injury”
Bilton’s withdrawal added to the pile of injuries and withdrawals that have plagued the 2024 WSM contest. Martins Licis, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Oleksii Novikov, Shane Flowers, and Kristjan Jon Haraldsson all withdrew before the contest began, and Bobby Thompson withdrew on Day One of the competition after suffering a foot injury during the Webster Stones event that kicked off the 2024 WSM contest.
Day Two of the competition continues with the Globe Viking Press, the Car Walk, and the Stone-Off between each group’s second and third-place finishers to determine who will advance to the 2024 WSM Final.
BarBend will provide any additional updates regarding Bilton’s health status as they become available.
Featured image: Rich Storry / World’s Strongest Man
