The 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest will occur in Sacramento, CA, on May 15-18, 2025. The elite contest features 25 of the world’s best strongmen competing through four days comprising 10 events. However, only the first two days of competition are guaranteed.
Only 10 strongmen will reach the WSM Final to battle for the WSM title. They must either win or finish as runners-up in their respective qualifying stage group to get there. There are five qualifying stage groups of five athletes each. On May 8, 2025, WSM revealed who is grouped with whom:
[Learn More: 2025 World’s Strongest Man Events and Roster]
2025 World’s Strongest Man Qualifying Stage Groups
The 2025 WSM qualifying stage groups will compete in the five events:
Group One
- Austin Andrade
- Thomas Evans
- Jaco Schoonwinkel
- Tom Stoltman — Three-time Defending WSM Champion
- Eddie Williams
Group Two
- Wesley Derwinsky
- Pa O’Dwyer
- Mitchell Hooper — 2023 WSM Champion
- Bryce Johnson
- Mathew Ragg
Group Three
- Shane Flowers
- Lucas Hatton
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski
- Evans Nana
- Rayno Nel
Group Four
- Maxime Boudreault
- Ondra Fojtů
- Tristain Hoath
- Trey Mitchell
- Luke Richardson
Group Five
- Andrew Flynn
- Nick Guardione
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
- Evan Singleton
- Luke Stoltman
The 2025 WSM will only feature two WSM champions. Defending champion Tom Stoltman aims to win a fourth career WSM title to tie strongman greats Brian Shaw, Zydrunas Savickas, Magnus Ver Magnusson, and Jón Páll Sigmarsson. The other is Mitchell Hooper, who has won 15 of his most recent 24 elite contests, including 10 of his most recent 11.
2025 World’s Strongest Man Events
The four days of competition feature 10 events total:
Qualifying Round – Day One (Thursday, May 15)
- Loading Medley
- Deadlift for Reps
Qualifying Round – Day Two (Friday, May 16)
- Titan’s Toss
- Rogue Overhead Medley
- Stone Medley
Final – Day One (Saturday, May 17)
- KNAACK Carry & Hoist
- 18” Max Deadlift
- Hercules Hold
Final – Day Two (Sunday, May 18)
- Flintstone Press Max
- Atlas Stones
*Note: the schedule of events is subject to change
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Featured image: @theworldsstrongestman on Instagram