The 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competition kicked off in Sacramento, CA, on May 15, 2025, with the Loading Event. Athletes had to lift 130 kilograms (287 pounds) onto the back of a truck in the fastest time possible.
However, a poisoned sandbag was on the arena floor, and two athletes suffered biceps injuries. Luke Richardson in Group Four and Evan Singleton in Group Five withdrew from the competition.
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Richardson and Singleton sustained right and left biceps injuries, respectively, when attempting to lift the third of four sandbags. Richardson bore no pain upon his face when the injury occurred, but his manorism was that of someone certain they’d torn a previously injured muscle. Singleton’s face and body language showed agony at the time of the injury before he was escorted by medical personnel off the contest stage toward the athlete holding area.
Richardson has been battling injuries for the past half-decade. He also withdrew from the 2021 WSM contest due to a torn biceps. The surgeries he’s endured placed him £40,000 in debt, according to a post on his Instagram page.
Richardson seemed to have fully recovered — he won the 2025 Europe’s Strongest Man on April 5. However, his 2025 WSM campaign has come to a close.
Similarly, this is not the first time Singleton has withdrawn from a WSM contest. He withdrew from the 2022 WSM contest after going into anaphylactic shock that required medical assistance off the competition floor. He returned to that contest less than a day after missing one event to finish last in his group.
2025 World’s Strongest Man Continues
At the time of this article’s publication, there was no word that alternates would be added to the competition. Judging from the sense on the ground in Sacramento, the competition will now move forward with 23 athletes.
The next event is Deadlift for Reps, which will occur at 2 p.m. PST. BarBend will update this article with the severity of Richardson’s and Singleton’s injuries when more information becomes available.
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Featured image: @lukeerichardson and @evan_trex_strongman on Instagram
