Four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Brian Shaw is currently training for the final contest of his competitive strongman career, the 2023 Shaw Classic, held on Aug. 19-20 at the Budweiser Events Center — part of The Ranch Event Complex – in Loveland, CO. Shaw continues to improve in training and his namesake contest plays well to athletes who are powerful in static strength events.
On July 27, 2023, Brian Shaw published a video on his YouTube channel to display his immense standing 720-pound chest press. He also shows a little behind-the-scenes on how to make a strongman event happen. Watch the full video here:
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Chest Press
This press variation can be challenging due to the upright position while pressing immense weight. Unlike a bench press, which allows the lifter the ability to incorporate leg drive, a standing chest press removes the lower body from playing a meaningful role in the lift. Shaw scored three reps of a staggering 720 pounds.
2023 Shaw Classic Strongman Competition Preparation
Shaw’s preparation for the 2023 Shaw Classic involves more than lifting in the gym. As the show’s promoter, he is responsible for all the logistics of ensuring a smoothly run event.
haw’s shopping trip to Home Depot after his training included buying tarps, rubber matting, plywood, and cones. After that, he attached rubber matting to the bottoms of the wheelbarrows being used for the contest. Shaw also unveiled the backdrops of the Undefined Nutrition Expo by Shaw Strength and Evolution Athletics.
An aspect of event promotion not often seen on camera is sponsorship and event preparation. For the 2023 Shaw Classic, that included testing the wheelbarrow rubber matting to ensure they stop abruptly when released, checking digital clocks, and refining the details for each event’s positioning in the arena.
Beyond the main contest, the 2023 Shaw Classic features an athlete after-party and trading cards for the competing strongmen. Details of how to watch the 2023 Shaw Classic, which will award its champion the title of “Strongest Man on Earth,” have not yet been released at the time of this article’s publication. Tickets for the contest and pre-orders for strongman trading cards can be made at www.shawstrength.com.
Featured image: @shawstrength.com
