The 2016 Commerce World’s Strongest Man has come to a close, and after a week of competition in Botswana, familiar faces make up this year’s podium. American strongman Brian Shaw emerges victorious, taking his fourth overall title and winning the competition by two points over Iceland’s Hafthor Bjornsson. It’s Bjornsson’s fifth consecutive year on the podium, though he has yet to win the hallmark competition.
England’s Eddie Hall — who made international headlines for setting a deadlift record of 500kg in July — had his best finish ever at the competition by securing third place. The final podium:
1. Brian Shaw
2. Hafthor Bjornsson
3. Eddie Hall
Shaw previously won the competition in 2011, 2013, and 2015. He’s the first champion to successfully defend his title since Lithuania’s Zydrunas Savickas in 2009 and 2010. For much of the weekend, the competition looked like a tight contest between Shaw and Bjornsson, with everyone else fighting for the third spot.
Rookie Konstantine Janashia of Georgia took fourth overall; heading into the final day of competition, he sat in 2nd place but was overtaken by Hall on Saturday.
Though not one of the sport’s taller competitors — which can give an advantage on such events — Hall pulled out an incredible performance on the final-event Atlas Stones to secure his first podium spot.
It’s not the only international strongman contest going on this weekend; the Arnold Asia Strongman is currently underway in Hong Kong and features competitors like 4-time World’s Strongest Man Zydrunas Savickas.
Featured image: @shawstrength on Instagram
