Konstantine Janashia is out of the 2020 World’s Strongest Man Competition. The veteran strongman tested positive for COVID-19 and can longer take part in the event. He announced the unfortunate news on Instagram to his fans on Nov. 6, 2020, just five days before the competition is set to take place. This year’s WSM will be held in Bradenton, FL, from Nov. 11-15, 2020.
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“Dear friends, today I received results for my Covid-19 test, and unfortunately it was positive, because of that I won’t be able to participate in World’s Strongest Man 2020,” Janashia wrote on Instagram. He also mentions that he suffered a right hamstring tear earlier in the year.
Just last week, on Nov. 1, 2020, 2019 WSM runner-up, Mateusz Kieliszkowski dropped out due to a triceps injury. Before him, 2019 WSM winner Martins Licis, who was injured after being hit by a car while riding his bike, withdrew. And 2018 WSM winner Hafthor Bjornsson retired from the sport after winning his 10th Iceland’s Strongest Man title.
With the entire 2019 WSM podium out, Janashia was considered to be a top-three contender. Unfortunately, a positive COVID-19 test will bring his chances to a halt — for now. “I’ll try my best to win upcoming 2021 competitions,” he wrote on his Instagram post.
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Though he doesn’t quite have the name recognition of fellow competitors like Brian Shaw and Robert Oberst, Janashia is a veteran of the sport. He has won Georgia’s Strongest Man competition (the country, not the state) 10 times, got first place at the 2007 Britain’s Strongest Man competition, and placed second at Europe’s Strongest Man in 2018.
With another unfortunate withdrawal from this year’s WSM, Brian Shaw is most likely even more of a favorite to win this year’s title. If he does, Shaw will earn his fifth WSM title to tie Mariusz Pudzianowski for the most WSM wins.
Featured image: @konstantine_janashia on Instagram