Canadian strongman Maxime Boudreault is officially out of the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) due to a broken shin bone he suffered due to a fall. Boudreault also withdrew from the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest.
Fell on the ice yesterday and broke the small shin bone. Waiting to see the surgeon but staying optimistic.
Boudreault shared the news on Feb. 22, 2023, in the form of an Instagram video showing himself in a cast and being pushed in a wheelchair by strongwoman Sam Belliveau in a hospital. Check it out below:
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I could already hear the Arnold Strongman Classic crowd from the top of the timber carry ramp and taste that the World’s Strongest Man podium, but life had other plans this year.
The 22nd ASC is scheduled for the weekend of Mar. 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, OH. The WSM contest takes place the following month, on April 19-23, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Boudreault sought to improve upon his sixth-place finish in the 2022 ASC, won by Martins Licis. Boudreault finished fifth at the 2022 WSM contest, won by Tom Stoltman. Boudreault ranked third at the 2021 WSM, podiuming in his WSM Final debut.
On Feb. 22, 2023, the ASC announced that alternate Kevin Faires will take Boudreault’s place. It will be Faires’ ASC debut. Mitchell Hooper, who is also making his ASC debut, will still represent Canada in the contest. The updated roster for that contest is below:
2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster
- Tom Evans (USA)
- Kevin Faires (USA)
- Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
- Rob Kearney (USA)
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
- Trey Mitchell (USA)
- Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
- Luke Stoltman (Scotland)
- Tom Stoltman (Scotland)
- Bobby Thompson (USA)
At the time of this article’s publication, the WSM has yet to name a replacement for Boudreault.
Boudreault had been a breakout star in strongman over the past two years. He was the 2022 Canada’s Strongest Man winner and the inaugural champion of the Magnus ver Magnusson Classic in 2021.
Boudreault will still attend the ASC to honor his other commitments for the event. He didn’t share how long he anticipated his recovery to take or when he expects to return to competition.
Featured image: @max.boudreault23 on Instagram