Another injury plagues the 2024 Arnold Sports Festival. During the opening event of the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) — the Max Elephant Bar Deadlift — Maxime Boudreault of Canada suffered a left lat injury on his opening attempt.
Although Boudreault could not perform a deadlift following the initial injury, he did not immediately withdraw from the competition. However, Boudreault did not enter the arena to perform during his slot during the Timber Carry event, and the commentary team confirmed that Boudreault withdrew from the 2024 ASC.
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Boudreault has dealt with an ongoing series of injuries after bursting to the top of the elite strongman scene at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest, where he won a bronze medal in his WSM debut.
Boudreault’s return to the competitive strongman scene was recent and highly anticipated. He suffered a broken shin bone that sidelined him from the 2023 ASC and 2023 WSM. He has competed three times since returning to competition: a fourth-place finish at the 2023 North America’s Strongest Man, an eighth-place rank at the 2023 Shaw Classic, and a sixth-place finish at the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational.
Boudreault was not the first athlete to withdraw from the competition. Defending Arnold Strongwoman Classic (ASWC) champion Victoria Long withdrew after suffering a hamstring injury during her third Elephant Bar Deadlift attempt.
The 2024 ASC and 2024 ASWC can be viewed for free via the livestream on the Arnold Sports website and the Rogue Fitness YouTube channel.
Featured image: @max.boudreault23 on Instagram
