This past weekend saw a monumental episode in the World’s Ultimate Strongman (WUS) “Feats of Strength” series. 2018 World’s Strongest Woman Andrea Thompson set a new women’s deadlift world record not once, but twice — the record now sits at 290 kilograms (639 pounds).
This week’s episode was initially set to see three strongmen compete and attempt to set a new log lift world record: Luke Stoltman of Scotland, Graham Hicks of England, and Rob Kearney of the Unite States. Unfortunately, Hicks had to withdraw from the event due to a wrist injury.
So it will now be a head-to-head event between Stoltman and Kearney. Upping the ante even further, the official referee will be the man who currently holds the log lift world record of 228 kilograms (502.7 pounds) — four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Zydrunas Savickas.
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[Related: Donna Moore Increases Women’s Atlas Stone World Record to 171 Kilograms]
The event will be live-streamed or broadcast from four platforms:
- Coresports.world
- Rogue Fitness’s YouTube channel
- Gymshark’s YouTube channel
- ESPN
Commentary will be provided by two-time Britain’s Strongest Man Laurence Shahlaei and Mark Boyd. It will air at 12pm EST / 5pm GMT.
Luke Stoltman
Luke Stoltman, brother of Tom Stoltman, appeared in season one of WUS “Feats of Strength” series where he attempted to lift a 230 kilogram (507 pounds) log to best Savickas’ world record by two kilos. Unfortunately, Stoltman was unable to secure the lockout after successfully cleaning the log — the world record remained in tact.
Earlier this month, Stoltman shared a post on his Instagram page that showed him somewhat struggling with a 215 kilogram (474 pounds) lift. Check out his post below:
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In the caption, he gives an update on his recovery from a shoulder injury and that the lift appeared more difficult than it actually was for him:
Hit a 215kg log and made it look harder than it should have been! Shoulder is almost all good again. 3 weeks to put 15kg on.
Stoltman will have the advantage of experience in the event as he has attempted this record on this stage once before. We’ll find out if he can capitalize this time around and join his brother in the strongman record books.
Rob Kearney
Similar to Stoltman, Kearney also made an appearance in season one of the “Feats of Strength” series for a log lift event. The difference was, rather than a world record attempt, Kearney made an American log lift record attempt of 215.8 kilograms (475.75 pounds) using a split jerk technique.
Coming into that event, Kearney already held the American record and sought to further it. His lift was successful and if you haven’t yet seen it, you can check out our coverage below:
[Related: Log Lift Champion Rob Kearney Breaks Down The Split Jerk]
Graham Hicks
In the max log lift event at the 2020 Europe’s Strongest Man competition earlier this month, Hicks successfully pressed a 220 kilogram (485 pounds) log overhead to set a new British log lift world record. If you have not yet had a chance to see that lift, you can do so below courtesy of Official Strongman’s YouTube channel. Not only was the lift remarkably heavy, Hicks performed it outdoors while some major winds were blowing:
At that event, he attempted a world record log lift with the same weight that Stoltman attempted in season one of “Feats of Strength” — 230 kilos (507 pounds) — it takes place at 1:44 in the video. Hicks was unsuccessful with that lift after failing to stabilize the clean. He made a second attempt at 3:10 in the video. In what looked like a mirror image of his first attempt, he was unable to stabilize the clean and had to call it a day.
Although Hicks has to sit out the event this weekend, it is safe to assume that he will challenge the record at some point in the future.
Looking Forward
Stoltman has attempted a world record log lift before, but was unsuccessful. Kearney will be attempting the world record lift for the first time in a competitive setting this weekend. We will see if either of these strongmen can match or break the log lift world record held by Savickas. If either of them do, it will be Savickas himself making the call.
Featured image from World’s Ultimate Strongman’s Instagram page: @worldsultimatestrongman