2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Martins Licis recently ventured into the mountains of Tibet to learn the ancient art of stone-lifting with ropes. For the first 72 hours before his journey north, Licis was limited to minimal activities to acclimate.
Licis and crew started their ascent, stopping in Lhasa to see the 1,300-year-old architecture. Next, they scaled up to the sacred Lake Namtso and the stone-lifting mountain at 17,000 feet above sea level.
“Changing into pants felt like a mile run,” Licis confessed, having never been to those altitudes. For comparison, the WSM contest, most recently held in California — where it will also be in 2025 — is just 26 feet above sea level. The Strongest Man on Earth contest in Colorado is 5,100 feet high.
“It’s a personal challenge,” Licis declared. “Just trying to stay alive feels crazy.”
[Related: 7 Strongman Athletes To Watch In 2025]
What Is Tibetian Style Stone Lifting?
The Tibetans use a large, rectangular cuboid instead of the traditional round Atlas Stones in Strongman contests. During the stone-lifting festival, competitors hoist 140-kilogram (308-pound) stones from the floor onto their backs, using a rope for leverage. They then carry the stones for a maximum distance.
While that weight is relatively light for Licis, who’s outmuscled the strongest athletes in the world at major Strongman shows — he’s a WSM, Arnold Strongman Classic, and Rogue Strongman Invitational champion — the elevation proved immensely challenging. He started with a small rock to learn and polish his technique. Then, with a boost of oxygen, Licis carried a 130-kilogram (286-pound) stone on his back before hitting a squat.
Lifting these stones felt fantastic; felt I could lift anything.
—Martins Licis
After churning through 286 pounds, Licis increased the weight. But without his trusty oxygen can, He admitted that simply bending down to pick up the stones was one of the hardest feats of strength he’s ever performed.
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Featured image: @martinslicis on Instagram
