2 places left in the 2024 World’s Strongest Man Final!
- Tom Stoltman – Scotland – 2x World’s Strongest Man (2021 & 2022)
- Bobby Thompson – USA – 9th at World’s Strongest Man 2021
- Jaco Schoonwinkel – South Africa – 10th at World’s Strongest Man 2023
- Nathan Goltry – USA
- Adam Roszkowski – Poland
- Wesley Derwinsky – Canada
2 places up for grabs, but realistically only 1, because big Tom Stoltman is sure to make the final again. Bobby Thompson hasn’t had the best of luck, losing on the stone off two years in a row; last year to Tom Stoltman, and the previous year due to a tacky issue. If he can avoid Tom in the stone off, I think he could have a very good chance of getting to another final. Jaco was a surprise last year, but was injured early on in the final, so he too will be wanted to right past wrongs and get a good result.
Event 1 – Webster Stones
The Webster Stones are starting things off again; 1 stone is 136kg, and the other is 113kg, and they must be carried as far as the athletes possibly can! First up to take on this brutal event is Derwinksy and Roszkowski. Adam is the first to drop, not too far after the 20m turn. Wesley makes it around half way to the 40m mark, which could be a good result. Goltry and Thompson are out next, and both men will be looking for a great result to try and increase the number of American’s in the final (currently 1; Evan Singleton). Bobby drops the first time before the line, while Goltry drops right after he turns. Another drop for Bobby at the line, and he limps away, hopefully not an injury. Goltry goes a little further to take current second behind the Canadian. Lasty then, its the two finalists from last year; Tom and Jaco. Jaco gets off the quicker, but begins to sway like a drunk allowing Tom to pass him. Its Tom though who drops before Jaco, having to settle for second place while Jaco gets 1st!
Event 2 – Deadlift Ladder
5 bars ranging from 300kg to 380kg must be lifted in the quickest time. Tom is a fantastic deadlifter, so this should be more good points for him. Bobby Thompson is also world class and he really needs to make up for his first event loss. And sadly, as I wrote that, they have announced that Bobby has had to withdraw from competition. He has a calf injury, nothing too serious but something he needs to go get fixed. First up then for this event is the Polish Adam Roszkowski, managing 3 reps. Now we join the action with Goltry against Derwinsky. The Canadian is looking very strong here, getting a fast time for 4 reps, and despite a lot of effort needed, is able to get all 5! Goltry struggles with the 4th, but is able to get it up. Stoltman and Schoonwinkel go head to head now, knowing they need to beat 45 seconds with all 5 reps. Tom did 5 reps at 400kg just a few months prior to WSM at BSM, so he should be good for this. Jaco is slightly faster on 3, but Tom is a little quicker on 4. Both men go for 5, but only Tom gets it, and is JUST outside the winning time.
Event 3 – Sandbag Steeplechase
3 120kg sandbags of different shapes must be loaded onto a platform at the end of a 20m course. However, at the 10m mark, they have to throw the bags over a bar as well! Tom is amazing at loading type events, and even with the bar in the middle of the course, his massive height will enable him to easily clear the bags over it, more so than everyone else in the group. Adam Roszkowski went up first, getting 5 in a time of 1:05:76. We join the action with Goltry against Schoonwinkel. Jaco takes the win so far, while Goltry is 0.05 seconds within the time limit! Derwinsky and Stoltman are last, and I expect Stoltman at least to beat the previous times. Derwinsky looks good, but Tom looks phenomenal. Easy win for the big Scot, while Derwinsky slows way down on the final part, running out of time.
Going into event 3, Tom, Jaco and Wesley were all tied for first place with 10 points. After event 3, lets see what the board looks like now!
Tom looking in good form so far, while Jaco and Wesley are now the 2 favourites to make it into the stone off after Bobby had to withdraw.
Event 4 – Viking Press
150kg to be pressed overhead as many times in 1 minute! Roszkowski is up first again on his own. Will be interesting to see how he does, as Polish strongmen have a history of being amazing pressers, especially for reps. 10 quick reps and then a rest, and he is able to lift another 4. Great result! Derwinsky and Goltry next, and both look like they have a good build for this type of event. Like Adam before them, they get to 10 reps and have a rest, but neither can match 14, instead settling for 13 each. Its all up to Tom and Jaco now to try and overtake that 14 reps mark. Jaco is only able to reach 12, while Tom matches 14!
Event 5 – Car Walk
A 454kg car needs to be lifted and walked down the 20m course in the quickest time! Roszkowski up first as usual, and he gets a fantastic result of 22.43 seconds. So many men have been unable to finish in the heats, so he can be proud of that. Next is Goltry against Derwinsky, and the Canadian I think edges out Rosz. Nope, just outside! Goltry makes it over as well, but in a much slower time. Can Tom and Jaco get under 20 seconds? Tom does a few metres, knowing its enough for him to reach the final. Jaco puts in max effort to try and go into the stone off with the advantage, but with a time around 28 seconds I don’t think he will.
Lets confirm everything then:
Yep, Tom gets into the final without needing to do the stone off like last year. That should allow him to be more fresh and hopefully improve his chances of winning a 3rd title. Wesley has overtaken Jaco and will have the advantage going into the stone off!
Event 6 – Stone Off
6 stones to be passed over a bar to each other, all increasing in weight. Once they get to the final stone, they keep passing that until one person is unable to do so. Neither man has been here before, so its all new to them. Its slow and steady from both of them as they get all 6 done and both begin to really have a hard time passing the final stone over and over again. Jaco almost doesn’t get a 3rd pass of the final stone over but he reaches deep down and gives it everything to get it over. Derwinsky passes it back much easier, and it seems like Jaco might have run out of steam. Yup, its all over for the South African, and we have yet another Canadian in the final!
Tom Stoltman and Wesley Derwinsky are the final 2 men to qualify for the 2024 World’s Strongest Man Final! I’ll be back tomorrow before the final to post my predictions, and then it’ll be time to find out just who is the 2024 World’s Strongest Man!!!
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