Do any dopers follow the Worlds Strongest Man Competition? And for those dopers outside America ,how much attention does it get.?
First American winner in 24 years.
I don’t follow it, per se, but I did see the one where the first American had won! He won over that Marius guy, who’s been a champ for several years running. I think it’s an awesome show.
World’s Strongest Man is seriously my “socially-acceptable porn”. My god…give me three night with Magnus Magnusson and I can die happy…
I was watching it in between snatches of football… and vice-versa. My impressions: it’s odd that a few of the competitors seemed to have not thought out their basic strategies, like how best to grip a stone, and suffered as a result. Or they’d throw a keg, have it miss due to an overly acute trajectory, and then do the same exact toss several more times, instead of pausing for a moment and putting a little more into a successful effort. Or when several wasted energy in futile efforts doomed by the clock (as in the water/kegger-loading event – not enough time for a third barrel, but they’re still trying).
How much advance notice do they have as to what the events will be, so they can train specifically for them? Are any of the events a genuine surprise? Or do most of these guys just work out with weights and then just hope that their strength will transfer well to the skills involved in carrying a car, lifting a pair of cars, hurling beer kegs, etc.?
Did anybody else worry that someone might lose his grip on a stone and have it smash in their skull?
Also, WRT the loading-the-three-kegs event, did the rules stipulate that they had to walk through the water on the way to the kegs (I’m guessing yes, because swimming would have been much faster)?
Also, I don’t remember seeing any Turks, Bulgarians, Germans, or anyone from Latin America (although there was one guy from Grenada). And only one Russian that I recall. (And yet weightlifting and wrestling are really big in Turkey and Eastern Europe. Those scenes must be populated by purists who eschew this particular field.)
And why so many Poles? Four theories: success (that former champion Marius Something) breeds success, or at least a legion of imitators; or Poland has one really burgeoning Muscle Beach scene, or something; Poland has a growing, lawless club & bar scene for which there is a huge demand for bouncers; or Poland is bracing itself for the irredentist ambitions of Russia’s Pres. Putin to rebuild the Red Army and reinstate the Iron Curtain…
And is ESPN, and this event in particular, carried in these countries?
Strange times. Fact is throughout its history there have been competitors from practically everywhere. I do not remember China and Japan in it though. Mario Pudzinowsky is a beast. Won at least 3 of last 4 years. They look more normal than they used to. I do not think they check for steroids or HGS.
I remember competitors from Crete and Turkey and some rather exotic locales too. The events have changed many times. They used to haul refrigerators up hills. The stones is a really interesting event.
The final hasn’t aired in britain yet.
Won’t be on until Saturday, showing the qualifiers all this week.
(on the smallest of the 5 terrestrial channels)
Is there any point in me watching it now?
Oh YES. Because it’s a knock-down drag-knuckles finish, and it keeps you biting your nails until the very end. It’s amazing - please do watch, and enjoy!
Sorry but it was here several weeks ago. I couldn’t imagine it was not shown all over by now. We have a station that runs it regularly. Repeating other years too.
I have never watched this before, but we’ve been on vacation and Mr. Del kept turning it on whenever we had a moment. They seem to be replaying the various qualifer levels at all different times so I’ve seen them in a very mixed up order. Although I already saw the part where he is eliminated, I continue to cheer for Odd Haugen whenever I see him in the competition.
One thing that surprised me (aside from “But how do you get the idea to make a harness for carrying a car for thirty yards?”) is how pleasant all the competitors are when they are interviewed. I guess I would have imagined them going on about how they are going to put the smack down on the other guys, but everyone seemed very nice and supportive of the other athletes.
I have noticed this, too, and really like it. Maybe because they all work really hard and know the others are all slaving, too. I’ve often wondered about this attitude…they seem like really nice guys to have a beer with.
Well. If I drank beer, that is.
For some reason it’s always shown in Britain at Christmas/New Year.
It’s actually about a week later this year as we usually see the final on New Years day.
Oddly enough, I’ve never ever given it any thought when the actual tournament takes place.
Weightlifters are generally pretty nice. The only unpleasant one I’ve ever met at a gym was a football player. I think it is because it is a sport that appeals to people who are interested in fitness, but aren’t by nature agressive.
Yah, I thought that too. If your genetics naturally make you to be a really big guy, and you don’t like the aggressiveness of sports, weightlifting/muscle-building seems ideal. Or what you said, only you said it better. 
Looks like there was one feller from China in it this year, Gu Yan Li. He’s a good deal smaller than some of those Scandinavian giants, though.
My favorite past contestant with an unusual ethnic origin was Harold “Iron Bear” Collins, who was a Native American. That’s one under-represented group.
And doesn’t the very name “Magnus ver Magnusson” pretty much set your destiny? You have to be the strongest man in the world to support a name like that.
Now I shall channel Brian Regan: “Okay, Lars, we filled these pianos with molten lead, now see how many you can throw through this second-story window in thirty seconds!”
It’s no mystery. “strong man” style strength competitions are hugely popular in the Northern European and Scandinavian counties, and have been for decades.
The only time I have ever seen or heard anything whatsoever about the World’s Strongest Man competition was on a visit to Denmark. I was dragged out to what I suppose was some sort of preliminary heat. It was very strange.
I haven’t caught it in a few years (I think they stopped showing it here. :/), but I really enjoyed the contest when I could watch it.
I think the last one I saw was Magnus ver Magnusson’s last win. checks Nope, I’m pretty sure it was Magnus Samuelsson in '98, actually.
I’m trying to remember who was involved, but other than the names…and year >_>…I have a clear remembrance of an arm-wrestling competition during one years WSM, where one of the competitors ended up out of the competition because his arm got snapped. Anyone else remember that one? Particularly in better detail?
My favorite was always Jón Páll Sigmarsson. May he rest in peace.