![Who is the World’s Strongest Man [2024]: Here is all you need to know about the competition and the current holder](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/03072024/2c0541a4-6106-4299-90e0-8ce599e24b6f.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
Here is everything you need to know about the World’s Strongest Man in 2024, including how the winner is selected.
The World's Strongest Man is an annual competition that crowns the ultimate champion of strength, with athletes competing in gruelling events that test stamina, technique, and mental fortitude alongside raw power.
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In this article, we reveal the top three strongest men in 2024, but before that, here is a history of the World’s Strongest Man competition.
History of the World’s Strongest Man
In 1977, a simple question sparked a sporting phenomenon: "Who is the strongest man in the world?". The answer came in the form of the World's Strongest Man (WSM) competition, a gruelling test of raw power and athleticism.
The inaugural competition, held at Universal Studios in California, featured a diverse group of athletes, including weightlifters, powerlifters, and even a football player. The American weightlifter, Bruce Wilhelm, emerged victorious, defeating legendary figures like Bill Kazmaier, who would go on to win the title three times in the early 1980s. Early events involved a hodgepodge of challenges, from lifting cars to log rolls. However, the core concept remained: pushing competitors to their absolute limits.
The 1990s saw the rise of iconic strongmen like Magnús Ver Magnússon of Iceland, who achieved the incredible feat of winning four titles, including a remarkable victory after entering as a reserve. This era also witnessed a shift towards a more structured format, with standardised events like the Atlas Stones and the Deadlift becoming staples. Technology and global reach also began to play a bigger role, with television broadcasts bringing the competition to a wider audience.
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The new millennium ushered in another era of strongman dominance. Mariusz Pudzianowski, a Polish powerhouse, secured a record-breaking five WSM titles between 2002 and 2008. He faced fierce competition from the likes of Žydrūnas Savickas of Lithuania, who holds the record for the most podium finishes (nine), and established himself as a legend of the sport. More recently, Eddie Hall and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, better known as "The Mountain" from Game of Thrones, have captivated audiences with their battles for supremacy.
The WSM competition has not been without its controversies. Doping scandals have tarnished the sport at times, leading to stricter regulations. The constant evolution of events to test different aspects of strength has also sparked debate. Yet, through it all, WSM has remained a testament to the pinnacle of human physical achievement.
Today, WSM boasts a global following, attracting athletes from various backgrounds and inspiring a new generation of strongman hopefuls.
Who is the World’s Strongest Man [2024]
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The current world's strongest man is Tom Stoltman, who hails from Invergordon, Scotland. Stoltman is not your average giant; he is 6'8" tall, a 408-pound behemoth, and is nicknamed "The Albatross" for his impressive wingspan.
Stoltman has won the World's Strongest Man (WSM) competition three times - in 2021, 2022, and his latest one in 2024.
Stoltman's entered his first strongest man competition at 18, and he earned podium finishes in Scotland's Strongest Man by his early twenties. In 2017, he made his WSM debut but the turning point came in 2019 with a runner-up finish at Iceland's Strongest Man, putting him on the map.
2021 was a defining year, as Stoltman captured the coveted WSM title, becoming the first Scot to do so. That same year, he secured the Britain's Strongest Man title, completing a remarkable double.
Stoltman's success continued in 2022, as he defended his WSM crown with an even more commanding performance, etching his name further into strongman history. He briefly relinquished the title in 2023 but he recaptured it in 2024, becoming the only Briton to win the WSM a record three times.
Alongside his equally impressive older brother, Luke Stoltman, a two-time Europe's Strongest Man, they have become a formidable force in the strongman world.
Highest number of World's Strongest Man wins by individuals
Champion | Country | Number of Times | Years |
Mariusz Pudzianowski | Poland | 5 | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 |
Jón Páll Sigmarsson | Iceland | 4 | 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 |
Magnús Ver Magnússon | Iceland | 4 | 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Žydrūnas Savicka | Lithuania | 4 | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 |
Brian Shaw | USA | 4 | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
Bill Kazmaier | USA | 3 | 1980, 1981, 1982 |
Tom Stoltman | United Kingdom | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2024 |
Bruce Wilhelm | USA | 2 | 1977, 1978 |
Geoff Capes | United Kingdom | 2 | 1983, 1985 |
Jouko Ahola | Finland | 2 | 1997, 1999 |
Most Top 3 finishes
Times | Name |
10 | Žydrūnas Savickas, Brian Shaw |
8 | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson |
7 | Jón Páll Sigmarsson, Mariusz Pudzianowski |
6 | Magnús Ver Magnússon, Geoff Capes |
5 | Bill Kazmaier, Magnus Samuelsson, Tom Stoltman |
3 | Lars Hedlund, Ab Wolders, Jamie Reeves, Riku Kiri, Jouko Ahola, Janne Virtanen, Svend Karlsen, Oleksii Novikov |
2 | Bruce Wilhelm, Don Reinhoudt, Gary Taylor, Gerrit Badenhorst, Vasyl Virastyuk, Terry Hollands, Eddie Hall, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Martins Licis, Mitchell Hooper |
Most wins by country
Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
USA | 12 | 9 | 11 | 32 |
Iceland | 9 | 7 | 5 | 21 |
United Kingdom | 8 | 4 | 8 | 20 |
Poland | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
Lithuania | 4 | 7 | 0 | 11 |
Finland | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
Ukraine | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Sweden | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
Netherlands | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
Canada | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Norway | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Denmark | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
South Africa | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Austria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Latvia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Australia, Bulgaria, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Samoa, Serbia, and Slovenia have all had Top 10 finishes but have not yet won a medal.
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