2020 World's Strongest Man

The 2020 World's Strongest Man was the 43rd edition of the World's Strongest Man competition. It took place in Bradenton, Florida between November 11 and 15. Oleksii Novikov of Ukraine won the competition for the first time in his career, with Tom Stoltman of Great Britain taking second and Jean-François Caron of Canada taking third. At 24 years old, Novikov is the youngest man to win the event since Jón Páll Sigmarsson in 1984.

Scheduling and participants
The event was originally scheduled to take place May 20 to 24 in Bradenton, Florida, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The actual event itself also experienced scheduling issues because of Hurricane Eta.

Defending champion Martins Licis and two-time runner up Mateusz Kieliszkowski did not take part this year due to injury. 2018 champion Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson also did not take part after announcing his retirement earlier in the year.

Participants
• Oleksii Novikov 🇺🇦

• Tom Stoltman

• Jean-François Caron 🇨🇦

• Jerry Pritchett 🇺🇸

• Brian Shaw 🇺🇸

• Adam Bishop

• Kevin Faires 🇺🇸

• Aivars Šmaukstelis

• Luke Richardson

• Graham Hicks

• Robert Oberst 🇺🇸

• Pa O'Dwyer

• Gabriel Peña 🇲🇽

• Mikhail Shivlyakov 🇷🇺

• Evan Singleton 🇺🇸

• Mark Felix

• Maxime Boudreault 🇨🇦

• Trey Mitchell 🇺🇸

• Gavin Bilton

• Bobby Thompson 🇺🇸

• Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð 🇮🇸

• Ervin Toots 🇪🇪

• Terry Hollands

• Luke Stoltman

• Nick Best 🇺🇸

Format
There are five competitors per group. After four events, the competitor with the highest score qualifies for the final. The competitors in second and third place take part in the Stone Off, a run of loading 8 Atlas Stones, with the winner progressing.

Heat 1

 * Events: Farmer's Walk, Deadlift for repetitions, Loading Race, Log Lift for repetitions.

Stone Off

Heat 2

 * Events: Farmer's Walk, Deadlift for repetitions, Loading Race, Dumbbell Press Medley.

Stone Off

Heat 3
Stone Off
 * Events: Farmer's Walk, Squat Lift for repetitions, Loading Race, Dumbbell Press Medley.

Heat 4

 * Events: Farmer's Walk, Squat Lift for repetitions, Loading Race, Log Lift for repetitions.

Stone Off

Heat 5

 * Events: Farmer's Walk, Deadlift for repetitions, Loading Race, Dumbbell Press Medley.

Stone Off

Event 1: Giant's Medley

 * Weight: 125 kg anvil, 454 kg yoke
 * Course Length: 10 m anvil, 15 m yoke
 * Time Limit: 75 seconds

Event 2: Max Deadlift

 * 18-Inch Deadlift For Max Weight
 * Opening Weight: 400 kg

Event 3: Keg Toss

 * Weight: 8 kegs ranging from 18 –
 * Height: 4.5 m
 * Time Limit: 60 seconds

Event 4: Hercules Hold

 * Weight: 160 kg on each hand for as long as possible

Event 5: Log Ladder

 * Weight: 5 logs ranging from 131 –
 * Time Limit: 75 seconds

Event 6: Atlas Stones

 * Weight: 5 stones ranging from 150 –
 * Time Limit: 60 seconds
 * Total Weight: 900 kg

Records
As part of the deadlift event, Novikov successfully performed a 537.5 kg 18-inch deadlift, "which bested the previous world record at a sanctioned event in 1983, according to a news release."

Mark Felix, by invitation, attempted to set a World's Strongest Man record in the Hercules Hold, but did not succeed.

Brian Shaw qualified for a record equalling 12th WSM final, tying the record of Zydrunas Savickas. With all of these finals being consecutive, he also broke his own record for consecutive finals. This was also Shaw's 11th top 5 finish, another record.

Mark Felix appeared in his 15th WSM contest, breaking the record of 14 held by himself and Savickas. Terry Hollands also appeared in his 14th contest.