Brian Shaw concluded his career as the Strongest Man in the World by securing a win at the Shaw Classic.
The 2023 Shaw Classic results have been announced, and the crown went to none other than Brian Shaw himself. In the culminating event of his professional strongman journey, Shaw delivered an extraordinary performance, giving his all in the competition. Following his 2020 Shaw Classic victory, this triumph makes Shaw a two-time champion and solidifies his title as the Strongest Man on Earth.
With 14 veteran strongman competitors in the fray, Brian Shaw had to overcome significant challenges and face off against the elites. Shaw’s illustrious career features four World’s Strongest Man titles from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Recently, he faced the 2023 World’s Strongest Man and 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic champion Mitchell Hooper, yet even at his peak form, Hooper finished second to Shaw.
2023 Shaw Classic Rankings
- Brian Shaw — 96 points
- Mitchell Hooper — 89 points
- Tom Stoltman — 82 points
- Evan Singleton — 77.5 points
- Trey Mitchell — 73 points
- Thomas Evans — 64 points
- Bobby Thompson — 62 points
- Maxime Boudreault — 57 points
- Kevin Faires — 49 points
- Oleksii Novikov — 44 points
- Gavin Bilton — 43 points
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 41 points
- Luke Stoltman — 32.5 points
- Adam Bishop — Eight points (withdrew)
Event One Highlights — Log Medley
The initial contest was the overhead log press medley. Competitors had to select one of three logs and execute as many repetitions as possible within the time limit. The logs weighed:
- One: 172 kilograms (380 pounds)
- Two: 186 kilograms (410 pounds)
- Three: 200 kilograms (440 pounds)
Two-time Shaw Classic titleholder Trey Mitchell emerged victorious in this segment.
- Trey Mitchell — Two reps (200 kilograms)
- Bobby Thompson — Two reps (200 kilograms)
- Mitchell Hooper — Two reps (200 kilograms)
- Brian Shaw — Two reps (186 kilograms)
- Thomas Evans — Two reps (186 kilograms)
- Evan Singleton — One rep (186 kilograms)
- Maxime Boudreault — One rep (186 kilograms)
- Kevin Faires — Two reps (172 kilograms)
- Oleksii Novikov — One rep (172 kilograms)
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — no lift
- Tom Stoltman — no lift
- Luke Stoltman — no lift
- Gavin Bilton — no lift
- Adam Bishop — no lift
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Event Two Outcome — Wheelbarrow and Arm Over Arm Medley
The second competition of the initial day was a multi-task endurance challenge. Competitors had to lift three sandbags, weighing 136, 147.3, and 158.7 kilograms (300, 325, and 350 pounds) into a wheelbarrow and push them across a marked distance.
The next part of the challenge was a 317.5-kilogram (700-pound) arm-over-arm pull. The contestant with the quickest time would claim victory.
- Maxime Boudreault — 60.55 seconds
- Mitchell Hooper — 62.29 seconds
- Evan Singleton — 68 seconds
- Brian Shaw — 70.99 seconds
- Tom Stoltman — 88 seconds
- Thomas Evans — 89 seconds
- Oleksii Novikov — Did Not Finish (DNF) Pull
- Kevin Faires — DNF Pull
- Trey Mitchell — DNF Pull
- Gavin Bilton — DNF Pull
- Bobby Thompson — DNF Pull
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — DNF Pull
- Adam Bishop — DNF Pull
- Luke Stoltman — DNF Wheelbarrow Push
Event Three — Car Leg Press
Participants were required to leg press a 840-kilogram (1,850-pound) car frame for maximum repetitions.
Brian Shaw secured first place in this contest.
- Brian Shaw — 14 reps
- Trey Mitchell — 13 reps (T-second)
- Mitchell Hooper — 13 reps (T-second)
- Evan Singleton — 12 reps
- Bobby Thompson — 11 reps
- Tom Stoltman — 10 reps
- Kevin Faires — Nine reps
Event Four — Atlas Stones
The final event of day one featured the Atlas Stones. Competitors had to place five stones, weighing between 158 and 204 kilograms (350 to 450 pounds), onto designated podiums as quickly as possible.
Brian Shaw and Tom Stoltman were in a close race, but the two-time World’s Strongest Man of 2021 and 2022 managed to edge Shaw out and clinch victory.
- Tom Stoltman — Five in 23 seconds
- Brian Shaw — Five in 26 seconds
- Mitchell Hooper — Five in 27.3 seconds
- Trey Mitchell — Five in 29 seconds
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — Five in 31.5 seconds
- Gavin Bilton — Five in 53 seconds
- Luke Stoltman — Five in 53 seconds
- Maxime Boudreault — Five in 57 seconds
- Thomas Evans — Four stones
- Oleksii Novikov — Four stones
- Evan Singleton — Three stones
- Kevin Faires — Three stones
- Adam Bishop — Three stones
- Bobby Thompson — No lift
Event Five — Hummer Tire Max Deadlift
The Hummer Tire Deadlift, the first challenge of day two, required competitors to perform a maximum weight lift.
- Tom Stoltman — 499 kilograms
- Mitchell Hooper — 476 kilograms (T-second)
- Trey Mitchell — 476 kilograms (T-second)
- Oleksii Novikov — 476 kilograms (T-second)
- Brian Shaw — 476 kilograms (T-second)
- Bobby Thompson — 476 kilograms (T-second)
- Evan Singleton — 431 kilograms (T-seventh)
- Tom Evans — 431 kilograms (T-seventh)
- Gavin Bilton — 431 kilograms (T-seventh)
- Luke Stoltman — 408 kilograms (T-10th)
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — 408 kilograms (T-10th)
- Kevin Faires — 408 kilograms (T-10th)
- Maxime Boudreault — No lift
Event Six — Standing Chest Press
In the sixth event, participants performed a standing chest press against a pad, similar to a traditional bench press.
A keg was added to the machine after each repetition, totaling up to eight reps, with weights ranging from 177 to 261 kilograms (390 to 575 pounds). After completing the eight reps, athletes continued with maximum repetitions until the time expired.
Brian Shaw emerged victorious with a total of nine repetitions.
- Brian Shaw — Nine repetitions
- Tom Evans — Eight repetitions
- Mitchell Hooper — Seven repetitions (T-third)
- Evan Singleton — Seven repetitions (T-third)
- Bobby Thompson — Seven repetitions (T-third)
- Kevin Faires —Seven repetitions (T-third)
- Trey Mitchell — Six repetitions (T-seventh)
- Tom Stoltman — Six repetitions (T-seventh)
- Luke Stoltman — Six repetitions (T-seventh)
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — Five repetitions
- Oleksii Novikov — Four repetitions (T-11th)
- Maxime Boudreault — Four repetitions (T-11th)
- Gavin Bilton — Four repetitions (T-11th)
Event Seven — Bag Over Bar
The seventh challenge involved tossing eight sandbags over a 15-foot bar for the quickest time. Each sandbag pair had identical weights, with the weights increasing for subsequent throws. The bag weights were:
- 22 kilograms (50 pounds)
- 25 kilograms (55 pounds)
- 27 kilograms (60 pounds)
- 29 kilograms (65 pounds)
- Tom Stoltman — Eight bags
- Maxime Boudreault — Eight bags
- Brian Shaw — Eight bags
- Evan Singleton — Seven bags
- Gavin Bilton — Seven bags
- Mitchell Hooper — Six bags
- Bobby Thompson — Six bags
- Thomas Evans — Six bags
- Trey Mitchell — Six bags
- Luke Stoltman — Six bags
- Kevin Faires — Four bags
- Aivars Šmaukstelis — Four bags
- Oleksii Novikov — Four bags
Event Eight — Fingal Fingers & Power Stairs Medley
The Shaw Classic concluded with a medley that included lifting two Fingal Fingers weighing 136 and 147 kilograms (300 and 325 pounds), followed by moving two implements weighing 250 and 272 kilograms (550 and 600 pounds) up five 15-inch steps.
Tom Stoltman completed the medley in 46 seconds, securing the event’s top spot while Singleton finished in 49 seconds.
Brian Shaw faced Mitchell Hooper in the final pairing to determine the overall champion. While Shaw bested Hooper, he didn’t secure an event win but maintained enough of a lead to retire as the official Strongest Man on Earth, having claimed his fourth World’s Strongest Man title.
What are your thoughts on Brian Shaw’s concluding performance?
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Jonathan Salmon, a writer at Fit Journey Now, is also a martial arts instructor and an avid enthusiast of geek culture. Find more of his work on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and SoundCloud for detailed MMA insights.