Shaw in a better spot now. Terry still in there
That has to be incomplete. Only Shaw has an overhead score.
Bad luck for Luke Stoltman this year. He’s better (strong) in squat, draws deadlift, he’s top 3 in the world in log lift, draws dumbbells. Man…
Good spot that’s why it’s unofficial
As long as the 5 is real he’ll take the group unless Terry is second.
If you thought it took Nevada a long time to count, you probably aren’t a WSM fan.
World’s Strongest Fan3 minutes ago (edited)
Question mark over group 5! So may change:boom: WSM 2020 FINALISTS UNOFFICIAL! JF Caron Jerry Pritchett Aivars Smaukstelis Graham Hicks Brian Shaw Oleksii Novikov Adam Bishop Tom Stoltman Kevin Faires Luke Richardson Evan tore his bicep which is why he had to pull out and gave Bishop a lifeline:+1:t3:
1 Like
Looks like Mikhail Shivlyakov got the short end of the stones this year. Arguably he shouldn’t have even had to do a stone off. Third place in his group couldn’t compete in the stones, so they let the fourth place finisher come and do it. Misha hurt his leg doing the stones and fourth place went through.
4 guys deadlifted over 500kg
Oleksii Novikov - 537.5kg… That’s massive.
Also postions - Adam Bishop coming from out of nowhere really. All the UK talk was on the Stoltman brothers.
Just notied this is an 18inch deadlift. Still impressive - but not “as” impressive.
1 Like
The bag toss will favor Shaw and Tom Stoltman heavily, though it’s…still a toss up I dare to say 
This is a very surprising turn out so far. Jerry and Adam Bishop are looking very promising. I think JF and Novikov are there as well. I’m sorry to say but I hope Shaw loses out on his 5th. I just think it’s time for a better crop of guys to pave their way.
Gutted to see Terry H not make the final. Don’t like how they changed the format for the heats this year.
Big Loz picked Shaw for 5th…
My thought about Shaw from last year was that if you’re distracted by other pursuits (his TV show), it keeps you from winning, but it shouldn’t have you getting beaten out, consistently, out of any podium finishes. I don’t think he was ever fast, but he is now slooooow as molasses.
So not surprised by his result so far…
Novikov apparently competed in maybe 50 (is that even possible?, I think that # came from the fact he was competing every week) competitions last year, looked totally shot by Arnold’s California (did 1? rep in the deadlift, dropped out I think) “Thanks” to 2020, he is fresh as a daisy this year.
1 Like
It’s a keg toss, don’t know if that makes any difference.
Rooting for Stoltman, Caron would be a nice story, finally rewarded for all those years of being just out of the top.
Beating Caron and Pritchett in deadlift means he’s taken his strength to a new level. Look out.
Deadlift supposed to be a weak/average event for TStoltman, equaling Shaw is unexpected to most people I would think. I think giving up on the six pack abs and hiring Martins’ nutritionist has helped him.
What events are left Hercules hold and stones ?
Fyi, Big Loz’ Youtube channel has some good insight, since he obviously has buddies at WSM.
Wrt deadlift, Shaw apparently did make an agreement with Holland to just go for 6 reps in the deadlift yesterday to split 1st/2nd points in the heat. In today’s final, Shaw tried for 509, but could not break it off the floor.
Also, Loz mentioned that in yesterday’s medley, Shaw’s 4th place finish and poor time was definitely not a “strategy” thing (unlike the DL). That is evident in today’s results, where Shaw finished behind TS in both anvil/yoke medley and keg toss; I think when we actually can watch the events, it will show that speed during transition is what held Shaw’s results down.
Also, log ladder. Which I don’t think any of the leaders are weak/strong in, but who knows?
Hercules hold is supposedly a TS weakness; but so was yoke and DL…
TS will definitely win stones, so the key to his chance at gold will be his performance in hercules relative to Novikov imo.
Can’t rule out Caron or Bishop of course.
1 Like
I think it has more to do with age and having kids than the show. I know Brian says he was distracted by the show but age, kids and stiffer competition are more of a factor IMO. I also reckon if the show wasn’t axed, he wouldn’t be pointing at it.
In other words, if the show never happened, I reckon Shaw finishes around about where he did anyway.