I think it’s important to realize youtube and IG are bringing us closer to the athletes. This gives us a reality check as to how human people are. Not to mention, it was so, SO easy to retire from strongman back in the 2000’s and earlier. There was only pride, and when you were done, you were done. Money prizes were complete shit, contest circumstances and athlete accommodation were shit. Sponsorship accommodations were shit. Nowadays, you have a youtube and IG status quo to fulfill, and it appears Brian is one of many lab rat among the new breed of athletes having to deal with the proper way to display yourself in this weird scenario.
It’s a weird position to be in; people need to lay off Brian - and anyone in a position like that. Zydrunas played it really well. He just kinda tapered off and never was big enough on social media to ever have to explain himself and shit. Now he just hip thrusts 400kg for reps.
Almost forgot my favorite Shaw excuse from WSM 2019, when he did very poorly on the grip event: oh, sweat dropped into my hand, and the bar slipped out.
Fast forward to Arnold’s Santa Monica 2020: drops farmer’s handle on the carry event because his grip gave out.
Thor hurt his foot (plantar fasciitis) in WSM 2019, refused to use it as an excuse. Welcomes his rival Martins to Iceland and gives Martins tips on his weakest skill of throwing.
@KingKai25 call me gullible, but I’m pretty sure from all the videos that Martins and Thor put out together that Thor is not whispering to his confidantes that Martins got lucky winning WSM 2019. In fact, before WSM 2019, Thor was also training with Martins and helping him.
Well, he is an excuse maker. That’s for sure. Sore loser? Maybe. Idk though, I can only sympathize with him. Sucks to be on the way out. Thor is great. shrug
I agree sore loser is a bit harsh. But imho he crossed the line with the casual aspersion on the scoring being strange, wtf was that. Santa Monica was so obvious a mano a mano beat; the sand bag medley at the end would’ve gotten him the win, but he was too weak to lift the 400 lber over the bar, with a 5/6 inch height advantage over his rival no less.
Best Lithuanian accent: You will watch me seductively thrust my hips in my tights that leave zero to the imagination and you will love it.
Also, I thought I followed the wrong person when I first got onto his IG. Just endless visits to exotic locations and eating out at seemingly every meal plus tomatoes.
Shaw wants to compete still And I understand that. he seems a like generally a nice guy what I’ve seen of him. I believe he has invited some of his competitive brethren to With him.(not talking Eddie hall)
As far as excuses yes he does that. His hamstring is a recurring injury at this point and every time I see he’s deadlifting I’m thinking it’s probably hanging by a thread and could snap at any point.
As far as Thor, as long as he doesn’t have an injury pop up, he will win the Arnold again. And probably take another WSM. He’s never been stronger than he is right now. Repping 1003 on deads x2 and saying he felt like he had more in the tank .
So my prediction is Thor wins with martins is a dominant 2nd place.
Thor wins deadlift (obviously) and bag throw. Finishes 2nd in dumbbell and wheel of pain; top 2 in stone medley; top 3 in frame carry. Runs away with first.
Battle between Martins and Mateusz for 2nd will depend on Martins’ pressing due to his lingering nerve damage, and Mateusz’ deadlift/wheel of pain performance plus whether there are any lingering effects from his biceps tear recovery.
Yeah I know he’s gonna be hard to stop. He looks bigger and stronger than relatively same point as last year. My brother in law is going to be there this year. Kinda a lot jealous…
Edit:I guess the big question is does he have 43 more lbs in the tank. With it being 1st event on day 2 I’m afraid he won’t have the punch to do it. Depending on how grueling day one is.
Thats what’s great about strongman. You don’t have to win them all just finish top 3 every event and maybe 1st in 1-2.
Kinda what we saw at Santa Monica, (I cant remember his name off hand) but Canadian strongman won 1st 3 events and bottom on deads and didn’t finish bag carry and finished I think 3rd over all.
Hahah. Thor was eating and talking in his latest video, randomly mentioned following the Vertical Diet and how much he liked it.
Fun fact: after Shaw’s disastrous performance in (I think) World’s Ultimate Strongman Dubai last year, he made a food shopping video talking about how he lacked energy during WUS and blamed his diet (Vertical diet LOLLL), then announced he was switching to Nathan Payton (Martins’ nutritionist). Shaw was smart enough to not mention the diet by name, or Stan Efferding as the developer of that diet lol.
I knew in the past he was on the vertical diet but I’ll be honest I rarely watch food shopping videos. I see the inside of the grocery store enough since i do 95% of my family grocery shopping.
That is interesting that he would do that as far as dropping stan. Thor seems to be doing just fine on it.
It’s just a case of an athlete being past his prime and unwilling to acknowledge all his injuries and that he’s just lost that extra step that makes you top tier. And I generally like his attitude and he seems like a very likable guy.
Kalle Beck just made a YT video explaining the rules for the Cyr Strategic Dumbbell Challenge @ the Arnolds. The “strategic” is in there because there is going to be a lot of strategy involved in placing, due to the rules. Unless you’re Mateusz, in which case you lift the heaviest dumbbell once, and probably win…
Thor announces he will not compete in Europe’s Strongest Man this year. He will be focusing on WUS Bahrain, where he will attempt to break Eddie Hall’s deadlift record, under the same conditions.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he pulls even more on a deadlift bar with a suit and figure 8 straps than with Elephant bar, no suit and regular straps.
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