They have historically tended to stack events against the reigning champion. They didn’t like runaway perennial champions, it is less exciting for the fans if the same guy dominates each year. Every winner complains about things the year after a win. There is some truth to it, but if you drank with Dougie good things happened for you. The original Extreme Strongman which was the first attempt at a pro leaugue in the US was run by a one-eyed postal worker who went drinking with Dougie (Dougie Edmonds). TWI was the British production company that handled (probably still handles) WSM, and Dougie was the organizer/promoter.
Big Loz. He was one of the commentators for Thor’s 501 deadlift. This guy has a future in the announcing/commentating game for sure.
Really well done video, everything anyone needs to know on the deadlift in strongman:
Thor apparently not competing in the 2020 WSM because he hasn’t received an invite? I guess it’ll be Martins vs Mateus for the title.
Per WSM, past winners have an automatic invite.
WSM says lots of things, they aren’t known for honest dealings. But, I would guess it is a Thor decision if he doesn’t go. Most guys can’t stay at that level long term, Pro careers are typically short unless your name is Savickas.
This is what they’re currently saying. So good for at least this year, probably.
Direct from WSM: The 2020 SBD WSM is beginning November 11th in Bradenton, FL. Due to the postponement, no athlete invitations have been sent out. It is currently WSM’s official policy that all active previous champions receive an automatic invitation for as long as they are able to compete. Qualified and other potential competitors have received correspondence with the new dates and probable events.
Supposedly, even Big Z said one of the reasons he was able to stay in the game that long was that weights weren’t as heavy earlier in his career.
Another LOL at all the recent Eddie (and even Thor) fanboys who dissed Martins’ victory last year because the weights were “too light”.
Luke Stoltman barely misses the 230k log press world record.
He had a video lifting (I think) 228k in the gym. Big Loz mentioned in a pre-attempt commentary video that he thought most lifters (including the man himself Big Z), would not have lifted such a heavy percentage of the max attempt so close (12 days?) to the actual 230k record attempt. At most the 90% area. Hindsight 20/20 and all that of course.
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I think it speaks to the damaging effect of social media on athletes. There’s so much demand to accomplish ridiculous training lifts that the notion of a conservative training cycle to set up a big PR on the platform is becoming alien. And then trainees observe this on social media and think its what training is supposed to look like and the problem self replicates.
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Is it social medias “fault”?
Presumable he’s done the 228kg to drive up interest, subscribers and viewership which in turn drives up revenue through extra views and over all sponsorship income. Training ineffectively to make more money is no ones fault.
BTW - I’m not knocking him. I don’t doubt he needs the extra cash. Very few strong men retire rich.
I am not ascribing fault: just describing the situation.
If I were to ascribe fault, it lies squarely on humanity.
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Luke Stoltman stated in the pre-lift interview promo that he was recently (past year?) able to quit his job working on oil rigs to become a full time strongman. Tom I would assume the same since he’s even more popular. Previous to Luke’s recent “fame” due to the WR log press attempt, Tom actually had more sponsors; it looks like it’s equal now.
They need to get a coach who can be the objective training overseer to their internet training desires, so to speak.
Not in our stars.
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Could not agree more.
I feel for him though. I saw the 228kg lift and thought he had the 230kg. But to lift 228kg that close to him WR attempt might have been what cost him.
But its a delicate balance - juggling being an athlete with making a living in a sport that is not known for the pay checks.
I don’t know about it being risky 12 days out. Most guys go hard at it up until the week before the contest when you cut back to stretching and light recovery work to come in at 100%. Most guys are overtrained 2 weeks out, or at least should be, and that last week is recovery. That lets you hit the big numbers in contest. I would be unsurprised for a guy in that position to actually hit a bigger number than the record attempt 2 weeks beforehand in the gym setting. It’s easier in the lower pressure setting of training.
I would be very surprised. That doesn’t sound like a smart idea at all.
I don’t think any top strength athletes, powerlifting, OIy or strongman, would lift 99% 12 days out. Going hard would still mean 80-90% max in that time frame.
How would knowing you have more in the tank than the attempt not be a smart idea? A lot of guys would train with heavier weights prior to contest. Not smart is actually leaving the biggest weight you have ever tried until the pressure is on in front of cameras. If I hit my number 2 weeks beforehand, and then got a week of light work in to be maximally recovered, I’d be pretty comfortable.
I don’t know about that. How would deloading your worksets that far out help? With something like log press, the discomfort of the weight when you have it racked on the shoulders is a huge obstacle to the lift. It would make a lot of sense to be working above the weight you are going to attempt two weeks out. I don’t think I would want to have never had the weight at least up there prior to camera day. While you don’t want to have a fried CNS for the big day, you don’t really want to be in uncharted territory either. We typically trained with heavier than contest weights for a lot of events, it made the contest day less taxing even though the cumulative danage over the day is worse than training.
How often would you go for a 1RM in strongman competitions?