2023 Arnold Strongman Basic Preview

A headline occasion for a headline-worthy pageant.

Written by Robert Zeglinski Final up to date on March 3, 2023

The 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) will happen this weekend in Columbus, OH. It’s a part of the Arnold Sports activities Pageant (ASF), working from Mar. 2 to Mar. 5, 2023.

Starting on Friday, Mar. 3, strongperson followers can sustain with the entire Deadlift and Stone Throw motion step-by-step. Right here’s an outline of the 2023 ASC roster on the Males’s facet:

2023 Arnold Strongman Basic Roster | Males

The 2023 Males’s ASC contest is in a uncommon place, given who gained’t compete. Former 2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) and defending ASC champion Martins Licis is not going to be collaborating within the newest iteration. Oleksii Novikov, the 2020 WSM champion and 2022 ASC runner-up, may even not be competing. Meaning, in a loaded area, it might be no-holds-barred discovering a brand new winner.

Potential contenders embrace reigning two-time WSM Tom Stoltman. Whereas he’s already established himself on the peak of strongman, the 28-year-old Stoltman has by no means captured an ASC title.

One other athlete to look at is perhaps Mitchell Hooper, one strongman on a sizzling streak. Hooper closed 2022 with six consecutive podium finishes, together with wins in each the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK, and started 2023 with a win within the Australia’s Strongest Worldwide. If anybody appears possible so as to add one other title to their resume, it might be the Canadian dynamo.

Lastly, a darkish horse might be Poland’s Mateusz Kieliszkowski. After obvious discomfort in his leg, Kieliszkowski withdrew from the 2022 WSM. Based on Strongman Archives, he hasn’t appeared in a strongman contest for the reason that 2021 Rogue Invitational. Although, if wholesome, Kieliszkowski’s efficiency ceiling possible stays excessive. The previous five-time Poland’s Strongest Man (PSM) champion (2015-2019) notched two runner-up leads to the 2018-2019 WSM. After roughly a yr and a half away from competitors, Kieliszkowski is perhaps chomping on the bit to shine on the 2023 ASC.