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As is WSM custom, the Atlas Stones put a cherry on prime of the 2023 WSM. The athletes needed to raise 5 progressively heavier stones onto their respective platforms inside a one-minute time restrict. The 5 stones had weights of 150 kilograms (330 kilos), 160 kilograms (350 kilos), 180 kilograms (395 kilos), 200 kilograms (440 kilos), and 210 kilograms (460 kilos).
Coming into this ultimate occasion, all Hooper wanted to safe his first WSM title was a minimal sixth-place end result. After a couple of rivals faltered on the fifth Atlas Stone, Hooper’s second-place end was greater than sufficient to pen him down in strongman historical past. Although, runner-up Tom Stoltman would win the Atlas Stones occasion by lifting all 5 Stones in 33.26 seconds to entrench himself on the 2023 WSM podium.
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There was no scarcity of worthy storylines on the 2023 WSM.
Together with his title, Hooper capped one of many extra outstanding approximate one-year runs in strongman historical past. Now, whereas sitting on the prime, he might be starting an prolonged reign of dominance as the game’s preeminent royalty.
On a bittersweet however probably nonetheless completely happy observe, four-time WSM champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) Brian Shaw completed in seventh place in his final WSM Finals. The strongman legend walks off into the sundown having certified for the WSM Finals on 15 of 16 events in his profession.
In the meantime, the previous two-time defending champion in Tom Stoltman fell in need of a historic three-peat, however that doesn’t imply he’s misplaced his place as an elite competitor. Within the weeks and months forward and in any ensuing WSM, it wouldn’t be a far cry to see Stoltman contend for a lot of strongman titles.
So far as debuts goes, Mathew Ragg’s WSM debut was the primary New Zealand competitor’s look within the WSM ultimate in 40 years, with Allan Hallberg within the 1983 WSM being the final consultant. South Africa’s Jaco Schoonwinkel additionally had a particularly stable exhibiting, dominating his Qualifying Group earlier than falling to damage.
Certainly, the 2023 WSM was a cornucopia of unimaginable energy and athletic resolve. In the long run, Hooper stood tall above the remainder of his proficient friends.
Featured image: Todd Burandt / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
