world’s strongest man
super series(2/3)

Continuing this evening is Five’s exclusive coverage of the World’s Strongest Man Super Series – the international tour of strength athletics that acts as a qualifier for the World’s Strongest Man competition. Tonight’s programme features highlights from the Venice Beach Grand Prix in Los Angeles, where events include the farmer’s walk, the super yoke carry and the atlas stones.

The WSM Super Series consists of a sequence of Grands Prix all over the world. Between ten and 12 athletes take part in each event, with the top six in the international rankings competing alongside at least four qualifiers or wildcard entries. The highest scoring competitor at the end of the series is crowned world champion, and the top four athletes from each contest automatically qualify for the World’s Strongest Man. Athletes to look out for in this year’s competition include Grenada’s Mark Felix, three-times WSM champion and reigning Super Series champion (Super-)Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland, and the USA’s Phil Pfister.

Tonight’s event comes from the world-famous Muscle Beach in Venice, Los Angeles. The eight Americans in the line-up include 26-year-old David Ostlund of Minnesota, and strongman veteran Mark Philippi of Las Vegas. The international contingent comprises competitors from Poland, Australia, Norway and Estonia. British hopes rest on the only UK representative in this heat, Scotland’s Brian Turner, a former British Strongman competitor.

The Venice Beach Grand Prix features six rounds, including the old strongman favourite, the atlas stones, which sees competitors lifting spherical stones of increasing weight onto plinths. Other disciplines in tonight’s back-breaking contest include the farmer’s walk – whereby entrants compete to carry heavy weights with their arms at their sides –the tombstone carry, and the super yoke carry –where the strongmen lift and carry a gigantic weight on their shoulders.

Former England rugby star Martin Bayfield provides the voiceover for Five’s coverage, while Nick Halling commentates and referee Colin Bryce lends his expert analysis. Series Producer