The Athletes:

Mariusz Pudzianowski – Poland

Janne Virtanen – Finland

Elbrus Nigmatullin – Russia

Mohammad Reza Gharaei – Iran

Tarmo Mitt – Estonia

Rolands Gulbis – Latvia

Antanas Abrutis – Lithuania

Evgenij Stametov – Russia

Senny Schonewille – the Netherlands

Sergej Rjumin – Belarus

Vasilij Agafonov – Russia

Grant Higa – United States of America

Maksim Gavrilenko – Ukraine

Karl Fokam – Cameroon

 

Events:

 

Truck pull - 7.5tn 20 m

Farmers Walk - Weight 2x150kg,for distance

Tyre Flip -  380kg, 8 flip

Powerstairs - 180, 200, 220 kg

Deadlift hold - 1400 kg

Atlas Stones - 4 stones, 120kg, 142kg, 145kg, 160kg

 

 

 

Because of the phenomenal success as well as of the great reputation coming from numerous Russian Strongman fans, the World- Strongman Cup Season of Strength returned to the Russian capital, Moscow. The famous Olympic Stadium has been chosen as the competing area.

 

This World- Strongman Cup enthused thousands of spectators and left nothing to be desired- thrilling disciplines, debutants, local heroes and a great Mariusz Pudzianowski have been presented.

 

Mariusz Pudzianowski and the Finnish Strongman and “World’s Strongest Man 2000” Janne Virtanen had the fight of the year! The muscles of both athletes had been equal, but in the end, Janne was piped by the Polish.

 

The 7.5 tons of the Truckpull demanded everything from the athletes just from the beginning. But Mariusz Pudzianowski stood up to the Estonian Tarmo Mitt. Janne Virtanen from Finland, whose participation has been a World- Strongman Cup premiere, admitted the defeat by the Estonian with hardly measurable 0.46 seconds. The Dutch Strongman Senny Schonewille who debuted at World- Strongman Cup, too, presented his best achievement of the competition at this discipline in pulling the truck during 26.60 seconds over the given distance of 20 m.

Grant Higa from the U.S.A. was afflicted by the demanding journey as well as by the time difference and was not able to present 100 % of his strongman-power. That’s why he showed his best achievement with a 10^th place at the Truckpull. But he promised to give all his best back in the U.S. at the next World- Strongman Cup!

 

Other debutants have been the Ukrainian Maksim Gavrilenko, the local hero Vasilij Agafonov and Karl Fokam from Cameroon, who has been because of an injury unable to start.

 

At the Farmer’s Walk, the Finnish Janne Virtanen outstripped all the other athletes of strength and carried the 150 kilos on each hand 50 m long. Only Mariusz Pudzianowski with 42 m, the Russian Elbrus Nigmatullin with 41.74 m and the Lithuanian Antanas Abrutis with 41.07 have been able to come near to this performance.

A good result has been achieved by the newcomer and local hero Evgenij Stametov with 27.2 7 m. With his 31.81 m, the Belarusian Sergej Rjumin presented his best performance of the cup.

 

But at the Tyre Flip, Mariusz Pudzianowski’s enormous muscles have been back at their best, and were ready to present an 8- time tyreflip with 380 kilos within 24.76 seconds performance to the audience. This time, Elbrus Nigmatullin has been close on Mariusz’ heels, and beat moreover Janne Virtanen.

The World- Strongman Cup newcomer from Iran, Mohammad Reza Gharaei, could present remarkable achievements in Moscow. He was able to finish the Tyre Flip (27.62 seconds) as well as the Stones on the 4^th place.

 

The Powerstairs with weights between 180 kilos and 220 kilos couldn’t stop the muscles of Mariusz, Janne and Elbrus. Mariusz won this discipline within sensational 21.30 seconds.

 

The Deadlift Hold has been with its 1.4 tons the most demanding discipline of this competition, for sure! But Janne Virtanen has been second to none and mastered this discipline during 49.73 seconds highly remarkable. Behind Mariusz, the Latvian Rolands Gulbis presented a good show. The biceps of Antanas Abrutis seems to have recovered properly; Antanas was able to hold himself with 41.57 seconds onto a 4^th place.

 

The Stones, finally, demanded everything from the athletes, but Mariusz could pack his muscles altogether and lifted all the 4 stones with weights between 120 kilos and 160 kilos during 15.93 seconds, only 2.67 seconds before Janne Virtanen, onto the platform.

 

To this great and thrilling competition of strength, thousands of spectators cheered as well as the honour president of the World- Strongman Cup Federation and strongman-legend, Jouko Ahola, who backed the competition as the head referee.

 

For sure, the next World- Strongman Cup is really auspicious...