Hathor bjornsson after wsm 2017 would become a league of his own. He leveled up in static strength and would go on to win every single show he competed in including the two elite shows Arnold classic 2018 and wsm 2018. Arguably the most dominant strongman during that period and had no weak event. Easily the strongest man to walk the earth during that phase before 2019.
There isn't a doubt in my mind that Thor at his peak had the freak genetics and work ethic to become the GOAT in this sport. It's just so freaky how he didn't have any real weaknesses. He was a little faster than Shaw, a little stronger than Shaw in events like deadlift that he also shouldn't be good at, by all rights. Throwing for height, throwing for speed, deadlift for reps, ... literally nothing is a problem. One wonders what would've happened if there was more money in strongman and he didn't have to take the boxing deal. Or if Game of Thrones hadn't happened. The thing about Zydrunas is: he got as far as he did (undisputed GOAT status, imo) through sheer work ethic. He had to really learn the craft for years, he wasn't nearly as much of a natural as folks like Thor or Stoltman. But yeah, this is just insane to watch. Thor is literally dancing circles (in deadlift for reps, lol) around athletes the likes of Janashia and Hollands.
totally agree with you man, it's crazy to think about. the 2010s were marked by guys like big Z and shaw, and as that decade winded down hafthor wins his first WSM and 3 arnold classics in a row, just missing his second WSM bc of injury. the 2020s could've been marked by sheer dominance of hafthor, but as soon as he got the 501kg deadlift he goes for the boxing money bc hey that's life, strongman doesn't really pay that well. watching the clips and contests hafthor was in makes me feel like he was the one that got away, lol
Thor’s biggest weakness was his grip on moving events, however, by 2020 it had become so strong again that he still came third on the frame against guys with godly grip like Caron.
Definitely he was the one to take Mariusz's place as the second best and the one to maybe challenge Z for the first spot, but he has a family, it's kind of sad from a competitive point of view.
@@iraalivio7167 it’s actually so insane that a man that has ACTUALLY WON the title is somehow the biggest wasted potential in the history of the sport.
@@gotzvonunentberlichingen1452 yeah I was thinking grip or maybe squat? That would be the one event where he’d consistently get beaten at, I feel. Especially with his early exit due to his foot injury in 2019, I feel he was more injury prone below the waist.
After Brian retires from competing (at least outside Masters) I would be jazzed if he was able to obtain at least partial rights to WSM, considering he's the only athlete possibly wealthy enough to do so. I think he would remake the competition into something truly world-class and a viable competitor to other global sporting events.
I always think one of the poorest parts of WSM is the commentary, you have people commentating who don't know what they are talking about. Colin Bryce is the only one who has any clue what he's talking about. For example the commentator says "Terry Hollands is a static pressing demon" - Terry's overhead was always his weakest event... It's still a problem today - get someone like an ex-competitor like Loz to talk about it, who actually still closely follows the sport. I'd say get Eddie, but Eddie doesn't follow the sport that closely anymore it seems, he isn't so sure of the new guys and their strengths and weaknesses. WSM 2023 get Loz for commentary please!
The reason they don’t have someone like loz is bc he talks very technically appealing to strongman fans which isn’t where the moneys at. As opposed to Arnold Classic and Rogue Invitational having him bc they are trying to appeal to strength athletic fans.
@@joenance8641 Do you think average Joe likes the commentators that they have now? I think they don't care tbh (and I also don't think making the technical information correct would hurt either). Strongman is growing as a sport, but it's not because of WSM, it's because of Eddie Hall, Thor, social media and companies like Rogue who are giving the funding to help the sport grow. If WSM modernise their format and treat it as a sport that is televised instead of a tv program that happens to be about sport, I really think it'll help expose people to the sport as a whole instead of just WSM.
Kazmaier is getting old and according to some anecdotal accounts somewhat senile. He may be gone soon as a commentator, which hopefully will open a spot for someone like Loz or Terry. Nick Best is another candidate and it would be cool to see Derek Poundstone re-enter the strongman world in some supporting capacity after he retires from his police job.
I always like Thor's confident to win his heat group since 2014. Like no sweat literally just like the the way he won most of Giants Live comps. Only in WSM Final where he needs to put his 100% form, literally the most cliffhanging story in his WSM journey.
Hathor bjornsson after wsm 2017 would become a league of his own. He leveled up in static strength and would go on to win every single show he competed in including the two elite shows Arnold classic 2018 and wsm 2018.
Arguably the most dominant strongman during that period and had no weak event. Easily the strongest man to walk the earth during that phase before 2019.
There isn't a doubt in my mind that Thor at his peak had the freak genetics and work ethic to become the GOAT in this sport. It's just so freaky how he didn't have any real weaknesses. He was a little faster than Shaw, a little stronger than Shaw in events like deadlift that he also shouldn't be good at, by all rights. Throwing for height, throwing for speed, deadlift for reps, ... literally nothing is a problem.
One wonders what would've happened if there was more money in strongman and he didn't have to take the boxing deal. Or if Game of Thrones hadn't happened. The thing about Zydrunas is: he got as far as he did (undisputed GOAT status, imo) through sheer work ethic. He had to really learn the craft for years, he wasn't nearly as much of a natural as folks like Thor or Stoltman.
But yeah, this is just insane to watch. Thor is literally dancing circles (in deadlift for reps, lol) around athletes the likes of Janashia and Hollands.
totally agree with you man, it's crazy to think about. the 2010s were marked by guys like big Z and shaw, and as that decade winded down hafthor wins his first WSM and 3 arnold classics in a row, just missing his second WSM bc of injury. the 2020s could've been marked by sheer dominance of hafthor, but as soon as he got the 501kg deadlift he goes for the boxing money bc hey that's life, strongman doesn't really pay that well. watching the clips and contests hafthor was in makes me feel like he was the one that got away, lol
Thor’s biggest weakness was his grip on moving events, however, by 2020 it had become so strong again that he still came third on the frame against guys with godly grip like Caron.
Definitely he was the one to take Mariusz's place as the second best and the one to maybe challenge Z for the first spot, but he has a family, it's kind of sad from a competitive point of view.
@@iraalivio7167 it’s actually so insane that a man that has ACTUALLY WON the title is somehow the biggest wasted potential in the history of the sport.
@@gotzvonunentberlichingen1452 yeah I was thinking grip or maybe squat? That would be the one event where he’d consistently get beaten at, I feel. Especially with his early exit due to his foot injury in 2019, I feel he was more injury prone below the waist.
After Brian retires from competing (at least outside Masters) I would be jazzed if he was able to obtain at least partial rights to WSM, considering he's the only athlete possibly wealthy enough to do so. I think he would remake the competition into something truly world-class and a viable competitor to other global sporting events.
WSM is owned by IMG. IMG.com.
I lifted 150 kg for biceps can you?
He won’t have to do that. The Shaw Classic is quickly becoming a top 3 strongman competition.
I always think one of the poorest parts of WSM is the commentary, you have people commentating who don't know what they are talking about. Colin Bryce is the only one who has any clue what he's talking about. For example the commentator says "Terry Hollands is a static pressing demon" - Terry's overhead was always his weakest event... It's still a problem today - get someone like an ex-competitor like Loz to talk about it, who actually still closely follows the sport. I'd say get Eddie, but Eddie doesn't follow the sport that closely anymore it seems, he isn't so sure of the new guys and their strengths and weaknesses. WSM 2023 get Loz for commentary please!
The reason they don’t have someone like loz is bc he talks very technically appealing to strongman fans which isn’t where the moneys at. As opposed to Arnold Classic and Rogue Invitational having him bc they are trying to appeal to strength athletic fans.
@@joenance8641 Do you think average Joe likes the commentators that they have now? I think they don't care tbh (and I also don't think making the technical information correct would hurt either). Strongman is growing as a sport, but it's not because of WSM, it's because of Eddie Hall, Thor, social media and companies like Rogue who are giving the funding to help the sport grow. If WSM modernise their format and treat it as a sport that is televised instead of a tv program that happens to be about sport, I really think it'll help expose people to the sport as a whole instead of just WSM.
Kazmaier is getting old and according to some anecdotal accounts somewhat senile. He may be gone soon as a commentator, which hopefully will open a spot for someone like Loz or Terry. Nick Best is another candidate and it would be cool to see Derek Poundstone re-enter the strongman world in some supporting capacity after he retires from his police job.
It’s crazy to see how terry hollands looks now. Shows what hard work dedication and consistency can do for you.
8:15 Foreshadowing
There's something about Hollands this year that just looks unhealthy.
He retired for a reason.
All that showboating just to lose in the final 2 more times 😂
and than win it and destory eddie hall in the ring... i say he did great he also won arnold classic 3 times...
I always like Thor's confident to win his heat group since 2014. Like no sweat literally just like the the way he won most of Giants Live comps. Only in WSM Final where he needs to put his 100% form, literally the most cliffhanging story in his WSM journey.
30:24 the camera caught Eddie Hall resting while completely exhausted after the last heat!
Shame about the audio, commentary is buried in the mix a lot of the time.
I would try a different audio setup. I haven’t had any issues.
"konstantine yanashai"
lmao, I kept picking up on that announcer saying that and thought it was hilarious.
These fools didn’t even show Thor’s or others run at the finkel fingers 😅😅😅
Is it necessary that all commentators be so fucking annoying?