The 2023 Shaw Classic is set for Aug. 19-20, 2023, in Loveland, CO. Not only does it mark the fourth edition of what has become one of the premiere strongman contests each season, but the 2023 edition will also function as the final contest of four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Brian Shaw‘s competitive strongman career.
On March 25, 2023, Shaw took to his YouTube channel to announce that each day of competition will feature an arm-wrestling event to allow the strongman athletes time to rest between strongman events. Who the arm-wrestlers will be for each match on each day was not announced, but Shaw shared as many details as he could.
Additionally, Shaw revealed that Britain’s Graham Hicks withdrew from the contest and has been replaced by 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) Pavlo Kordiyaka. Furthermore, Shaw confirmed the 16th athlete on the roster is Poland’s Mateusz Kieliszkowski. Gavin Bilton will function as the alternate athlete should any athlete currently on the roster be unable to compete. The updated roster is below:
2023 Shaw Classic Roster
- Trey Mitchell — Two-Time Defending Champion
- Mitchell Hooper
- Oleksii Novikov
- Maxime Boudreault
- Kevin Faires
- Aivars Šmaukstelis
- Evan Singleton
- Bobby Thompson
- Luke Stoltman
- Tom Stoltman
- Adam Bishop
- Pavlo Nakonechnyy
- Thomas Evans
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski
- Brian Shaw
- Gavin Bilton — alternate
2023 Shaw Classic Events
- Log Medley
- Max Hummer Tire Deadlift
- Wheelbarrow and Arm-Over-Arm Medley
- Bag Toss
- Car Leg Press
- Atlas Stones
- Bench Press
- Fingal’s Fingers and Power Stairs Medley
[Related: The Tom Platz Challenge — 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper Squats 525 Pounds for 24 Reps]
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Although none of the strongmen competing in the 2023 Shaw Classic will participate in the arm wrestling event featured at the 2023 Shaw Classic, arm wrestling has historically been featured as a strongman event. At the 1995 WSM contest, the Qualifying stage’s second event was arm wrestling matches. Check it out below:
The Fit Expo, as part of the 2023 Shaw Classic, will be free to access for live spectators. It will feature several prominent athletes from the strength sports world present, including powerlifter Ed Coan and Jon “Jujimufu” Call. Food trucks will be on-site to provide meals. The 2023 Shaw Classic will be live-streamed, with additional details forthcoming as the competition nears.
Featured image: @shawstrength on Instagram