What Is 2017 World's Strongest Man

Overview

The 2017 World's Strongest Man competition marked a historic moment in strength athletics, with Eddie Hall becoming the first British athlete to win the title in nearly three decades. Held from May 16 to May 21 in Kasane, Botswana, the event featured grueling tests of raw power, endurance, and mental toughness.

This edition was notable for its dramatic finale and the intense rivalry between Hall and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, known globally as 'The Mountain' from Game of Thrones. The competition's remote location added logistical challenges, but also highlighted the global reach of the sport.

• Eddie Hall claimed victory with a total of 45.5 points, narrowly edging out Björnsson’s 44.5, marking the closest final margin in years.
• The Atlas Stones event saw Hall complete five ascending stones weighing between 120–200 kg in 20.26 seconds, a personal best under pressure.
• Botswana hosted the event for the first time, making it the first African nation to stage the competition since 2008.
• There were 25 competitors from 17 countries, including strongmen from emerging strength nations like Lithuania and Egypt.
• The Deadlift for Reps event saw Hall lift 500 kg for 5 reps, showcasing his dominance in pure strength events.

How It Works

The World's Strongest Man competition tests athletes across multiple strength disciplines, each designed to measure different aspects of physical power and endurance. Events are scored based on performance, with points awarded by rank, and the overall winner determined by cumulative points.

• Atlas Stones: Competitors lift 5 spherical stones of increasing weight onto platforms. In 2017, the heaviest stone weighed 200 kg, and Hall completed the set in under 21 seconds.
• Deadlift for Reps: Athletes perform as many repetitions as possible with a 500 kg bar. Hall achieved 5 reps, the best in the final round.
• Car Walk: Lifting two 160 kg frames and walking 20 meters. Brian Shaw won this event with a time of 17.3 seconds.
• Log Lift: Overhead lifting of a log bar. The 2017 log weighed 150 kg, with only six athletes successfully completing the lift.
• Truck Pull: Pulling a 25,000 kg truck over 25 meters. Hall finished in 46.8 seconds, securing crucial points.
• Fingal's Fingers: Raising five descending metal pillars. The heaviest stood at 180 kg, and only three athletes completed all five.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of the top five finishers in the 2017 World's Strongest Man reveals key performance differences across events.

The results underscore how consistency across events, rather than dominance in one, determined the outcome. Hall’s victory relied on strong performances in the Deadlift and Atlas Stones, while Björnsson’s slight edge in endurance events wasn’t enough to overcome the final deficit. The close scores reflect the increasing competitiveness of the sport, with only six points separating first from fifth.

Why It Matters

The 2017 World's Strongest Man had lasting implications for the sport of strength athletics, both culturally and competitively. It reignited global interest in strongman events and highlighted the growing professionalism in training and athlete visibility.

• Eddie Hall’s win inspired a new generation of UK strongmen, leading to increased national participation and media coverage.
• The rivalry with Björnsson culminated in a historic boxing match in 2018, drawing over a million pay-per-view buys.
• Strongman events gained broader exposure through social media, with clips from the 2017 competition amassing millions of views.
• The use of real-time scoring and on-site analytics improved fan engagement and broadcast quality.
• It marked the beginning of a shift toward global hosting, with future events planned in Asia and South America.
• The competition demonstrated that mental resilience is as crucial as physical strength, especially in high-pressure finals.

The 2017 event remains a benchmark in strongman history, symbolizing the sport’s evolution into a globally recognized test of human limits.