29 May 2017

After a week of muscle straining and back breaking physical challenges that pitted men from all over the world against one another, the final 10-men remaining from the initial 27 completed one of the most gruelling spectacle to ever grace Botswana’s shores.

With the finals staged over two days at the Three Chiefs Monument, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Parliament buildings, it seemed like it was anyone’s game to win as the 10 finalists sassed one another out with the flip & drag, squat and viking press to get the title challenge underway.

The defending champion and four-time world champion, Brian Shaw from the US seemed to be in no mood to relinquish his title, as he put in a stellar performance and collected precious points on the first day of the challenge.

Eddie Hall (Britain) and Hasthor Bjornsson (Iceland) were hot on his heels and made sure to keep the big American on his toes and take the competition right to the last day.

The men engage in a plane pull and concluded with a deadlift that saw Hall triumph and clinch the World Strongest Man title.

The Briton clinched the title with so much conviction and brute strength.

With the three men seemingly tied and looking to break the deadlock with the last event of the day, the dreaded deadlift was what was standing between the men and bragging rights to be called the World Strongest Man.

Hall made sure to wrap it up as he lifted 472.5kg of weight and wrestle the title from the American.

Nicknamed The Beast, Hall made sure to get the crowd on his side and have their energy to drive him to a convincing win.

Hasthor came in second and Brian Shaw completed the top 3 and in the process relinquished his title.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama congratulated the winners as they were presented with trophies and made sure to mingle and chit chat with them.

It must be said that Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO)’s decision to bring the World Strongest Man competition here was a good move and what still remains to be realised, are the benefits moving forward.

The warmth and welcoming reception exhibited by Batswana did go a long way and it was appreciated by the competitors throughout the competition. ENDS