AIRWAAV Athlete Tom Stoltman emerged as the champion of the 2024 SBD World's Strongest Man competition, marking his third win in four years. Stoltman finished the competition with an impressive 53 total points, securing a 5.5-point lead over the second-place finisher, Mitchell Hooper, the reigning 2023 champion. Reflecting on his journey to reclaim the title, Stoltman expressed how Hooper's win in the previous year served as a catalyst for his own improvement. "It kind of broke me, not getting that title," Stoltman admitted, referring to his second-place finish in 2023. However, he also acknowledged that Hooper's presence in the competition pushed him to elevate his game, leading to a rigorous training regimen focused on conditioning and recovery. 

To prepare for the intense competition, Stoltman incorporated running and hyperbaric chamber therapy into his routine, in addition to increasing his workload in the gym. Tom also recently incorporated the AIRWAAV Mouthpiece into his training and wore it for each event in the competition. This commitment to excellence paid off, as Stoltman never finished worse than third in any of the six events over the two-day finals. His consistency and focus propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, solidifying his status as one of the strongest men in the world.

Stoltman now shares the prestigious third position on the World's Strongest Man's all-time winners list, alongside American legend Bill Kazmaeir. With his third championship title secured, Stoltman is now setting his sights on further cementing his legacy in the world of strongman competition. 

The 2024 SBD World's Strongest Man competition kicked off on May 1, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, SC, with thirty of the strongest men on earth vying for glory. Over the course of five days, athletes faced off in a series of grueling challenges to determine who would emerge victorious. Let's take a closer look at the highlights of each day and how the AIRWAAV athletes, including Stoltman and Hooper, performed. 

Day 1 Highlights

In the debut of the Webster Stones event at the World's Strongest Man competition, athletes carried stones weighing 250 and 300 pounds for distance. Eddie Williams (AUS) emerged victorious, setting a new WSM record with 46.45 meters. Here are the results by group:

• Group 1
• 1st: Eddie Williams (AUS) — 46.45 meters
• 2nd: Kevin Faires (USA) — 32.59 meters
• Group 2
• 1st: Mitchell Hooper (CA) — 40 meters (T-first)
• 5th: Gavin Bilton (GB) — 25.27 meters
• Group 3
• 4th: Thomas Evans (USA) — 21.66 meters
• Group 4
• 2nd: Marcus Crowder (USA) — 35.92 meters
• 6th: Evans Nana (GHA) — 20.16 meters
• Group 5
• 2nd: Tom Stoltman (GB) — 29.74 meters
• 6th: Bobby Thompson (USA) — 20 meters

Up next, the Athletes competed in a Deadlift Ladder event, aiming to lift five barbells loaded with increasing weights ranging from 661 to 841 pounds. If they couldn't lift all five, their fastest time with the weights completed was recorded. The event had a time cap of 60 seconds. Unfortunately, Bobby Thompson withdrew before event 2 due to aggravating an existing injury during the Webster Stones.

• Group 1
• 2nd: Eddie Williams (AUS) — 58.07 seconds 
• 4th: Kevin Faires (USA) — Four in 42.35 seconds 
• Group 2
• 1st: Mitchell Hooper (CA) — 36.54 seconds 
• 4th: Gavin Bilton (GB) — Four in 38.23 seconds  
• Group 3  
• 3rd: Thomas Evans (USA) — 52.53 seconds 
• Group 4
• 3rd: Marcus Crowder (USA) — Four in 43.7 seconds 
• 5th: Evans Nana (GHA) — Four in 31.59 seconds 
•  Group 5 
• 2nd: Tom Stoltman (GB) — 46.48 seconds 

The day concluded with the Sandbag Steeplechase, a new event that challenged athletes' speed and agility. In this event, athletes were tasked with carrying three sandbags weighing between 176 to 264 pounds each. Their objective was to carry each bag to a log and throw it over before proceeding to the other side, picking up the bag again, and running to the podium at the end of the course. The athletes had the flexibility to choose the order in which they completed the segments. Each segment was timed, with the fastest time or furthest distance achieved within 90 seconds determining the winners.

• Group 1 
• 4th Eddie Williams (AUS) — Five segments in 57.95 seconds 
• 5th Kevin Faires (USA) — Five segments in 58.33 seconds 
• Group 2 
• 1st Mitchell Hooper (CA)  — 53.54 seconds 
• 5th Gavin Bilton - Three segments in 34.32 seconds 
• Group 3 
• 6th Thomas Evans (USA) — Three segments in 35.46 seconds 
• Group 4 
• 3rd: Evans Nana (GHA) — Five segments in 1:01.82 seconds 
• 5th: Marcus Crowder (USA) — Four segments in 36.65 seconds 
• Group 5 
• 1st: Tom Stoltman (GB) —  53.69 seconds 

Day 2 Highlights

Day Two commenced with the Globe Viking Press, where athletes had to press a 330-pound globe with handles to an overhead lockout without bending their knees. The winner would be determined by the athlete accumulating the most reps in 60 seconds. Gavin Bilton withdrew from the competition before Group 2's heat due to medical advice.

• Group 1
• 3rd: Kevin Faires (USA) — 11 reps 
• 5th Eddie Williams (AUS) — 10 reps (T-fifth) 
• Group 2
• 2nd: Mitchell Hooper (CA) — 14 reps 
• Group 3
• 1st: Thomas Evans (USA) — 17 reps 
• Group 4  
• 3rd: Marcus Crowder (USA)— 12 reps 
• 5th: Evans Nana (GHA)— 8 reps 
• Group 5
• 1st: Tom Stoltman (UK) — 14 reps 

Athletes participated in the Car Walk, a fan favorite event where they carried a 1,000-pound frame loaded with a Volkswagen Beetle down a 20-meter course within a 60-second time cap. The fastest finisher would win, with distances scored for athletes unable to complete the full course.

• Group 1
• 1st: Eddie Williams (AUS) — 14.06 seconds 
• 5th: Kevin Faires (USA) — 12.91 meters 
• Group 2 
• 4th: Mitchell Hooper (CAN) — 3.3 meters 
• Group 3 
• 4th: Thomas Evans (USA) — 55.58 seconds 
• Group 4 
• 1st: Evans Nana (GHA) — 18.36 seconds 
• 2nd: Marcus Crowder (USA) — 22.23 seconds  
• Group 5 
• 5th: Tom Stoltman (UK) — 2.7 meters

In the Stone-Off, a classic WSM event, athletes compete by lifting six stones ranging from 140 to 200 kilograms over posts. The athlete in third place starts by lifting the first stone, then the second-place athlete returns it. They continue alternating stones until they reach the heaviest one. If both complete all six stones, they pass a final stone back and forth until one can't continue, determining the victor advancing to the Finals. In the end, all three AIRWAAV athletes, Eddie Williams, Marcus Crowder, and Thomas Evans, were outperformed by their competitors, resulting in their defeat and exclusion from the finals.

Day 3 Highlights

The first event of day 3 was the KNAACK Giant's Medley. In this medley, athletes tested their strength and endurance by carrying a 454-kilogram (1,000-pound) yoke down a 20-meter course and then completing a frame carry weighing 330 kilograms (728 pounds) in the opposite direction. The fastest athlete to complete both tasks emerged as the winner. Stoltman secured third place in his group, demonstrating a solid performance, while Mitchell Hooper finished sixth. Despite starting strongly, Hooper's performance was hindered by ripped hands, causing him to lose grip on the bar.

In the Max Axle Press event, athletes faced an axle barbell, aiming to clean and press it to lockout. Starting at 170 kilograms (375 pounds), successful attempts progressed to the next weight, increasing by 10 kilograms each time. Mitchell Hooper and Tom Stoltman both tied for first place with four reps at 210 kilograms.

After two events in the 2024 WSM Finals, Tom Stoltman was in the lead. The last event, the Keg Toss for height, required athletes to throw a 15-kilogram keg over a crossbar. The bar was raised after each attempt. Stoltman, Hooper, and Derwinsky all set a new world record, exceeding Brian Shaw’s record by one centimeter.

Day 4 Highlights

In the Reign Total Body Fuel Conan’s Wheel event, athletes lifted a 250-kilogram wagon handle and walked in a circle until dropping it. Pavlo Kordiyaka took first with 922 degrees, followed by Mitchell Hooper in second with 821 degrees, and Tom Stoltman in third with 777 degrees.

In the BFGoodrich Tires HD Terrain Deadlift event, athletes lifted a 324-kilogram barbell loaded with tires for max reps in 60 seconds. Tom Stoltman tied for second with 7 reps, while Mitchell Hooper tied for fourth with 6 reps.

Lastly, in the Atlas Stones event, athletes lifted five stones weighing from 140 to 210 kilograms onto podiums from lightest to heaviest in 60 seconds. Tom Stoltman secured first place by completing all five stones in 38.14 seconds, while Mitchell Hooper finished second with four stones in 37.35 seconds.

As the 2024 SBD World's Strongest Man competition concludes, the participation of AIRWAAV athletes stands as a testament to their unwavering dedication and formidable strength on the global stage. These athletes exemplified the pinnacle of human strength and endurance, showcasing remarkable resilience and skill throughout the grueling challenges. Their presence in this elite arena not only highlights their individual accomplishments but also underscores the collective excellence fostered by AIRWAAV's commitment to athletic performance. As they continue to push the boundaries of human potential, AIRWAAV athletes serve as inspiring role models for aspiring strongmen worldwide, demonstrating that with determination and perseverance, anything is attainable, even the title of the World's Strongest Man.