2021 Africa’s Strongest Man Results and Recap

The 2019 Arnold Africa champion, Thobelani Mabaso is crowned as this year’s Africa’s Strongest Man. The 2021 ASM competition was held in Mossel Bay, South Africa, on November 27-28, 2021.

After a two day battle with Schoonwinkel, it came down to a difference of only half a point after six events. In the competition we were also able to see some very solid performances, as well as an African deadlift record.

2021 Africa’s Strongest Man (ASM) Results

1. Thobelani Mabaso – 49.5 points
2. Jaco Schoonwinkel – 49 points
3. Ben Bucarizza – 41.5 points
4. Chris Van der Linde – 39 points
5. Dean Shelley – 35 points
6. Terence Bosman – 31.5 points
7. Greg Poolman – 30 points
8. Victor Ampofo – 25 points
9. Tewie Labuschagne – 16.5 points
10. Richard Banda – 3 points

ASM consisted of 6 events, and those are: max log lift, max deadlift, dumbbell press, Conan’s Wheel, medley, and Atlas Stones. 

Also check: 2021 World’s Strongest Man Results And Point Standings

Events Recap

MAX LOG LIFT

Thobelani Mabaso started the competition with a win, which secured him 10 points. He managed to do that with a log overhead press of 201 kg (443 lbs).  Chris Van der Linde came second with a max lift of 190 kg (418 lbs), followed by Dean Shelley who pushed up 175 kg (358.8 lbs).

• Thobelani Mabaso [10 points] – 201 kilograms (443.1 pounds)
• Chris Van der Linde [9 points] – 190 kilograms (418.9 pounds)
• Dean Shelley [8 points]- 175 kilograms (385.8 pounds)
• Schoonwinkel, Bucarizza, and Poolman [6 points] – 170 kg (374.8 lbs)
• Bosman, Ampofo, and Labuschagne [3 points] – 160 kg (352.7 lbs)
• Richard Banda [1 point] – 145 kg (319 lbs)

Related: Iron Biby Hits 200kg Log Press, Looks Ready For World Record

MAX DEADLIFT

The deadlift event was dominated by Chris Van der Linde who set a new African deadlift record of 440 kg (970 lbs), thus breaking the record by 20 kg (44 lbs). Chris outlifted second place finisher, Mabaso, by 55 kg (121.3 lbs)

• Chris Van der Linde [10 points] – 440 kilograms (970 pounds) – Africa Deadlift Record
• Thobelani Mabaso [9 points] – 385 kilograms (848.4 pounds)
• Jaco Schoonwinkel [8 points] – 385 kilograms (848.4 pounds)
• Dean Shelley [7 points]- 380 kg (837.8 lbs)
• Ben Bucarizza [6 points] – 370 kg (815.7 lbs)
• Ampofo, Labuschagne [4.5 points] – 350 kg (771.6 lbs)
• Terence Bosman [3 points] – 330 kg (727.5)
• Greg Poolman [2 points] – 320 kg (705.5 lbs)
• Richard Banda [1 point] – 300 kg (661.4 lbs)

Before Chris Van der Linde, the record was held by Australia’s Eben Le Roux’s 420-kilogram (925.4-pound) deadlift from the 2016 Arnold Africa.

DUMBBELL PRESS

In the dumbbell press event, competitors had to lift a dumbbell weighing 100 kg (220.5 lbs), for as many repetitions as possible in the span of 60 seconds. Jaco Schoonwinkel managed to grab 10 points by doing 3 repetitions, followed by Mabaso and Bucarizza who did 2 repetitions.

• Jaco Schoonwinkel [10 points]- three reps
• Thobelani Mabaso [8.5 points] – two reps
• Ben Bucarizza [8.5 points] – two reps
• Shelley, Amposo, Bosman and Poolman [5.5 points] – one rep
• Linde, Labuschagne and Banda [0 points] – zero reps

CONAN’S WHEEL 

The goal of the Conan’s wheel was to spin the wheel as far as possible, that is to cover the most distance. The wheel has a weight of 270 kg (595.3 lbs). Jaco Schoonwinkel came out victorious after moving the wheel 39.6 meters.

• J. Schoonwinkel [10 points] – 39.6 meters
• T. Bosman [9 points] – 34.8 meters
• B. Bucarizza [8 points] – 31.2 meters
• D. Shelley [7 points] – 20 meters
• C. Van der Linde [6 points] – 18.6 meters
• T. Mabaso [5 points] – 17.6 meters
• T. Labuschagne [4 points] – 8.3 meters
• G. Poolman [3 points] – 2.5 meters
• V. Ampofo [2 points] – 0.6 meters
• R. Banda [0 points] – 0 meters

MEDLEY

The goal in medley is to do 10 meters with the following: a 450-kilogram (992.1-pound) yoke, 160-kilogram (352.7-pound) farmer’s carry than a 300-kilogram (661.4-pound) sled.

It is measured by time, unless the competitors can not do it, than it is measured by distance covered. Mabaso managed to come out triumphant after beating Chris Van der Linde by under three-tenths of a second.

• Thobelani Mabaso – 47.34 seconds
• Chris Van der Linde – 47.57 seconds
• Dean Shelley – 10 meters 
• Greg Poolman – 10 meters 
• V. Ampofo [6 points] – 9.1 meters
• J. Schoonwinkel [5 points] – 8.2 meters
• B. Bucarizza [4 points] – 6.1 meters 
• T. Bosman [3 Points] – 5.6 meters 
• T. Labuschagne [2 points] – 4.1 meters 
• R. Banda [1 Point] – 1.8 meters

ATLAS STONES

In the atlas stone event, competitors are required to lift 4 atlas stones whose weight ranges from 130 kilograms (286.6 pounds) to 205 kilograms (452 pounds). Athletes are ranked based on how many stones they lift and in what time they manage to do them. Mabaso’s fourth place finish was enough for him to edge out the victory in this year’s Africa’s Strongest Man.

• J. Schoonwinkel [10 points]- four stones, 32.38 seconds
• B. Bucarizza [9 points] – four stones, 42.06 seconds
• T. Bosman [8 points] – four stones, 47 seconds
• T. Mabaso [7 points] – three stones, 18.10 seconds
• G. Poolman [6 points] – three stones, 26.19 seconds
• C. Van der Linde [5 points] – three stones, 26.94 seconds
• V. Ampofo [4 points] – three stones, 32.47 seconds
• T. Labuschagne [3 points] – three stones, 86.59 seconds
• D. Shelley [0 points] – withdrew
• R. Banda [0 points] – withdrew

Related: Tom Stoltman Smokes A 286kg Atlas Stone

Overall, Thobelani Mabaso’s consistency in all events has prevailed over Jaco Schoonwinkel’s domination in certain events. In addition, Africa’s Strongest Man 2021 has given us some great insight of the strongman sport in Africa, and a monumental African deadlift records as well.

Featured and other images courtesy of Thobelani Mabaso @tubs3_strongman Instagram.

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