The 2024 World’s Strongest Man competition took place from May 1-5 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and was recognized as one of the most difficult shows of the season. The athletes had to endure up to four days of competition, depending on whether they got through to the finals or not. So, having to perform multiple heavy events, the risk of injuries was extremely high. Consequently, a few athletes were forced to withdraw from the competition.
2024 World’s Strongest Man Withdrawals
Adam Bishop
Adam Bishop suffered an injury during the Car Walk event, which saw him break down mid-performance and slowly limp off the stage afterwards. Adam was in a position where he would have been a part of the Stone Off, but had to withdraw due to the undisclosed injury. This was Adam’s ninth appearance at the World’s Strongest Man competition, and turned out to be one of his best ones yet. However, it was all ruined by a moment of bad luck during the final qualifying event.
Gavin Bilton
Gavin Bilton officially withdrew from the 2024 World’s Strongest Man competition before the start of the second qualifying day. The Welsh Bull encountered some setbacks during the Sandbag Steeplechase event on day one, which saw him fall to the floor and get some assistance from the medic team. However, a few minutes later, Gavin walked off the stage on his own. So, it seemed that no severe injuries occurred.
No official reasons for the withdrawal have been revealed by either Gavin Bilton or 2024 World’s Strongest Man organizers.
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Bobby Thompson
Unfortunately, Bobby Thompson was the first man to withdraw from the 2024 World’s Strongest Man. The exact reason for Bobby’s withdrawal is unknown, but he has been struggling with some calf muscle issues since the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic UK.
Moreover, Bobby Thompson withdrew after the first event of the competition, where he managed to carry the Webster Stones for a distance of 20 meters. However, he was seen limping away after his performance, which indicated that his calf might be bothering him.
Hopefully Bobby Thompson’s potential injury is not too severe, as he had plans to compete in other elite competitions later this season.
Related: How To Watch 2024 World’s Strongest Man Competition
Pre-Comp Withdrawals
Multiple athletes who were initially named a part of the 2024 World’s Strongest Man roster have been forced to withdraw from the competition even before it started.
Martins Licis was one of the first to announce his withdrawal, as he realized that his long-term sciatica issues were too much for him to bear anymore. So, opting to not compete and instead take care of his health turned out to be the right choice.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski also withdrew from the competition after injuring his Achilles tendon. Another athlete that withdrew due to an injury was the 2020 WSM Champion, Oleksii Novikov.
Lastly, Shane Flowers and Kristjan Jon Haraldsson withdrew just days before the start of the competition. Shane tore his bicep, while Haraldsson suffered a knee injury in training. Interestingly, both men got injured while training for the Axle Press event.
Related: Rob Kearney Will Retire From Professional Strongman Following 2024 World’s Strongest Man
Although it is unfortunate to see any withdrawals or injuries happen, it is an inevitable aspect of Strongman and a risk that all athletes accept. It is especially expressed at the toughest competitions in the world, such as the 2024 World’s Strongest Man. However, the remaining athletes will continued to push themselves to their absolute limits, as that is what it took to secure valuable points.
Full 2024 WSM Coverage
- Tom Stoltman Wins the Title for Third Time at 2024 World’s Strongest Man
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Results
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Finals — Day Two Results
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Finals — Day One Results
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Finalists Revealed
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Results — Day Two Qualifiers
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Results — Day One Qualifiers
- 2024 World’s Strongest Man Groups Revealed
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