The 2023 World’s Strongest Man will be remembered for multiple things. While some great performances are definitely notable, what brings a tear to some Strongman fans’ faces is Mark Felix, as it was his final World’s Strongest Man appearance ever. After 18 years of appearances, Mark decided to officially put an end to this portion of his professional career.
Despite his best efforts, Mark Felix failed to qualify for the finals of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition after two days. Thus, he didn’t even get a chance to qualify via the Stone-Off and was forced to watch the finals from the sidelines.
Mark Felix also became the oldest man to appear in the World’s Strongest Man, adding another record to his resume. Taking everything into account, Mark is definitely a legend of the sport, especially due to his incredible longevity. This makes him a Hall of Fame caliber Strongman, since he is a very unique figure.
Another interesting fact is that Mark Felix was 37-years-old when he first started doing Strongman. Therefore, he accomplished what many people believed was an impossible task. During his 18 appearances at the WSM, Mark managed to advance to three finals. Out of those, his greatest placing came in 2006 when Mark finished in fourth-place, missing out on the podium by just a few points.
Mark Felix’s 2023 WSM Performances
Day One
- Loading Race — 4 in 54.32 s (Fifth-place)
- Deadlift Machine — 6 reps (Third-place)
- Log Ladder — 1 in 7.58 s (Sixth-place)
Day Two
- Conan’s Wheel — 470 ° (Fifth-place)
- Kettlebell Toss — 4 in 42.66 s (Fourth-place)
Related: 2023 World’s Strongest Man Finalist Revealed
Mark Felix made his debut at the World’s Strongest Man competition in 2004, following which ensued an incredible career. Interestingly, at the time of Mark Felix’s WSM debut, many of today’s greatest athletes were not even out of their teen years.
Mark Felix also boasts an incredible career outside of WSM as well, since he accumulated 123 International and National competition appearances. Out of those, he only won three, but stood on the podium numerous times.
However, Mark Felix became a sensation in the strength community due to his mind-blowing grip strength. His feats of strength on grip events, most notably the Hercules Hold, have gone viral on multiple occasions.
Luckily, we will still get to witness Mark Felix’s greatness in competitions other than the World’s Strongest Man. He plans on competing in other Giants Live competitions. So, his retirement will not come quite yet.
Mark Felix was also not the only man to make his final WSM appearance this year, as Brian Shaw did the same. However, Brian managed to qualify for the finals. So, it still remains to be seen if he can win his fifth WSM title this year.
Related: Eddie Hall Reveals His Top 3 Predictions For The 2023 World’s Strongest Man
It will be very unusual to see the lineup for the next World’s Strongest Man competition without Mark Felix in it. However, the Strongman is currently in the best position it has ever been, with tons of young talent coming out. Many of Mark’s fans would still prefer to watch him compete in other events and continue to defy the aging process.
2023 World’s Strongest Man Content
- 2023 World’s Strongest Man Results — Day One Qualifiers
- 2023 World’s Strongest Man Results — Day Two Qualifiers
- Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou Withdraws From 2023 World’s Strongest Man; Kristján Jón Haraldsson Steps In
Discover comprehensive coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition at our WSM coverage hub, featuring exclusive interviews, final results, event recaps and in-depth analysis: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 21 April, 2023 | 11:27 AM EDT
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