Oleksii Novikov has officially withdrawn from the 2024 World’s Strongest Man competition, as per the latest Instagram announcement of the organizers. The news of Oleksii Novikov’s withdrawal comes just two weeks before the competition is set to take place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Oleksii Novikov’s appearance at the 2024 World’s Strongest Man competition was highly expected, since he had already won the show back in 2020. That remains one of the greatest performances ever displayed, as Novikov managed to beat some of the greatest athletes in the entire history of Strongman.
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The reason for Oleksii Novikov’s withdrawal is currently unknown, but some speculations have been circulating around the Strongman community. Notably, it is believed that Oleksii is facing some issues with his bicep, because he was seen grabbing his bicep after certain events at both the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic and 2024 Europe’s Strongest Man. However, no official information has been released yet.
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Oleksii Novikov is not the only man who has withdrawn from the 2024 World’s Strongest Man, as Martins Licis and Mateusz Kieliszkowski have also confirmed that they will not be taking part. In the case of Licis, he decided to miss out on the WSM in order to treat a problem he has with his sciatica. On the other hand, Mateusz suffered an Achilles tendon injury which forced him to withdraw.
The majority of the lineup for the 2024 World’s Strongest Man has been confirmed already. However, a few spots still remain due to the withdrawals of the aforementioned athletes. The lineup still consists of some impressive athletes who will be battling for the title, including the defending champion, Mitchell Hooper; former 2x WSM winner Tom Stoltman; and recently crowned Europe’s Strongest Man, Luke Stoltman.
Oleksii Novikov definitely would have been in contention for the title, as proven by the incredible resume that he has. In fact, the Ukrainian Strongman has won 15 out of 46 International and National competitions in which he took part, along with countless other podium finishes.
Unfortunately, Oleksii Novikov has been battling with injuries for some time now. That included some issues with his elbow and bicep, which put him through a lot of trouble on events such as the Overhead Press and the Atlas Stones. However, there is no doubt that he will soon get back to his best and once again top the podiums of elite competitions.
Oleksii Novikov is definitely one of the biggest figures in Strongman right now, so finding a replacement for him at the 2024 World’s Strongest Man will not be easy. However, the fact that he is prioritizing his health also ensures longevity in the sport. So, hopefully, we will see him compete at the highest level in the near future.
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