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World's Strongest Man - Complete History & Winners

Every WSM champion, final results, and records from 1977 to present.

49 Editions of World's Strongest Man

The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of December each year. Competitors qualify based on placing in the top three at the four to eight Giants Live events each year.

49 Editions
1977 - 2026 Year Range
Mitchell Hooper Most Recent Winner

The most recent World's Strongest Man champion is Mitchell Hooper. Mariusz Pudzianowski holds the record with 5 titles (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). The series has run 49 editions (1977 - 2026).

Most Titles

1
Mariusz Pudzianowski 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008
5x
2
Brian Shaw 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016
4x
3
Jón Páll Sigmarsson 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990
4x
4
Magnús Ver Magnússon 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996
4x
5
Žydrūnas Savickas 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014
4x

Champions by Year

2026
Mitchell Hooper
2025
Rayno Nel
2024
Tom Stoltman
2023
Mitchell Hooper
2022
Tom Stoltman
2021
Tom Stoltman 2-year streak
2020
Oleksii Novikov
2019
Martins Licis
2018
Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson
2017
Eddie Hall
2016
Brian Shaw
2015
Brian Shaw 2-year streak
2014
Žydrūnas Savickas
2013
Brian Shaw
2012
Žydrūnas Savickas
2011
Brian Shaw
2010
Žydrūnas Savickas
2009
Žydrūnas Savickas 2-year streak
2008
Mariusz Pudzianowski
2007
Mariusz Pudzianowski 2-year streak
2006
Phil Pfister
2005
Mariusz Pudzianowski
2004
Vasyl Virastyuk
2003
Mariusz Pudzianowski
2002
Mariusz Pudzianowski 2-year streak
2001
Svend Karlsen
2000
Janne Virtanen
1999
Jouko Ahola
1998
Magnus Samuelsson
1997
Jouko Ahola
1996
Magnús Ver Magnússon
1995
Magnús Ver Magnússon
1994
Magnús Ver Magnússon 3-year streak
1993
Gary Taylor
1992
Ted van der Parre
1991
Magnús Ver Magnússon
1990
Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1989
Jamie Reeves
1988
Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1986
Jón Páll Sigmarsson 2-year streak
1985
Geoff Capes
1984
Jón Páll Sigmarsson
1983
Geoff Capes
1982
Bill Kazmaier
1981
Bill Kazmaier
1980
Bill Kazmaier 3-year streak
1979
Don Reinhoudt
1978
Bruce Wilhelm
1977
Bruce Wilhelm 2-year streak

Contests

Year Contest Name Winner Location Athletes
2026 2026 WSM Final Mitchell Hooper United States flag Myrtle Beach 25
2025 2025 WSM Final Rayno Nel United States flag Sacramento 10
2024 2024 WSM Final Tom Stoltman United States flag Myrtle Beach 10
2023 2023 WSM Final Mitchell Hooper United States flag Myrtle Beach 10
2022 2022 WSM Final Tom Stoltman United States flag Sacramento 10
2021 2021 WSM Final Tom Stoltman United States flag Sacramento 10
2020 2020 WSM Final Oleksii Novikov United States flag Bradenton 10
2019 2019 WSM Final Martins Licis United States flag Bradenton 10
2018 2018 WSM Final Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson Philippines flag Manila 10
2017 2017 WSM Final Eddie Hall Botswana flag Gaborone 10
2016 2016 WSM Final Brian Shaw Botswana flag Kasane 10
2015 2015 WSM Final Brian Shaw Malaysia flag Putrajaya 10
2014 2014 WSM Final Žydrūnas Savickas United States flag Los Angeles 12
2013 2013 WSM Final Brian Shaw China flag Sanya 10
2012 2012 WSM Final Žydrūnas Savickas United States flag Los Angeles 10
2011 2011 WSM Final Brian Shaw United States flag Wingate 10
2010 2010 WSM Final Žydrūnas Savickas South Africa flag Sun City 10
2009 2009 WSM Final Žydrūnas Savickas Malta flag Valletta 10
2008 2008 WSM Final Mariusz Pudzianowski United States flag Charleston 10
2007 2007 WSM Final Mariusz Pudzianowski United States flag Anaheim 10
2006 2006 WSM Final Phil Pfister China flag Sanya 10
2005 2005 WSM Final Mariusz Pudzianowski China flag Chengdu 10
2004 2004 WSM Final Vasyl Virastyuk Bahamas flag Nassau 6
2003 2003 WSM Final Mariusz Pudzianowski Zambia flag Victoria Falls 10
2002 2002 WSM Final Mariusz Pudzianowski Malaysia flag Kuala Lumpur 10
2001 2001 WSM Final Svend Karlsen Zambia flag Victoria Falls 10
2000 2000 WSM Final Janne Virtanen South Africa flag Sun City 10
1999 1999 WSM Final Jouko Ahola Malta flag Valletta 10
1998 1998 WSM Final Magnus Samuelsson Morocco flag Tangier 10
1997 1997 WSM Final Jouko Ahola United States flag Primm 10
1996 1996 WSM Final Magnús Ver Magnússon - 8
1995 1995 WSM Final Magnús Ver Magnússon Bahamas flag Nassau 10
1994 1994 WSM Final Magnús Ver Magnússon South Africa flag Sun City 8
1993 1993 World's Strongest Man Gary Taylor - 8
1992 1992 World's Strongest Man Ted van der Parre Iceland flag Reykjavík 10
1991 1991 World's Strongest Man Magnús Ver Magnússon Spain flag Tenerife 8
1990 1990 World's Strongest Man Jón Páll Sigmarsson Finland flag Joensuu 8
1989 1989 World's Strongest Man Jamie Reeves Spain flag San Sebastián 8
1988 1988 World's Strongest Man Jón Páll Sigmarsson Hungary flag Budapest 8
1986 1986 World's Strongest Man Jón Páll Sigmarsson France flag Nice 8
1985 1985 World's Strongest Man Geoff Capes Portugal flag Cascais 8
1984 1984 World's Strongest Man Jón Páll Sigmarsson Sweden flag Mora 8
1983 1983 World's Strongest Man Geoff Capes New Zealand flag Christchurch 8
1982 1982 World's Strongest Man Bill Kazmaier - 10
1981 1981 World's Strongest Man Bill Kazmaier - 10
1980 1980 World's Strongest Man Bill Kazmaier - 10
1979 1979 World's Strongest Man Don Reinhoudt - 10
1978 1978 World's Strongest Man Bruce Wilhelm - 10
1977 1977 World's Strongest Man Bruce Wilhelm - 8
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About Contest Series

World's Strongest Man has run 49 editions (1977 - 2026). Mariusz Pudzianowski holds the title record with 5 wins (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). The most recent champion is Mitchell Hooper.

Series pages track every edition of a competition, allowing you to follow how the event has changed over the years, which athletes have claimed multiple titles, and how performance standards have improved. This historical perspective is invaluable for understanding the trajectory of professional strongman.