World Strongest Man 2020: The COVID-19 epidemic postponed this year’s premier strongman competition by six months, but it didn’t prevent the crowning of a new World’s Strongest Man.
Ukraine’s Only Winner for the World Strongest Man 2020
Oleksii Novikov of Ukraine won the World’s Strongest Man title for the first time on Sunday, shattering the world record in the half deadlift on route to victory at the 2020 World’s Strongest Man competition in Bradenton, Florida.
Novikov, 24, is the event’s youngest winner since 1984 and only the second from Ukraine.
With the help of interpreter Roman Hidan, Novikov told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday evening, “It’s unbelievable.”
“You must sense this, and you will comprehend. I am at a loss for the words to describe my feelings.”
Novikov is a newbie to the World’s Strongest Man competition, and he was also one of the tiniest contestants this year.
Novikov is reported at 6 feet 1 inch tall and 298 pounds, so “little” is a relative term.
The Different Competition on the Deadlift to breaks the record | World Strongest Man 2020
The “Hercules Hold,” which required athletes to hold separate 350-pound pillars for as long as possible, and the “Giants Medley,” which entailed carrying a metal device weighed down by two motorcycles, were among the events included in this year’s competition.
Novikov, on the other hand, triumphed in part due to his performance in the half deadlift.
According to a news release, the 24-year-old lifted a 1,185-pound bar nearly 18 inches off the ground, breaking the previous world record set at a sanctioned event in 1983.
The Winner’s no braking records and in just one session | World Strongest Man 2020
Given his tiny build, Novikov believed the event would be one of his strengths, although he had no intention of breaking any records.
In recent months, he said he only dedicated one training session to the event.
“‘Hmm, it’s not heavy,’ I thought as I stepped in. ‘It’s not an issue,’ says the narrator, “Novikov explained.
Dreadlift Competition due to Pandemic situation Postponed and searched for Inside Venue
Like other sporting events, this year’s competition was postponed owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, which was initially planned to take place in May.
Then, this week, Hurricane Eta, which made landfall as a tropical storm in the Bradenton area, threw the revised plan into disarray once more.
“There’s nothing like a global epidemic and a storm to create for some interesting experiences in event planning,” Rebecca Levin, vice president of IMG Media, the competition’s organizer, said.
According to Levin, the hurricane forced organizers to transfer the competition’s opening round from a local beach to an inside venue at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.
Before the Competition Sanitizers, Tests and Quarantined | World Strongest Man 2020
The last-minute location change came after a slew of additional alterations to the event due to COVID-19, including banning fan attendance and promoting physical separation and hand cleanliness.
According to Levin, all attendees were tested for COVID-19 seven days before flying to Florida, then tried again once they arrived and quarantined until they received the results.
Making sure we can provide the safest and healthiest workplace for our personnel, crew, and athletes,” she said.
The Game of Dreadlift competition Telecast on Television
The top three Finishers in the year 2019’s competition, like Icelandic strongman Hafthor Björnsson, did not compete this year.
Björnsson, who played “The Mountain” in HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” said this summer that he would be retiring from competition to prepare for a boxing battle against fellow strongman Eddie Hall.
Although the 2020 tournament ended on Sunday, it will not be broadcast until next month. The final round will air on CBS on December 26.
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