The 2025 World’s Strongest Man Preview, Roster, and Events Breakdown
From May 15–18, the 2025 World’s Strongest Man contest returns to the Golden State, where iron meets grit at the iconic California State Railroad Museum. It’s the first time since 2022 that WSM will unfold on the museum grounds, a venue steeped in strength sport lore.
This year’s showdown carries major implications—not just for the title, but for legacy. Two former champions enter with everything to gain, and an all-star cast of rising talent is hungry to dethrone them, and our team at Generation Iron is going to break it down.
Stoltman’s Dynasty Run – or Hooper’s Redemption Arc?
History is in Tom Stoltman’s sights. The reigning three-time World’s Strongest Man is back on home turf—he took his first title right here in Sacramento—and he’s chasing a fourth championship. One more win would put him in the company of Brian Shaw, Zydrunas Savickas, and Magnús ver Magnússon, legends who each secured four WSM titles.
Only one man stands above that tier: Mariusz Pudzianowski, the five-time WSM king. And if Stoltman keeps his momentum, that mark may not stand untouched much longer.
But he won’t have it easy.
Mitchell Hooper, the Canadian juggernaut and 2023 WSM champion, is still licking his wounds from a close loss in 2024. After back-to-back podium finishes and a dominant season on the pro strongman circuit, Hooper enters 2025 as the clear and present danger to Stoltman’s reign.
Sacramento is shaping up to be the ultimate battleground between old guard dominance and modern-era power.
How to Watch the 2025 WSM
As in past years, the full 2025 World’s Strongest Man competition will not be livestreamed. Instead, CBS Sports Network and the CBS Television Network will air the competition in episodic format later this summer.
Broadcast dates have not yet been announced, but viewers can expect the same polished, behind-the-scenes coverage WSM fans have come to love. Generation Iron will update with air times as soon as they drop.
In the meantime, fans can follow real-time updates, highlight reels, and exclusive backstage content on WSM’s social media platforms and Generation Iron’s official channels.
The 2025 Athlete Lineup: Group by Group
A total of 25 athletes will compete across five qualifying groups. The top athlete in each group automatically advances to the final. The second- and third-place finishers face off in a Stone Off to determine who claims the second qualifying spot.
Here’s how the groups stack up:
Group 1
- Tom Stoltman (3x WSM Champion)
- Austin Andrade
- Thomas Evans
- Jaco Schoonwinkel
- Eddie Williams
Group 2
- Mitchell Hooper (2023 WSM Champion)
- Wesley Derwinsky
- Paddy Haynes
- Bryce Johnson
- Mathew Ragg
Group 3
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Returning Polish phenom)
- Shane Flowers
- Lucas Hatton
- Evans Nana Aryee
- Rayno Nel
Group 4
- Trey Mitchell (Multi-time finalist, American powerhouse)
- Maxime Boudreault
- Ondra Fojtů
- Tristain Hoath
- Luke Richardson
Group 5
- Luke Stoltman (Former Europe’s Strongest Man)
- Evan Singleton
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
- Andrew Flynn
- Nick Guardione
2025 WSM Event Schedule: 4 Days, 10 Brutal Events
The 2025 WSM contest will feature ten grueling events across four days, designed to test maximum strength, endurance, technique, and grit.
All times listed in Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Qualifying Stage – Day 1 (Thursday, May 15)
- Loading Medley – 10:00 a.m.
- Deadlift for Reps – 2:00 p.m.
- Rogue Overhead Medley – 5:00 p.m.
Qualifying Stage – Day 2 (Friday, May 16)
- Titan’s Toss – 10:00 a.m.
- Stone Medley – 2:00 p.m.
Final – Day 1 (Saturday, May 17)
- KNAACK Carry & Hoist – 10:00 a.m.
- 18-Inch Max Deadlift – 1:00 p.m.
- Hercules Hold – 4:00 p.m.
Final – Day 2 (Sunday, May 18)
- Flintstone Press Max – 10:00 a.m.
- Atlas Stones – 2:30 p.m.
Note: Event schedule may change at the organizer’s discretion.
What’s at Stake in 2025
This year’s World’s Strongest Man isn’t just about brute force—it’s about legacy, return stories, and generational shifts. Will Sacramento crown a fourth title for Tom Stoltman? Will Mitchell Hooper bounce back to the top? Or will one of the dark horses—like Trey Mitchell, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, or Evan Singleton—shock the field?
Whatever happens, Generation Iron will be on the ground in Sacramento delivering live coverage, interviews, insights, and the stories that matter most to fans of strength sports.
Stay tuned as the world’s strongest men step up to the bar—and the bar gets heavier than ever.
For all updates from the 2025 World’s Strongest Man, follow Generation Iron on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
