Martins Licis has taken time off from Strongman but is training to get back to competition.
Martins Licis is one of the elite Strongman competitors around the world and is preparing for a return. The 2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) and the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic champion will be competition-ready here in 2023 and next year as well. By the looks of a recent Instagram post, Licis looks as strong as ever crushing a 365kg (804lb) deadlift for three reps.
Martins Licis won the World’s Strongest Man crown in 2019 before suffering some bad luck that kept him out of competition. He was able to return to prominence in 2021 by winning the Rogue Invitation. This year, he is already off to a hot start. Licis won the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic before taking time off to focus on other ventures in his life. This includes his personal life and filming a series on YouTube entitled “Strength Unknown.”
Licis recent training session took place at Wreck It Gym in El Segundo, CA.
“803lbs/365kg for a raw triple, and feeling good. – Obviously took quite a bit of @reignbodyfuel for this one today! Still trying to catch up with my old strength of repping this for double digits, raw.😈 (although that was touch and go).”
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Is Martins Licis Ready For Comeback?
Martins Licis stepped up to a loaded barbell wearing knee sleeves and using lifting straps. He was not wearing a deadlift suit or lifting belt. All three reps looked effortless for one of the strongest men on the planet.
At the end of his caption, Licis mentioned a promise made to Mitchell Hooper, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man champion.
“I promised @mitchellhooper that if I could start repping this weight, it would be a good sign for me competing again next year. 💪👊 So alright buddy, it looks like I’ll be back. Just gotta keep it slowly creepin’ up for the @arnoldsports strongman classic and beyond. I’m excited!”
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Licis is not the only Strongman competitor eyeing a return in 2024. Hafthor Bjornsson has also toyed around with the idea of a return to the show he has won three times (2018, 2019, 2020). In April, Bjornsson suffered a torn pec and has been sidelined from training. It is unknown if he will be ready to compete at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic. This competition is scheduled for March 1-2, 2024.
Martins Licis has not yet entered the competition but he is expected to act as Team USA’s captain during the 2023 World’s Strongest Nation on Nov. 18.
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