World's Strongest Man
Mitchell Hooper2026 champion
Rayno Nel2026 runner-up
Trey Mitchell2026 third
Myrtle Beach, SC2026 host
The World's Strongest Man final decides strongman's best-known title. Mitchell Hooper won in 2026.
World's Strongest Man is strongman's best-known title. Around 30 athletes compete in qualifying groups; the top finishers advance to a ten-man final contested over several events, usually ending with the Atlas stones. Points are awarded by placing in each event, and the athlete with the most points wins.
Since 2023 the event has been held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Latest results
2026 World's Strongest Man — April 23–26, 2026, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Mitchell HooperChampion (54 points)
Rayno Nel2nd (52), won three final events
Trey Mitchell3rd (36)
2Hooper's WSM titles (2023, 2026)
Final standings
| Place | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Hooper | Canada | 54 |
| 2 | Rayno Nel | South Africa | 52 |
| 3 | Trey Mitchell | USA | 36 |
| 4= | Ondřej Fojtů | Czech Republic | 31.5 |
| 4= | Pavlo Kordiyaka | Ukraine | 31.5 |
| 6 | Martins Licis | Latvia | 30.5 |
| 7 | Mathew Ragg | New Zealand | 29 |
| 8 | Eddie Williams | Australia | 26 |
History & key moments
| Year | Moment |
|---|---|
| 1977 | First World's Strongest Man |
| 2002–2008 | Mariusz Pudzianowski wins a record five titles |
| 2023 | Mitchell Hooper wins his first title |
| 2025 | Rayno Nel wins |
| 2026 | Hooper wins his second title by two points over Nel |
A fan's guide
WSM's qualifying groups are as dramatic as the final: only the top two from each group usually advance, and a single bad event can end a contender's week. Watch the Atlas stones, which often decide groups and finals.
The event is filmed and broadcast later on US television and streaming; results are published as the contest happens.
Our take
WSM's scoring rewards consistency over individual event wins, which is why Hooper could win in 2026 without winning any event in the final. That makes the sport tactical as well as physical.
Hooper and Nel are the sport's best rivalry; we expect them to finish one-two again in 2027.
What's next
The 2027 World's Strongest Man is expected in the spring.
Latest coverage
FAQ
Who won World's Strongest Man 2026?
Mitchell Hooper.
Who has the most WSM titles?
Mariusz Pudzianowski, with five.
Where is World's Strongest Man held?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, since 2023.