The World Log Lift Championships

The World Log Lift Championships (sometimes referred to as World Log Lift Challenge) is an annual competition featuring strength athletes from all over the world, competing exclusively in the log clean and press. Created initially as part of the Strongman Champions League, it has since been part of Giants Live and the championship occasionally switches between the two series.

History

In its inaugural year, the Strongman Champions League introduced the World Log Lift Championships. The event had been a staple of strongman competitions since the early 1980s. Beginning with the 1980 World's Strongest Man contest, where Bill Kazmaier hoisted 157 kg (346 lb) to win the event and set a world record. Over eight years Kazmaier increased the record to 170 kg (370 lb). Jamie Reeves, winner of the 1989 World's Strongest Man contest, managed 177 kg (390 lb) in 1989, and 180 kg (400 lb) at the 1992 World Mighty Man contest in Johannesburg, South Africa..

It was ten years before 2001 World's Strongest Man winner Svend Karlsen set a new record of 185 kg (408 lb) at the Strongman Super Series event in Sweden. In 2003, Hugo Girard set a new record at the Strongman Super Series event in Canada with 186 kg (410 lb). In 2004, Žydrūnas Savickas set a new record of 188 kg (414 lb), and Raimunds Bergmanis brought the record up to 190 kg (420 lb) at the Strongman Super Series event in Moscow.

Savickas began his long reign over the log lift world record starting in 2005, bringing it up to 200 kg (440 lb) in Hungary, and then again at the 2005 IFSA European Championships in Riga, Latvia with 202.5 kg (446 lb). Savickas set another new record in 2006, bringing it up to 205 kg (452 lb).

In 2008 Savickas broke the record twice more, with marks of 207.5 kg (457 lb) kg and 210 kg (460 lb). Savickas set yet another world record of 212.5 kg (468 lb) at the 2009 World Log Lift Championship.

Savickas had a banner year of world records in 2012. He set records of 215 kg (474 lb) at the 2011 SCL Finals in Sarajevo, Bosnia on 7 February 2012, 216 kg at the 2012 Europe's Strongest Man contest in Leeds, England on 23 June, and yet another world record of 217.5 kg (480 lb) at the SCL Holland event in Zevenaar, Netherlands on 30 June 2012. Savickas' final world record of 2012 was 220 kg (490 lb), set during the finals of the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest which he eventually won, marking his third WSM title, and his tenth consecutive log lift world record.

In 2013, Savickas set another world record at the 2013 Europe's Strongest Man in Leeds, England with a lift of 221 kg (487 lb). Savickas' last world record was 228 kg (503 lb), set in 2015 in Brazil, marking his sixteenth break of the world record.

The current world record is 230 kg (510 lb) set by Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou in 2023 at the Giants Live World Tour final in Scotland (Glasgow).

Champions
Year Champion Runner-Up Third Place Host location
2008 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas Russia Mikhail Koklyaev
Ukraine Oleksandr Lashyn
Poland Sebastian Wenta		 Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania
2009 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis Lithuania Kaunas, Lithuania
2011 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis Lithuania Vytautas Lalas
Germany Patrick Baboumian
Serbia Ervin Katona		 Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania
2012 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski Lithuania Vytautas Lalas
Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis
Russia Mikhail Koklyaev		 Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania
2013 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania
2015 England Graham Hicks
England Eddie Hall
Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas		 England Doncaster, England
2016 United States Rob Kearney
Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis		 Lithuania Vytautas Lalas Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania
2017 England Graham Hicks Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis
Lithuania Vytautas Lalas		 Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania
2018 England Eddie Hall
Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson		 England Leeds, England
2019 WLLF Australia Rongo Keene Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis
Slovakia František Piros
South Africa Jared Leask		 Lithuania Panevežys, Lithuania
2019 Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou United States Rob Kearney
England Graham Hicks
Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski		 England Leeds, England
2021 Scotland Luke Stoltman
England Graham Hicks		 Ukraine Oleksii Novikov England Leeds, England
2022 Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou
Scotland Luke Stoltman		 United States Bobby Thompson England Leeds, England

Heaviest Lifts

In History
# Weight Competitor Event World Record?
1230 kg (510 lb)Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou2023 Giants Live World Tour FinalsYes
2229 kg (505 lb)Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou2021 Giants Live World Tour FinalsYes
3228 kg (503 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2015 Arnold Strongman Classic BrazilYes
4227 kg (500 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2014 Giants Live PolandYes
5223 kg (492 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2014 Arnold Strongman Classic BrazilYes
6222.5 kg (491 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2013 World Log Lift ChampionshipsYes
7221 kg (487 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2013 Europe's Strongest ManYes
Scotland Luke Stoltman2020 WUS Feats of Strength Event 16No
9220 kg (490 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2012 World's Strongest ManYes
Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou2019 World Log Lift ChampionshipsNo
England Graham Hicks2020 Europe's Strongest ManNo

At the Championships
# Weight Competitor Year Record Set
1222.5 kg (491 lb)Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas2013World Record
2220 kg (490 lb)Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou2019Burkinabé Record
3218 kg (481 lb)Scotland Luke Stoltman2022-
Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou-
5214 kg (472 lb)United States Rob Kearney2019American Record
England Graham HicksEnglish Record
Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski-
8213 kg (470 lb)England Eddie Hall2018English Record
Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" SanouBurkinabé Record
Iceland Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonIcelandic Record

Continental records
Region Weight Athlete Nation Year set
Africa 230 kg (510 lb) Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou Burkina Faso Burkina Faso 2023
Asia-Pacific 207.5 kg (457 lb) Rongo Keene Australia Australia 2019
Europe 228 kg (503 lb) Žydrūnas Savickas Lithuania Lithuania 2015
North, Central America and Caribbean 217.5 kg (480 lb) Bobby Thompson 1 United States United States 2021
South America 182.5 kg (402 lb) Marcos Ferrari Brazil Brazil 2016

1 Cheick Sanou, who is a Canadian citizen, has the heaviest lift for this region at 230 kg (510 lb), but is not listed as he has declared for Burkina Faso.

Individual Results

NOTE: When competitors finish on the same weight, the results are sorted by the competitors' body weights with the lightest being given a higher position.

2008

Zydrunas Savickas entered the 2008 Log Lift World Championships as the clear favorite, and intended to set a new record with 212.5 kg (468 lb).[1] Savickas' competitors included Mikhail Koklyaev, Ervin Katona, Sebastian Wenta, Oleksandr Lashyn, Tobias Ide, Agris Kazelniks, Oleksandr Pekanaov, Krzysztof Radzikowski and Saulius Brusokas.[1]

The competition, held in Lithuania, saw each lift judged by three officials similar to Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting. The referees were Strongman Champions League founders Ilkka Kinnunen, Marcel Mostert and Latvian weighlifter Viktors Ščerbatihs, who had won the bronze medal in the +105 kg (231 lb) superheavyweight class at the recent Beijing Olympics. One of the strongest contenders, Oleksandr Pekanov, who had a personal best of 190 kg (420 lb) missed his opener of 180 kg (400 lb) three times. However, a number of other athletes came away with personal records, and two National Records were set. Zydrunas Savickas missed his world record attempt of 212.5 kg (468 lb), but won the championships with his lift of 200 kg (440 lb).[2]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 200 kg (440 lb)
2 Russia Mikhail Koklyaev 195 kg (430 lb)
2 Ukraine Oleksandr Lashyn 195 kg (430 lb)
2 Poland Sebastian Wenta 195 kg (430 lb)
5 Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski 180 kg (400 lb)
6 Serbia Ervin Katona 180 kg (400 lb)
7 Latvia Agris Kazeļņiks 170 kg (370 lb)
8 Lithuania Saulius Brusokas 160 kg (350 lb)
9 Germany Tobias Ide 160 kg (350 lb)

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
Russia Russian Mikhail Koklyaev 195 kg (430 lb)
Poland Polish Sebastian Wenta 195 kg (430 lb)
Serbia Serbian Ervin Katona 180 kg (400 lb)
  • Source of results:[3]

2009

The championships took place in Kaunas, Lithuania on 21 November 2009.

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 212.5 kg (468 lb)
2 Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski 195 kg (430 lb)
3 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 190 kg (420 lb)
4 Serbia Ervin Katona 180 kg (400 lb)
5 Lithuania Saulius Brusokas 170 kg (370 lb)
6 Latvia Agris Kazeļņiks 165 kg (364 lb)
7 Latvia Marys Leitis 165 kg (364 lb)
8 Russia Aleksandr Mantserov 160 kg (350 lb)
9 Latvia Dainis Zageris 150 kg (330 lb)

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
World Žydrūnas Savickas 212.5 kg (468 lb)
Lithuania Lithuanian Žydrūnas Savickas 212.5 kg (468 lb)
Poland Polish (Equalled) Krzysztof Radzikowski 195 kg (430 lb)
  • Source of results:[4]

2010

The Log Lift Championships were not held in 2010, and was moved up to February 2011 to kick off the 2011 season of SCL.[5]

2011

The 2011 World Log Lift Championships were held in Siemens Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania on 12 February 2011 to kick off the 2011 SCL season.[5] Key competitors were reigning champion Zydrunas Savickas, Vidas Blekaitis and Vytautas Lalas who finished in the top 3 places respectively, with Zavickas winning his 3rd straight log lift title. There were 12 athletes in total, 3 athletes failed their opening weight on all 3 attempts.[6] The event was broadcast live on Eurosport.[7]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 192.5 kg (424 lb)[6]
2 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 190 kg (420 lb)
3 Lithuania Vytautas Lalas 185 kg (408 lb)
3 Germany Patrick Baboumian 185 kg (408 lb)
3 Serbia Ervin Katona 185 kg (408 lb)
6 Australia Warrick Brant 182.5 kg (402 lb)
7 Norway Bjørn Andrè Solvang 175 kg (386 lb)
8 Latvia Agris Kazeļņiks 175 kg (386 lb)
9 United States Marshall White 170 kg (370 lb)

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
Germany German Patrick Baboumian 185 kg (408 lb)
Serbia Serbian Ervin Katona 185 kg (408 lb)
Australia Australian Warrick Brant 182.5 kg (402 lb)

2012

The 2012 World Log Lift Championships were held in Siemens Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania on Sunday 7 October 2012.[8]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 210 kg (460 lb)
2 Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski 207.5 kg (457 lb)
3 Lithuania Vytautas Lalas 200 kg (440 lb)
3 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 200 kg (440 lb)
3 Russia Mikhail Koklyaev 200 kg (440 lb) (NR)
6 Sweden Johannes Årsjö 185 kg (408 lb)
7 CanadaJean-François "JF" Caron 170 kg (370 lb)
8 Serbia Ervin Katona 170 kg (370 lb)
9 Netherlands Alex Moonen 170 kg (370 lb)
10 Finland Juha-Matti Jarvi 170 kg (370 lb)
X South Africa Ettiene Smit No lift

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
Russia Russian Mikhail Koklyaev 200 kg (440 lb)

2013

The 2013 World Log Lift Championships were held in Siemens Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania on Saturday 19 October 2013. Savickas set a new world record with a lift of 222.5 kg (491 lb).[9]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 222.5 kg (491 lb)
2 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 205 kg (452 lb)
3 Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski 200 kg (440 lb)
4 Latvia Dainis Zageris 185 kg (408 lb)
5 United States Matt Wanat 180 kg (400 lb)

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
World Žydrūnas Savickas 222.5 kg (491 lb)
Lithuania Lithuanian Žydrūnas Savickas 222.5 kg (491 lb)

2015

The 2015 World Log Lift Championships were held at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, England on 14 February 2015. Savickas attempted to set a new world record with a lift of 228 kg (503 lb) but narrowly failed.[10]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 England Graham Hicks 211 kg (465 lb)
1 England Eddie Hall 211 kg (465 lb)
1 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 211 kg (465 lb)
4 Bulgaria Dimitar Savatinov 200 kg (440 lb)
5 Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski 180 kg (400 lb)
6 England Rob Frampton 180 kg (400 lb)
7 Iceland Benedikt Magnússon 180 kg (400 lb)
8 United States Robert Oberst 180 kg (400 lb)
9 Germany Michael Blumstein 160 kg (350 lb)
10 Northern Ireland Brian Irwin 160 kg (350 lb)
11 United States Nick Best 160 kg (350 lb)
12 Scotland Luke Stoltman 160 kg (350 lb)
X England Adam Bishop No lift

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
England English Graham Hicks 211 kg (465 lb)
England English Eddie Hall 211 kg (465 lb)

2016

The 2016 World Log Lift Championships were held at the SCL Lithuania event in Vilnius. [11]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 United States Rob Kearney 202.5 kg (446 lb)
1 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 202.5 kg (446 lb)
3 Lithuania Vytautas Lalas 200 kg (440 lb)
4 Bulgaria Dimitar Savatinov 195 kg (430 lb)
5 England Graham Hicks 190 kg (420 lb)
6 Latvia Dainis Zageris 190 kg (420 lb)
7 Poland Gregorz Szymanski 190 kg (420 lb)
8 Norway Bjørn Andrè Solvang 185 kg (408 lb)
9 Brazil Marcos Ferrari 182.5 kg (402 lb)
10 Slovenia Matjaz Belsak 180 kg (400 lb)
11 Lithuania Saulius Brusokas 175 kg (386 lb)
12 Germany Patrick Baboumian 170 kg (370 lb)

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
Brazil Brazilian Marcos Ferrari 182.5 kg (402 lb)

2017

The 2017 World Log Lift Championships were held at the SCL Lithuania event in Vilnius. [12]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 England Graham Hicks 192.5 kg (424 lb)
2 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 180 kg (400 lb)
2 Lithuania Vytautas Lalas 180 kg (400 lb)
4 Netherlands Alex Moonen 170 kg (370 lb)
5 Germany Dennis Kohlruss 170 kg (370 lb)
6 Czech Republic Jiří Vytiska 170 kg (370 lb)
7 Poland Marcin Sendwicki 170 kg (370 lb)
8 Lithuania Martynas Brusokas 167 kg (368 lb)
9 South Africa Jared Leask 165 kg (364 lb)
10 Georgia (country) Ivan Makarov 160 kg (350 lb)
11 Latvia Oskars Martuzāns 160 kg (350 lb)
12 England Will Baggott 160 kg (350 lb)

2018

The 2018 World Log Lift Championships were held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, as the opening event for Europe's Strongest Man. Two strongmen attempted to set a new world record with a lift of | 230 kg (510 lb) but both failed.

# Name Log Weight
1 England Eddie Hall 213 kg (470 lb)
1 Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 213 kg (470 lb)
1 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 213 kg (470 lb)
4 United States Rob Kearney 200 kg (440 lb)
5 England Graham Hicks 200 kg (440 lb)
6 Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia 200 kg (440 lb)
7 Poland Krzysztof Radzikowski 200 kg (440 lb)
8 Lithuania Žydrūnas Savickas 200 kg (440 lb)
9 Slovenia Matjaz Belsak 190 kg (420 lb)
10 United States Robert Oberst 190 kg (420 lb)
11 Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski 175 kg (386 lb)
12 Lithuania Vytautas Lalas 175 kg (386 lb)
X England Terry Hollands No lift
X England Mark Felix No lift

Records
Nation Name Log Weight
Burkina Faso Burkinabé Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 213 kg (470 lb)
England English Eddie Hall 213 kg (470 lb)
Iceland Icelandic Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 213 kg (470 lb)
Georgia (country) Georgian Konstantine Janashia 200 kg (440 lb)

2019

In 2019, there were two World Log Lift Championships, the first of which was held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, again, as the opening event for Europe's Strongest Man. Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou attempted to set a new world record with a lift of 229 kg (505 lb) but narrowly failed.[13] The second championship was run by the World Log Lift Federation in Lithuania

Results (Giants Live)
# Name Log Weight
1 Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 220 kg (490 lb)
2 United States Rob Kearney 214 kg (472 lb)
2 England Graham Hicks 214 kg (472 lb)
2 Poland Mateusz Kieliszkowski 214 kg (472 lb)
5 United States Larry "Wheels" Williams 203 kg (448 lb)
6 Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia 203 kg (448 lb)
7 Iceland Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 203 kg (448 lb)
8 Russia Mikhail Shivlyakov 190 kg (420 lb)
9 Scotland Tom Stoltman 190 kg (420 lb)
10 Scotland Luke Stoltman 190 kg (420 lb)
11 England Laurence Shahlaei 175 kg (386 lb)
X England Adam Bishop No lift
X England Mark Felix No lift

Records (Giants Live)
Nation Name Log Weight
Burkina Faso Burkinabé Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 220 kg (490 lb)
England English Graham Hicks 214 kg (472 lb)
United States American Rob Kearney 214 kg (472 lb)
Georgia (country) Georgian Konstantine Janashia 203 kg (448 lb)

Results (World Log Lift Federation)
# Name Log Weight
1 Australia Rongo Keene 207.5 kg (457 lb)
2 Lithuania Vidas Blekaitis 200 kg (440 lb)
2 Slovakia František Piros 200 kg (440 lb)
2 South Africa Jared Leask 200 kg (440 lb)
5 Sweden Joachim Gustafsson 192.5 kg (424 lb)
6 Poland Robert Cyrwus 190 kg (420 lb)
7 Latvia Didzis Zariņš 190 kg (420 lb)
8 Ukraine Oleg Pylypiak 185 kg (408 lb)
9 Czech Republic Jiří Vytiska 180 kg (400 lb)

Records (World Log Lift Federation)
Nation Name Log Weight
Australia Australian Rongo Keene 207.5 kg (457 lb)
Slovakia Slovak František Piros 200 kg (440 lb)
South Africa South African Jared Leask 200 kg (440 lb)
World Junior Oleg Pylypiak 185 kg (408 lb)

2021

The 2021 World Log Lift Championships were held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, as the opening event for Europe's Strongest Man.[14]

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Scotland Luke Stoltman 195 kg (430 lb)
1 England Graham Hicks 195 kg (430 lb)
3 Ukraine Oleksii Novikov 180 kg (400 lb)
X Lithuania Marius Lalas No lift
X Estonia Rauno Heinla No lift
X Republic of Ireland Pa O'Dwyder No lift
X England Adam Bishop No lift
X Estonia Ervin Toots No lift
X Sweden Johnny Hansson No lift
X Wales Gavin Bilton No lift

2022

The 2022 World Log Lift Championships were held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, as the opening event for Europe's Strongest Man.

Results
# Name Log Weight
1 Burkina Faso Cheick "Iron Biby" Sanou 218 kg (481 lb)
1 Scotland Luke Stoltman 218 kg (481 lb)
3 United States Bobby Thompson 200 kg (440 lb)
4 Ukraine Pavlo Kordiyaka 185 kg (408 lb)
5 Ukraine Oleksii Novikov 185 kg (408 lb)
6 Iceland Eyþór Ingólfsson Melsteð 185 kg (408 lb)
7 Lithuania Marius Lalas 170 kg (370 lb)
8 England Shane Flowers 170 kg (370 lb)
9 Georgia (country) Konstantine Janashia 170 kg (370 lb)
10 Wales Gavin Bilton 170 kg (370 lb)
X Estonia Rauno Heinla No lift
X Republic of Ireland Pa O'Dwyer No lift
X Latvia Aivars Šmaukstelis No lift
X Netherlands Kelvin de Ruiter No lift

See also

References
  1. "Strongman Champions League: World Log Lift Championships". www.ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. More on the Strongman Champions League World Log Lift Championships by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. 2009 IronMind, Tuesday, November 18, 2008
  3. "Log Lift Federation - Champion title goes to Z.Savickas". www.loglift.org. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Log Lift Federation - Eurocom Europe Log Lift championship 2009". www.loglift.org. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Strongman Champions League: More for 2011". ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Lithuania Sweeps Log Lift World Championships". www.ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. "SCL Announces 2011 Log Lift World Championships". ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. "SCL Gets Ready for the Savickas Strongman Classic". www.ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  9. "Zydrunas Savickas Breaks Log Lift World Record". www.ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  10. "World Log Lifting Championships 2015". www.strongman.org. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  11. "World Log Lifting Championships 2016". www.strongmancl.com. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  12. "World Log Lifting Championships 2017". www.strongmancl.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  13. "World Log Lifting Championships 2019". www.giants-live.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  14. "Europe's Strongest Man 2021 and World Log Challenge". www.giants-live.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
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