Scotland’s Luke Stoltman Captures Second Europe’s Strongest Man Title in Dramatic Fashion
Leeds, UK – April 15, 2023 – In an electrifying display of strength and determination, Scotland’s Luke Stoltman clinched his second Europe’s Strongest Man title in a thrilling finale at the Giants Live event in Leeds. Performed in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000 enthusiastic fans, the competition saw Stoltman overcome a strong challenge from Oleksii Novikov and Ondřej Fojtů to emerge victorious.
Heading into the final event, the Castle Stones, Stoltman found himself trailing his rivals. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Novikov appeared to sustain a right bicep injury while attempting the last stone, while Fojtů could only lift four of the five implements. This handed Stoltman a narrow one-point winning margin, allowing him to repeat his 2021 triumph.
“Overcome with emotion, Stoltman held his head in his hands as he realized he had successfully defended his title.”
The Scotsman paid tribute to his wife Kushi and newborn son Koa, with support on the night from his brother, the two-time World’s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman.
Latvian athlete Aivars Šmaukstelis narrowly missed out on the title, with the judges unable to determine whether he or Stoltman had released the final Atlas Stone first. Despite the heartbreak, Šmaukstelis once again proved his consistency, having finished third the previous year.
Among the other notable performances:
- Ondřej Fojtů, a 22-year-old athlete, cemented his status as one of Strongman’s most promising rising stars with a series of impressive results, including event wins in the Nicol Stones Carry and Viking Press. His efforts may well earn him a spot at next month’s World’s Strongest Man competition.
- Italy’s Nicolas Cambi, a former U105kg World’s Strongest Man, also made a significant impact in his debut at the event, finishing sixth overall.
- Other Brits, such as Shane Flowers and Gavin Bilton, had mixed fortunes, with Flowers’ event win in the Castle Stones being a highlight of the evening.
The event also marked the bittersweet farewell of one of Europe’s and the world’s greatest strength athletes, Mark Felix, who received a lifetime achievement award from three-time World’s Strongest Man, Bill Kazmier.
With the 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man title now secured, Luke Stoltman and his brother, Tom, will shift their focus to next month’s highly anticipated World’s Strongest Man competition, where they will be aiming to make their mark on the global stage.
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