Giant Bjorsnsson completely dominated SCL Dubai 2024 | Results and report

The Icelandic strongman, giant, actor and influencer completely dominated the Strongman Champions league in Dubai. I usually write the report so that you can go through the description of the disciplines and find out the winner at the end, as if you were watching the whole race. Now I'll make an exception, because Hafthor Bjornsson has returned to Strongman after a four-year break, where he boxed with Eddie Hall and took up powerlifting, among other things.

This is his fifth event this year and so far he has completely avoided the Giants Live promoters he originally retired for. The races so far have definitely been a success, apart from the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus he's always been on the box, but here in Dubai he's totally decapitated everyone. Hafthor has won or shared the top spot in a total of 4 out of 6 events and even the other two he has finished almost on the podium. Some would say that SCL is not necessarily the top league, on the other hand there are some well known names among the others and the race was well contested.

But not to write only about Hafthor, let's take a look at the whole race. It was held on the weekend of September 7 and 8, 2024 in affluent Dubai. There, let me just say that the huge budget was evident in every part of the race, the tribute here is simply not skimping, which is certainly good for the strongman sport.

A total of 13 world-class fighters were gathered in Dubai and they competed in a total of six heavyweight events.

Farmer's Walk

Even in Dubai, honest suitcases are worn, literally run, as the 40m (2 x 20m) course, which is definitely not short, was covered by the fastest ones in around twenty seconds. The suitcases weigh 150 kg each hand, so such a world standard. The third place Dutch fighter George Sulaiman with a time of 23.2 seconds. Second place Fadi El Masri from Lebanon, who finished in 21.13 seconds. The event was won by the formidable showman and funnyman Evans Aryee, who lives in Belgium but defends the colours of Ghana, who was the only one who managed a time under 20 seconds at 19.48. Czech spectators could meet Evans in 2023 at the race in Vrdy near Čáslav.

Hummer pull

Pulling a car on a strap, without a counter-rope. Again, it's great to see how much money can be poured into a race... A well prepared 20m track, a beautiful, off-road car. Third place, Rongo Keene of Australia, 17.35 seconds. Second place, Kevin de Ruiter from Holland, he completed the course in 16.8 seconds. First place Hafthor Bjornsson, who ran so fast that at the end of the track the car almost ran over him, that says it all. Hafthor's time was 16.18 seconds.

Deadlift

Unspecified weight, estimated to be around 320 - 350 kg. A classic deadlift that will test the strength of all competitors. Of course Sumo deadlift prohibited. Third place 8 reps were done identically by Evans Aryee, Kelin Mills from South Africa and Adam Roszkowski from Poland. George Sulaiman managed a great 11 reps to take second place. Hafthor Bjornsson, who looked like he could do the same number of reps, easily took the win in the disicpline.

Loglift

The barbell loaded to exactly 150 kg and went for maximum reps, nothing more, nothing less. Third place Adam Rozskowski with five reps. And first place Evans Aryee and Hafthor Bjornsson, they did the same 6 reps.

Loading race

In today's running discipline, i.e. after the suitcases and the car towing, sandbags played the main role. In total 3 sandbags weighing 120, 140 and 160 kg had to be carried along a 10 meter long track. Again, it sounds easy, but the weight of the bags is brutal and the end of the race is approaching, so the strength is dwindling. There is one more specificity about sandbags, the sand overflows in the bag, so catching and lifting it is more problematic than, say, a metal box or a stone. The third place went to Peter Juhasz from Hungary, who did it all in 23.16 seconds. Second place Kane Francis of Great Britain with a time of 22.81. The winner was again Hafthor Bjronsson with a time of 21.66 seconds.

Atlas stones

A royal ending in the form of a display of six atlas stones ranging in weight from 120 to 185 kg. Almost everyone was able to handle the stones. And even though giant Bjornsson could have skipped the discipline and still won the race, he didn't let the embarrassment get to him and took third place, unloading the stones in 23.17 seconds. Second place Kane Francis with a time of 22.71 seconds and the winner of the discipline George Sulaiman with a time of 21.88 seconds.

Results

After the race there was not much to count... maybe I should just note that Bjornsson scored a total of 72,5 points out of 78 possible... this is a massacre, which I would compare to the race in Golcova Jenikova, where Čestmir Šíma got zero on Loglift, but because he won all the other disciplines, he won the whole race... which was also a great experience to watch. Second place with his attitude and performance went to Evans Aryee with a total of 59,5 points. Third place George Sulaiman with 55 points.

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