The World's strongest have congregated
once again in Columbus, Ohio.
For their annual test of what is possible.
Over the next 48 hours we 
will push the limits of the human body.
At an event named for a
man synonymous with strength.
Welcome to the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
We welcome you here to our Rogue Iron Game set.
Alongside Dr. Bill Crawford, I'm Sam Farber.
It is a pleasure and a privilege 
to have you with us here today.
Bill I know this is an event that 
you have circled on your calendar all year long.
The event, the time has finally arrived.
The 10 greatest strength athletes we  
could get together for the Strongman are here.
They have been preparing all year,
they had to train to get here, and to qualify.
It's now or never, this weekend is it.
By the numbers, this is one of the 
biggest sporting events in the world.
But in 2020 the State of Ohio, has issued a health order.
To protect against the spread of the Corona Virus.
This means the Arnold Fitness Expo has been cancelled.
As well as general spectators from watching the event.
It will certainly have an impact on some 
of the environment surrounding these athletes.
But what they're able to accomplish on 
the competition floor should not be affected.
These are professionals.
The money is the same, the
title the same, the procedure is the same.
This competition actually affects
next year's Arnold Strongman Classic.
In that if you win, you get an automatic
qualification to come back next year.
So this sets up their whole season.
And we've seen that already 
become a factor in qualifying here in 2020.
Let's take a look at the ten athletes 
who were able to punch their ticket.
And make it here to Columbus Ohio, 
for the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic
My name is Hafthor Julius Bjornssonn. 
I'm from Iceland.
I'm Mateusz Kieliszkowski. From Poland.
J.F. Caron. I'm from Canada.
Martins Licis. I'm from California.
Jerry Pritchett. USA.
Olexii Novikov.  I am from Ukraine.
Bobby Thompson.
I'm from Fredericksburg Virginia.
I'm Matjaz Belsak. From Slovenia.
Rob Kearney. I'm from Massachusetts.
Mikhail Shivlyakov. Russia.
The Arnold Classic, it's one of the 
best competitions in the world.
The ten guys that are here this 
weekend, are kind of considered
the best of the best in the world, to be on this stage.
So the events I'm looking forward to.
The stone medley. We got two stones we need to press.
Two stones we need to load.
And one stone we got to run 50 feet with.
You actually can get points 
by lifting each and every stones.
But you want to be able to finish them all. 
To get the most points in the fastest time.
So you can win the event.
So you gotta be good at -
kind of it all.
Height has massive advantages in those events.
Um, you know, you look at Thor.
Somebody who's six nine he is 
literally a foot closer to the bar than I am.
My favorite event in this year, I think.
Wheel of Pain.
But this year everybody trained a lot I think.
Everybody will have a better result.
I practice more, Wheel of Pain.
Because last year I tried only one time.
You need to have good mobility in the shoulders.
So you could be locked out and stacked up.
In a straight line from hands to hip.
I think this year the best athlete on the lift
will be Hafthor Bjornsson.
He has a chance to do 500 kilos - more.
I've been chasing a thousand 
pound deadlift this year.
I made it known at the beginning of the year,
that was the goal, by the end of this year.
My best here is 1031. 
So if I can better that, I'd be really happy.
I just want to do the 
Frame Carry, as good as I can.
I will give it my everything.
I'm excited, that's one of my favorite events.
I won it the last two times, we had it, without straps.
So Mateusz is a legend in this Frame Carry.
His speed it is unrivaled.
Martins thought that he 
won't beat me in Frame this year.
If there's an event that I really want to beat him at.
And push my body to its limits. It's the Frame Carry.
Good luck.
Bring it on Mateusz.
Being able to showcase my 
overhead pressing abilities with a dumbbell.
On the stage, Saturday night, at the finals.
Is something I'm really looking forward to.
Cleaning the dumbbell is also big problem.
But I can press it if it's onto my shoulder.
For sure I want go to the maximum here.
And press the biggest dumbbell here.
Going into a big competition like this.
You have to be smart.
Making sure you do no mistakes.
So you always able to place 
high in each and every event.
Looking at the field who 
were some of your favorites?
Obviously we have to look at Hafthor Bjornsson.
He's a two-time champion.
And he wants a third title.
Hafthor is a complete Strongman.
He's got great endurance, great static events.
He's got a great athletic ability.
And he's very experienced.
Looking at the rest of the field.
Martins last year, not necessarily a huge shock.
That he did as well as he did.
But to jump into the second place 
position that was very impressive.
Who's someone else in the
field that might be a dark horse to do the same?
Well you have to look at  Mateusz Kieliszikowski.
He is the future of Strongman. In my book.
He was a second place finisher at 
World's Strongest Man, this past year.
The stone events are going be great for him.
The pressing events are going be great for him as well.
He's very athletic.
When we return the 10 strongest athletes in the world have their first event.
Trial by Stone is next, at the 
2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
The 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic on CBS Sports.
Is sponsored by Theragun.
Change the way you move.
GORUCK - Founded by a Green Beret.
GORUCK is an American brand 
with Special Forces roots.
And by ROGUE - Don't Weaken.
We're back in Columbus, Ohio.
Home of the Arnold Strongman Classic.
And this year's classic begins with Event 1.
Trial by Stone presented by GORUCK.
The first four stones are shaped after 
the historic Inver Stone in Scotland.
And made from white granite.
The fifth stone is a replica of the famous 
Husafell Stone in Iceland.
Using stone sourced from the same 
farm where the Husafell Stone comes from.
Rogue made a near identical replica 
of the original's weight, shape, and size.
It is a masterpiece of stone carving.
And this is a little bit different here in 2020.
In that it is not just a stone lifting event.
But it's kind of a medley.
It's going to test these athletes in different ways, 
then maybe this type of apparatus has in the past.
Yes, so the the Trial by Stone.
You have to lift 5 stones as quickly as possible.
But there's a medley of pressing and then loading.
And then an endurance event.
With carrying the the Husafell slab.
There are three different ways 
you have to tackle these stones.
First up you have the 275 pound stone, 
and the 300 pound stones, these are overhead lifts.
One point for the first stone, 
two points for the second.
Then you get into the 
stone onto the barrel segment of it.
The weights go to 365 and 400 pounds.
One point and two points for these successive stones.
And then finally the Husafell Stone.
Getting it out of the start box is one, 
carrying it the full 50 feet will get you three points.
It's going to be a very grueling
taxing event on all these athletes.
We are ready to get things going.
Jerry Pritchett one of the 
older competitors in the field  at 39.
But one of the strongest with brute strength as well.
Here he is on the 275 pound stone.
Fairly easy to the chest.
And easy as you like overhead.
I like it.
Now 300 pounds this would give him the early lead.
Jerry's a staple on the top level strongman circuit.
And he's showing you why.
Seems like the press is the easy part.
He got the down, that's great.
Pushing his feet down he's trying to get
an efficient lift - up to his lap.
Hafthor Bjornsson is next up to the
competition floor.
He will be directly after Jerry Pritchett.
Who is bypassing the 400-pound stone.
He's got three points in the bag already.
He's your current leader.
And we'll see what he can do with the Husafell stone.
If he's able to lift that 410 pounds stone.
And just get it out of the start box. 
He'll get one point.
If he can complete the course he'll get three points.
And double his score.
Well the Arnold is known for 
being the heaviest competition.
And you can see
those stones are a testament to that.
Got it up. Here he goes.
Here he goes.
He's out of the box. 
Can he make it the full 50 feet?
I think he's got it.
He's moving his feet. He's breathing.
He's got a good handle on the stone.
He got it!
Three points. Doubling his score.
Jerry Pritchett's is your leader.
Seven points total.
Great run by Jerry.
He'll just chuck it at the end.
Much like he did with those 
early stones up to 300 pounds.
So seven points on the board for
Jerry Pritchard he's your current leader
And now you're defending champ.
Hafthor Bjornsson. The Mountain.
Will take on Trial by Stone, presented by GORUCK.
Hafthor is Icelandic obviously.
Icelanders can lift stones.
The Mountain, is the favorite to
at least end his heat as the leader.
We'll see if he can make that a reality.
Making that thing look like a pebble.
Super efficient lift up.
Position.
Even though his wide shoulders are there,
outside of the stone, he just shot it right up.
One point on the board now.
The 300 pound stone.
Easy.
He looks like he could do this all day.
That one came off his 
shoulder a little bit on the descent.
Didn't faze him.
A 300 pound stone.
Now 365 easily onto the barrel.
400 pounds.
One of the great stone lifters ever.
Makes quick work of the 400.
Now he's down to the Husafell Stone.
He's under a minute.
I thought he was going to go under a minute.
And I think he's going to do it.
He's got about 15 seconds.
Quick lift up to his lap.
Here he goes.
Does he have the grip on the Husafell Stone?
He's making his moves.
Being a little careful here.
Make sure he doesn't drop it early.
And he puts it down - under a minute!
Under a minute.
That's what I was talking about.
I thought he would go 
through this medley under a minute.
Fantastic.
The two-time defending champion making a statement.
Going under a minute.
I have to say that I was expecting him to do well.
But that might be a little better than I was expecting.
So we've got our first perfect run in the books.
And time is only a factor for other athletes who have it.
Including Mateusz Kieliszikowski.
His sixth appearance here at 
the Arnold Strongman Classic.
And he's a pretty young competitor 
to have already been here six times.
At one point he might have 
been seen as the future of this sport.
He probably still is.
I say he still is.
He just needs a little more
time to get that, what we call.
Old man strength.
Maturing as a strength athlete.
Trial by Stone under way.
Kieliszikowski.
I expect that an excellent press
So at 10 seconds he's 
got the first two stones done.
This is gonna be the "tale of the tape" right here.
How well does he get this stone up?
Very good.
Excellent.
Faster on the first two stones.
Maybe a bit slower here.
Getting them to the barrel.
Able to complete the 400-pound stone.
And now it's the Husafell Stone.
He got that one. He was really
worried about that fourth stone.
But obviously, you know, I didn't think that
would be a problem for him.
Because last year he shouldered a
stone five times and weighs more than that.
Here he comes.
He's going to be under a minute he looks
like he's going to be closer to 50 seconds.
Kieliszikowski moving, and sets the new time to beat!
Wow!
Unbelievable.
10 points perfect score. And the fastest time so far.
Very efficient lifts to the chest.
You can tell that it's not a challenge for him.
Getting his hands under 
and just almost in one movement.
A little bit more pace to getting these 
onto the barrel, with the heavier stones.
Yes.
And then a great walk.
You can tell he's really digging his fingers into the stone.
Hanging on, hanging on. He's trying to out walk his grip.
Excellent! Great event!
When we come back.
Can the current World Strongest Man, 
keep up with the leaders in the Trial by Stone?
As the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic continues.
Welcome back to the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Presented by Rogue.
We're now halfway through the first event.
Trial by Stone.
Matjaz Belsak and Mikhail Shivlyakov, 
both dealing with injuries.
Were only able to press the first stone.
Amateur Champion, Bobby Thompson pressed the heavier of the first two stones.
In his Arnold Strongman Classic debut.
Oleksii Novikov completed the Husafell stone carry.
And four of the five stones overall.
And nine-time Canada's Strongest Man 
J.F Caron, made an impressive showing.
Completing the entire event in over two minutes.
Next up is Rob Kearney.
His first appearance at the Arnold Strongman Classic.
Winner of the Arnold Strongman Australia.
28 years old from Massachusetts.
And one of the most colorful competitors here.
Obviously with the hairdo.
Aside from the you know the kind of colorful persona.
He's actually a minimalist in the way trains.
He is very, very proficient.
Excellent lift.
Wow!
I think that was the best one with that.
We've seen some good lists with that.
Kieliszikowski went a bit faster
through these first two lifts.
But in terms of efficiency you're right.
Kearney right there.
And a little struggle there at 
the top on the 300 pound stone.
And he can't rush. He's got to just get it over his head.
He does get credit for the 300 pound stone.
So he's up to three points.
Next to the barrel on 365.
That was head judge Carl Gillingham 
giving him the pass on that one.
Nice lift. Very good lift.
As that little bump at the end. 
Hafthor has an almost a full foot on Rob Kearney.
So just lifting this to the chest, might not be enough.
He's gotta get that little extra bit 
of effort to get it atop the barrel.
Notice he is reading the stone.
We're talking about the three keys to success.
The first is just reading the stone.
Getting it off the ground.
Get your hands in the best spot.
There he goes.
He turned the stone.
Little shorter arms so he made it 
where a purchase was more available for him.
Look at that!
Beautiful lift! Rob Kearney!
That man is thinking! Love it!
That's great!
He has a chance now.
Not to take the event lead.
But to still have a perfect run in terms of points.
And that is going to be a big 
separator here, early in this competition.
Husafell Stone 409 pounds.
If I were Rob I would do exactly what he's doing.
He slowed down a little bit.
He took his time.
And he's he's getting all the stones.
He's still under two minutes. 
That's still a really fantastic time.
He would only be the 
third man to complete the course.
Hang on to it Rob! You got it! Keep moving your feet!
Trying to maintain that grip. Final few feet.
And welcoming himself into the competition!
Rob Kearney able to complete the course!
Wow!
That is commitment.
You've got to come out here 
ready to give that kind of effort.
I really loved what he just did.
He's pressing his fingertips into that stone.
They're sliding, slipping.
He's moving his feet because 
moving your feet is distance.
And then he totally commits to getting it over that line!
Wow!
Thus far only three men have been able to
take it through all five of our stones.
Here in Trial by Stone.
Presented by GORUCK.
And we expect this to be the fourth man to do it.
And maybe set the time to beat.
Last year's runner-up Martins Licis
He is ready to begin his run.
53.72 the time to beat.
Set by Kieliszikowski.
And here he goes.
275.
Wow.
Up easily.
Jams it overhead.
300 pounds.
Notice how he's rolling the stone.
That's his way of reading it overhead.
A little bit of a delay here.
A little bit of a mistake.
Oh he's stumbling with this.
This could cost him.
Unable to get that 300-pound stone up.
That almost makes it impossible.
For him to match the time set, 
by both Bjornsson and Kieliszikowski.
But he can still finish and that's the key.
Notice how he spins the stone.
That's his way of reading it.
And getting it overhead.
So he did he did get the stone over his head in control.
Next up 365 pounds.
I expect him to do quite well 
with both these loading stones.
He's very good at that.
That's the event that he finished up World's
Strongest Man last year to win.
400 pounds next.
Pushes his feet through, very efficient reads.
Very good reads.
Very efficient lift up.
Got it right on the box.
Now here's where the experience is.
He knows that if he rushes 
he might not have the best time.
So he knows he's not first or second.
He is going to take his time.
He's got about a minute to get through this.
He only has a minute to do the stone so...
Correct.
Finishing here means he'll be in third position.
A little stumble out of the gate.
Yes he needs a better, 
he needs a better purchase on the stone.
See his fingers are sliding.
But he's locking his wrists into it.
He's moving his feet, he's trying to outrun that grip.
Martins Licis, inches away can he get there?
No!
No.
No he came up short. It landed just short.
He can pick it up and bring it back to the original area.
It seems he's talking to him.
He's asking did he make it there?
He said he is done.
So one point for that final lift.
He will not get the full 10.
And for the moment that still has him in the top four.
But had he made it that extra 
couple of inches he would have been in third.
Yes you could see his hands, when he got
his hands on the stone.
But it expended so much energy.
Maybe sweating. And the stones very slick.
He just fell short with that one.
So that puts him, I believe, in fourth.
But the winner is Mateusz Kieliszkowski.
Kieliszkowski standing by with our Kiki Dickson.
What did you like best about this event?
Oh it's sort of a new event.
I never expect that I can win this.
Because if I am honest, I didn't train for this event.
I trained only overhead press.
It was good surprise for me.
I'm really happy because I won this.
The winner is Mateusz Kieliszkowski  
with that 10 point finish.
Rob Kearney and J.F. Caron in
addition to Hafthor Bjornsson also
able to complete the course.
And then Martins Licis is outside of the top four.
Next can anyone top The Mountain in Bag Over Bar?
Find out when the 
2020 Arnold Strongman Classic returns.
Event two ready to get underway here at 
Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
It is Bag Over Bar presented by Theragun.
Let's take a look here at the format coming up here.
Everyone's got to start with the 55 pound bag.
But that's where things start 
to get into the psychology of it all.
You can choose to bypass a bag.
Problem is you can't go backwards.
So if you go from 55 to say 70 pounds, and fail there.
The only thing you get credit for is the 55 pound bag.
30 second time limit per bag.
Lifting these bags is not the issue.
It's the angle of the launch for 
each and every one of these athletes.
Mikhail Shivlyakov got things 
started with the 55 pound sandbag.
An impressive performance with his injured ankle.
Jerry Pritchett, Bobby Thompson, 
Oleksii Novikov and Rob Kearney
Were also able to get
the fifty five pound bag over the bar.
But none of the heavier ones.
Collectively they end their performance with a 4-way tie.
The rest of the field however were successful.
As we pick up the competition.
Shivlyakov is now going to make his
first attempts since the 55 pound bag.
And he's gonna start at 70.
Those lifting shoes giving some 
stability with that ankle problem.
Oh does not get the roll.
He was well over the bar.
Just didn't quite have the angle.
Plenty of time.
A better angle there.
Great throw.
Great toss.
Shivlyakov is going to keep the pressure on.
J.F. Caron is next at 70 pounds.
J.F. is looking really strong in this first throws.
Easily over at 70.
Because we've had a lot of athletes tie for sixth.
New opportunity for a lot of guys to put
some serious distance.
Between themselves, and the rest of the field.
This will be a big move for a couple of our athletes.
Right now Martins Licis at 70.
Got it.
That looked better than the other ones.
He's been sandbagging - if I can say that.
That was great.
Now Kieliszkowski  at 70.
Which means that 
Hafthor Bjornsson  is skipping this weight.
Solid toss at 70, for Kieliszkowski.
There we go.
Now we will jump to 75 pounds.
And Hafthor Bjornsson
will make the attempt.
Whoever has had the most rest time,
leading into the weight that they are attempting.
Correct.
Goes first.
And Hafthor might be waiting around a while.
75 pounds.
I just have to laugh a little bit, 
because folks that's really really hard.
That's a 75-pound bag.
And he blew it away. Probably threw it 17 plus feet over.
Bill, J.F. Caron coming up next which means Shivlyakov is skipping this bag.
J.F. is, he's from the - what some people 
call the cradle of strongmen. Quebec.
On the stage they're talking about Louis Cyr.
I was up in Quebec, with Magnus a couple of times watching the competitions there.
75!
Wow!
Caron matching Hafthor Bjornsson.
Martins Licis is next at 75.
Taking a moment.
Start the clock. 30 seconds.
He looked very good on his last throw.
And here at 75, doesn't quite get the roll.
He is squatting down, getting some,
A little more depth with his hips.
And exploding upwards.
It will be his final attempt.
Licis.
Little short.
So he is stuck on 70.
So that puts him in fifth place for the moment.
Now how many people will join him there?
Is the question.
Kieliszkowski our leader after one event.
He's going to  need another attempt.
He need to step back just a little bit.
Look how he squats down, 
and gets those hips really deep.
And with that height. That's just a great combination.
Got it on attempt number two.
He's tall, he's super athletic.
He's very explosive as we've seen.
Fantastic.
Will we see a 90 pound Bag Over the Bar?
We're in a throwdown in the 
2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
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To watch today.
Welcome back to the 
2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Presented by Rouge.
We're halfway through Bag Over Bar.
These strongmen throwing 
bags cut and sewn at Rogue.
Right here in Columbus, Ohio.
Each bag is 12 inches in diameter. 13 inches in length.
And made from ultra-durable 1000d Cordura.
And in 2017 Hafthor Bjornsson broke the world record.
When he threw a 100-pound bag over the 15-foot bar.
Will that record be broken today?
So now we jump to the 80 pound bags.
And Mikhail Shivlyakov, will make the attempt.
And this is big here.
Because again, if he fails to do this.
He'll fall into that tie with Licis.
If he exceeds it, Martins is locked in at fifth place.
Every point so crucial.
Looking ahead here in this competition.
Absolutely every point is valuable.
And he's trying to make up some distance here.
Shivlyakov - On one leg!
Wow. Love it!
Squatting down really well
Okay, he throws his hands over his face.
Now J.F. Caron will make the attempt at 80 pounds.
He's just trying to get that first one over.
Oh it's right there close
As you can get.
Has time to make one more attempt.
And he's being patient.
Not seeing the rush up to the bag.
He knows exactly how long he has.
Come on J.F.
He can get this.
At 80.
No.
Ugh.
Stopped at 75.
Back-to-back top four finishes.
I believe Hafthor Bjornsson 
has elected to skip 80 pounds.
So Kieliszkowski is up next here.
First attempt on 80 pounds.
Did not quite have the angle.
It gets a little heavier and the athletes rush it a little bit.
And then when you rush it.
You don't extend yourself all the way.
And it falls forward
He peaks in front of the bar.
Can he keep the pressure on Hafthor?
80 pounds.
No.
That's that's really big for Hafthor.
Because Shivlyakov -
Is already between them.
- yes Shivlyakov is creating space.
Caron and Kieliszkowski currently in a tie for third.
Icelanders are great at getting getting psyched up.
They're very quiet people usually.
But they they come to life 
they they get their Viking personalities.
Eighty-five pounds.
I just have to laugh, that's incredible.
It is so easy. He didn't really look like he
even threw it into another gear.
So Mikhail Shivlyakov will step up next to the bar.
He is dealing with that injured ankle.
The fight has been impressive.
And it will continue!
Wow!
That is so great!
So Halfthor has got to go up again.
Hips are down a little bit of a hop.
Lots of explosion. Got the roll.
He does everything technically you need to do.
Hafthor Bjornsson, pushed to 90 pounds.
Asking for the strongest fans in the world here,
who are competitors from other events.
Due to recent international events 
limiting the crowd here in Columbus, Ohio.
They know how impressive this is - 90 pounds.
He's got it!
Wow!
See there he is pulling out a gear.
Mikhail Shivlyakov is up next.
Making an attempt at 90 pounds.
Mikhail Shivlyakov.
He is a Russian and Russians are explosive.
Their great history in
dynamic sports like Olympic lifting.
Short on his first attempt.
And they're going to bring the bag to him.
Trying to psych himself up for one more toss.
Only has a 30-second window.
This will be his last attempt!
And it's not going to happen.
He tops out at 85 pounds.
But on one ankle he takes second in Bag Over Bar.
Fantastic effort.
But nobody's better in the world at this than
Hafthor Bjornsson.
We will update the standings in just a moment.
But right now we want to throw it to Kiki Dickson.
Who's standing by, with The Mountain.
Now when you come on to the competition field of play.
How much is done to plan?
And how much is done by feel?
I would say you know - 
I always you know, I have a goal. I have a plan.
But I also play it by ear as well, you know.
It's always good to have a strategy 
going into a big competition like this.
But plans can always change 
in the middle of the competition.
All right one more event to
go. We look forward to seeing you out there.
Thank you, thank you.
The Mountain is sailing over the competition in Event 2.
He he takes first place.
And injured Mikhail Shivlyakov 
finishes second in a gutsy performance.
After two events 
Hafthor Bjornsson leads Mateusz Kieliszkowski.
But by only one and a halfpoints.
With two-thirds of the competition still remaining.
Next at the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
The biggest implement ever 
created in the sport of Strongman.
The legendary Wheel of Pain.
Day 1 of the Arnold Strongman Classic 
is about to come to a close here in Columbus, Ohio.
But before we reach the finale of our day.
We have maybe one of the most highly anticipated
events in all of Strongman.
The Wheel of Pain.
Designed and engineered by Rogue.
There is nothing like it anywhere in the world.
Weighing over 20,000 pounds.
The wheel of pain is constructed from 12 inch pine logs.
Steel, and decorative oak.
And using Rogue
tumblers filled with sand for resistance.
It makes it hard to gain any momentum.
How far can you push this 
medieval apparatus of torture?
And that's going to be the factor here.
Absolutely it's the most epic 
Strongman implement in the history of Strongman.
It's massive, it's beautiful, and it's absolutely torturous.
They go one athlete at a time.
The competitors push the wheel 
as far as they can for 60 seconds.
Its measured on a dial around this.
And the farthest distance wins.
It's purely simple and absolutely tough.
Matjaz Belsak will be up first.
Getting final instructions from head judge Steve Slater.
And here he goes.
Notice how he's got good leverage.
He's got his hips down.
He's pushing hard.
He's keeping forward motion.
We talked about mental 
toughness being part of this as well.
Great effort so far.
He got his arms extended he's 
locked on it with great leverage.
Imagine a football player getting 
under someone to block them.
This is sort of what that would look like.
Typically you see in those
videos the five offensive linemen.
Pushing the one coach on top of the blocking sled.
This is the coach pushing the offensive line now.
Yes.
20,000 pounds.
He's allowed to put his shoulder against it.
As long as he keeps his hands on the ropes.
Inch by inch.
Every inch is valuable.
You don't know what inch is 
going to be this that takes over.
Final five seconds.
Fighting for every inch he can.
Fantastic effort. Fantastic effort from him.
Overcoming this injury at this point.
Matjaz Belsak.
Great start.
Now we're down to the mental toughness.
The leverage and everything else goes out the window.
Just what do you want to achieve?
Fantastic effort from Matjaz.
Oleksii Novikov someone you thought was going to perform very well.
Particularly in Trial by Stone.
He finds himself right now in seventh place.
Only nine and a half points so far.
If he's going to make a run at the podium, 
he needs a good performance here.
But he does have great strength endurance ability.
There he goes.
One minute on the clock the Wheel of Pain, 
under way for Oleksii Novikov from Kiev Ukraine
Has that positive experience in 2019.
The first year of the Wheel of Pain.
He's got some pretty big steps going on.
It looks like he's got some momentum based on speed.
And he looks to be a little ahead of the other athletes.
Slowing down a little bit.
There he goes to the shoulder right in about 30 seconds.
The other athletes have 
found themselves in the same spot.
Seems to be going to it a little bit earlier.
Or is that him, just kind of knowing 
with his experience, when to make that alteration?
Yes his shoulders fatigued a little bit.
Keeping it moving.
The leverage has changed a little bit.
Now this is the mental approach.
There's a mental toughness that we were talking about.
Seems to be getting stronger 
as he goes here, final few seconds.
Trying to get a little more momentum.
Every inch counts.
And he goes all the way around.
Fantastic.
That puts him in the lead.
Great leverage early on.
Then he changes up and puts his shoulder on it.
That's wanting that every inch.
Because he knows how important that is for the points.
Fantastic.
Martins Licis. Last year our runner up.
Only 10 and a half points for him through two events.
A bit disappointing.
This is right in his wheelhouse.
This is strength endurance.
He's got mental toughness to spare.
Here he goes.
Starting off with his hands out
Long, long steps.
He says you can get momentum on this.
If you get the sand moving in the right direction.
And that's what he proved last year.
Let's see if he goes to the shoulder in a little bit.
Excellent leverage.
Keeping his feet moving.
He's around the 30-second mark.
This is where most the athletes have actually 
put their shoulders onto the implement.
He is making really good time.
Fast approaching that 160 range.
Look at the length of those strides.
Look at the length of his stride.
That is unbelievable.
He's got some momentum here late.
About 10 seconds remaining.
New mark to beat is set.
How far can he go?
Right to the end.
Wow!
That was great effort.
Mental toughness is his forte.
He lives in his in his own head.
Like we've talked about before.
Martins is like the Night of the Living Dead.
He just keeps coming, and you can't push him off.
Next up, it's the top of the leaderboard
versus the Wheel of Pain.
As the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic continues.
The 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic on CBS Sports.
Is sponsored by Theragun.
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GORUCK - Founded by a Green Beret.
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And by ROGUE - Don't Weaken.
The Wheel of Pain continues here at the 
2020 Arnold Strongman Classic
Presented by ROGUE.
Some other competitors have 
attempted the Wheel of Pain.
But none were able to match Martins Licis.
Who has the current lead.
But will that hold?
J.F Caron is up next.
Currently in third place 14 and a half points.
This is going to be an event that
he needs to to have a great effort for.
Because tomorrow we have a couple of events that he is quite good at.
Like deadlift  and the frame carry.
So starting with extended hands.
Really long strides.
Look at his quadriceps engaging.
Look at his speed already slowing down a little bit.
Deciding that longer strides 
might be the way to go a little bit.
He's got those great shoulders 
all that strength in his shoulders.
Wonder if he's going to go to the shoulder.
He needs to have a little more effort here.
It's already half way.
This is a 10-ton apparatus.
I know it's easy for us to say right.
That sand is shifting back because 
the speed is slowing down. And it might stop.
There he goes.
He's got to almost restart.
What a tough tough thing to do.
Almost restart when he changed that technique.
Ten seconds left he is just now passing
Mikhail Shivlyakov.
This is going to be a standings 
altering performance to say the least.
And maybe not in the best way for J.F.Caron.
So notice that he had good leverage.
But his feet did slow down some.
When he changed off to
the shoulder technique. It almost stopped.
And he had to restart.
And that takes a ton of energy.
But again that mental 
toughness to keep pushing through.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski is next.
He really wants to beat Martins, 
so he can keep that pace with Hafthor.
He wants to get up into 
the first place mark at this point.
Second to the last competitor.
He came into this event 
with 17 and a half points.
So he has to finish two spots ahead of Hafthor Bjornsson to pass him at the end of day one.
There he goes.
Look he's kind of a lot of momentum going.
Wow, that is moving really quickly.
If you could see it in person, 
it's really moving fast right now.
That's about the fastest I've ever seen it move actually.
I agree with you.
He's only 20 seconds in he's already passing people.
Wow look at those...
He is strong for the strongmen.
Yes long strides. Look at him he's applying those quads.
And those calves.
He looks like Arnold in the movie.
No After Effects here.
There we go.
He is approaching the leader.
He's got 15-seconds still.
Great performance. He still had his hands out even.
There he goes.
He's got it.
Final five seconds.
Where can he put the mark to beat?
This is a ton of pressure on Hafthor.
That's a great performance.
Wow!
Wow!
Ton of pressure on Hafthor.
That's unbelievable.
Great leverage, and he keeps his feet moving.
But he had those great strides initially.
He's using those powerful quadriceps and calves.
Fantastic.
Next up is Hafthor Bjornsson.
Let's see if Hafthor can pull 
out a tremendous performance.
And The Mountain is ready to tackle the
Wheel of Pain.
Here we go.
He's trained really hard on these types of implements.
Great foot movement. He's got great leverage.
Long, long, long strides.
Doesn't appear to have it moving 
quite as fast as Kieliszkowski did.
But he's moving it pretty darn well.
He's moving it very well.
Not only that.
He's continuing it moving.
He's only 30 seconds into it.
This is where Kieliszkowski 
started to slow just a bit.
As Hafthor has.
But he's continuing that leverage.
This is when you dig down.
And take home more points.
If he can pass Licis, he will
stay in first place overall.
Ten seconds left.
He wants to win this event. He's almost there.
He's got second in the event.
And that's gonna have to be good enough.
It's an event win for Mateusz Kieliszkowski.
But overall...
Does not appear to get past Martins.
Did not get to Licis, my apologies.
He was past Novikov's spot.
And comes up just shy of Martins Licis.
So that means a third place 
finish for Hafthor Bjornsson.
And unofficially, that means Mateusz Kieliszkowski 
will start day number two in first place.
So he kept his arms out.
He kept great leverage.
His feet did slow.
Maybe later on he thinks about it.
And says maybe I should 
have put my shoulder against it.
But he had a great effort.
The Wheel of Pain in the books.
Based off the numbers we can compile so far.
It looks like Mateusz has done enough, to put 
himself back in first place in the competition.
He really needed this effort on this event.
And not letting Hafthor create more space.
He caught him.
And let's go to the competition floor
Mateusz Kieliszkowski standing by.
Mateusz you've obviously got the 
magic touch with The Wheel of Pain.
What's the secret here?
I train special because everybody push yoke in gym.
Me I trained it, was much different.
Because I have a small truck, 
put weight extra weight on the top.
And push the truck uphill all the time.
I have different training, but it worked.
It worked indeed.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski with that 
performance gets the full 10 points.
And because Hafthor Bjornsson 
did not get past Martins Licis.
We will see our overall standing shift at the end of day 1.
Three events in the books.
And it's Mateusz Kieliszkowski consistency 
winning two events, putting him in the lead.
The Mountain though only a half point back.
Still in great position for his third straight title.
On day two of the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Our Titans will be tasked with the Elephant Bar Deadlift.
The Timber Carry.
And the Cyr Dumbbell Challenge.
Most importantly. 
We will learn who will be crowned champion.
Of the 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Coming up next its,
PGA Tour Originals: X-Factor presented by Hyland.
For Dr. Bill Crawford and our entire crew, I'm Sam Farber.
This has been a presentation of
CBS Sports.
In association with Rogue Fitness.
