The 2019 Arnold Armlifting Championships kicked off yesterday with the Rolling Thunder®—the venerable grip event that launched the sport of armlifting.

2019 Arnold Armlifting: Rolling Thunder (Day 1)
by Clay Edgin, Armlifting USA

In the women's absolute class, it was England's Lorna Paton  who cinched the victory with a decisive lift at 60 kilos.  Lorna had stepped in with very little notice to replace Jenn Tibbeham  who was unable to make it this year.  Following closely behind her was Finland's Mervi Pekki,  who lifted 57.5kg  and narrowly missed the lock out with 60. Nicole Higham from the U.S.,  rounded out the podium with a successful third attempt at 55 kilos.

When it came to the men's side,  it was clear that  the lightweights were there to make some noise. Three men, Tanner Merkle, Eric Roussin, and Andrew Durniat, all lifted 110kg. By virtue of a bodyweight tie breaker, that was the order they finished in as well. Thomas Larsen from Norway, Team USA member Adam Glass, and Russian powerhouse Aleksandr Filimonov all lifted 95kg.

In the heavyweights, one man stood head and shoulders above the rest. And not just because he's 6'10"! Carl Myerscough, the former Olympic shotputter, won his division with a successful lift at 110kg and a near lock with 115kg. Four men - Jedd Johnson, Harri Tolonen, Jesse Pynnonen, and Arto Joronen - all had successful lifts at 100kg. The second place went to Harri Tolonen on bodyweight, followed by Johnson, who weighed just one kilo more.

Today, the action resumes with the Apollon's Axle deadlift.


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