“Final homework is done: We are proud to release the 2018 Fortissimus Strongman of the Year, and I am personally honoured to share this with IronMind,” Paul Ohl, founder of Fortissimus World Strength, said, prefacing the release of his organization’s Strongman of the Year award.

"The Icelandic giant discovered in 2009 by four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) winner Magnus Ver Magnusson made it to the top of international strongman in 2018.


“Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (6’9’’, 445 lb.)  makes history three years after he said, “I am on my way to my ultimate goal, to win the World’s Strongest Man (…) nothing can stop me ( …) nothing can break me." At that moment, he had  won a second World Strongest Viking title in spectacular fashion by carrying a 1430-lb and 33-foot long log on his shoulders for 5 steps, breaking a record said to be 1000 years old.

“In 2018 Hafthor Bjornsson had a perfect track record: he won the Arnold Strongman Classic, he won the World’s Strongest Man , he won the Europe Strongest Man title (first ever triple crown winner the same year) and the World Ultimate Strongman Classic in Dubai.

“With 76.5 points out of a possible 120 points, Bjornsson ranks top of the class in 2018.

In second place, the Polish sensation Mateusz Kieliszkowski, runner-up at WSM, winner of the WSM Tour finals, winner of the 2018 Fortissimus Strongman points ranking and holder of two world records.


“Jean-François Caron, Canada’s  greatest strongman, is ranked third. In 2018, Caron along with Bjornsson, became first ever 8-consecutive time national champion.. At the 2018 Arnold Strongman Classic Jean-François Caron became only the 7th strength athlete ever to deadlift more than 1,000 lb., second best behind Hafthor Bjornsson. He also won the overall championship of the 2018 Arnold Pro Strongman World Series.


“Also worth mentioning is Slovenia’s own Matjaz Belsak with 3 wins with the Strongman Champions League and Brian Shaw (USA) legendary strength athlete, the 2018 runner-up at the Arnold Strongman Classic."

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