The Reigning World's Strongest Man Will Miss This Year's Competition

Photo credit: CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images
Photo credit: CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images

From Men's Health

Martins Licis, the strongman who won last year's World's Strongest Man competition, will not defend his title in 2020. The event, which was delayed by the pandemic after being scheduled to take place in May, is slated to take place in Florida this November.

Licis took to Instagram to make the announcement.

"On an unfortunate note, this year I will be skipping Worlds Strongest Man to recover my body after my recent car accident," he wrote. "Don’t worry, I’ll be back, and will be putting all my focus toward the next big show and the next World’s. Much love to all of you for your love and support!"

In early August, Licis was hit by a car while riding his bike, which he elaborated on in a YouTube video.

"I got hit by a car a couple weeks ago. I got stitches in my elbow, really messed up my shoulder," he shared at the time. "I really haven't been able to anything. I couldn't even do a pushup the last couple weeks because my shoulder's been so messed up." Since then, Licis has shared some footage of his training and recovery.

Licis is not the only big name that has announced he won't be competing this year. Back in May, Hafthor Bj?rnsson, a.k.a. The Mountain, also announced he would not be competing in this year's World's Strongest Man competition (the Icelandic strongman also declared he has retired from the sport after his tenth straight Iceland's Strongest Man win). For now, Bj?rnsson is focused on training for his boxing match against rival strongman Eddie Hall.

While the official roster of competitors has yet to be announced, those still expected to compete include Brian Shaw, Robert Oberst, and Rob Kearney, according to BarBend.

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