Thanks to a tremendous effort from Evan “T-Rex” Singleton, Team USA emerged victorious over Team UK in a closely fought battle for the prestigious title of 2023 World’s Strongest Nation.
The clash featured an American team led by 2019 World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis facing off against a British side led by the renowned Eddie Hall in a series of seven events held on Nov. 18, 2023, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. After witnessing Team UK claim victory in 2022, fans in the UK watched Team USA secure the win, with standout performances like Kevin Faires setting a new record in the Giants Live World’s Strongest Man Arena Tour.
Both teams featured a mix of male and female athletes competing in challenges that tested their strength, power, and conditioning. Points were awarded for event wins, with a bonus point given to the team with the top performer in each of the first six events. Despite a strong comeback effort from Team UK, Evan Singleton, winner of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic and the 2023 Giants Live World Open, sealed the victory for the Americans by completing a record-breaking feat in the final event at the “Power Stairs.”
Below are the outcomes of the seven events, along with descriptions of each:
Event 1: Sandbag Steeplechase
In this event, competitors had to move a sandbag over hurdles and onto a table at specific distances. Team USA claimed victory in this event.
Team USA (Total Time — 2:39.39 seconds)
- Inez Carrasquillo — 18.20 seconds
- Rob Kearney — 21.39 seconds
- Nadia Stowers — 22.69 seconds
- Kevin Faires — 20.44 seconds
- Erin Murray — 19.59 seconds
- Spenser Remick — 21.39 seconds
- Inez Carrasquillo — 18.19 seconds
- Evan Singleton — 17.56 seconds (bonus point)
Team UK (Total Time — 3:13.87 seconds)
- Andrea Thompson — 33.57 seconds
- Gavin Bilton — 17.66 seconds
- Lucy Underdown — 32.47 seconds
- Mark Felix — 29.63 seconds
- Donna Moore — 24.43 seconds
- Luke Stoltman — 18.00 seconds
- Rebecca Roberts — 19.99 seconds
- Tom Stoltman — 18.12 seconds
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Event 2: Farmer’s Walk
The Farmer’s Walk event tested grip strength and endurance, with Team USA emerging victorious.
Team USA (Total Time — 3:04.90 seconds)
- Inez Carrasquillo — 21.68 seconds
- Spenser Remick — 23.26 seconds
- Nadia Stowers — 34.25 seconds
- Martins Licis — 21.12 seconds
- Erin Murray — 24.65 seconds
- Kevin Faires — 20.36 seconds
- Gabi Dixson — 21.48 seconds
- Evan Singleton — 18.10 seconds (bonus point)
Team UK (Total Time — 3:13.65 seconds)
- Andrea Thompson — 21.87 seconds
- Gavin Bilton — 25.17 seconds
- Lucy Underdown — 26.55 seconds
- Luke Stoltman — 20.11 seconds
- Donna Moore — 32.53 seconds
- Tom Stoltman — 19.94 seconds
- Rebecca Roberts — 20.87 seconds
- Mark Felix — 26.61 seconds
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Event 3: Axle Deadlift
In this event testing deadlift proficiency, Team UK secured the win over Team USA.
Team USA (Total Reps — 23 reps)
- Gabi Dixson — 10 reps
- Nadia Stowers — Six reps
- Rob Kearney — Four reps
- Evan Singleton — Three reps
Team UK (Total Reps — 28 reps)
- Lucy Underdown — 13 reps (bonus point)
- Andrea Thompson — Eight reps
- Gavin Bilton — Four reps
- Tom Stoltman — Three reps
[Related: 7 Tips to Perfect Your Deadlift Form]
Event 4: Circus Dumbbell
The Circus Dumbbell event required athletes to perform an overhead press, with Team USA emerging victorious.
Team USA (Total Reps — 22 reps)
- Nadia Stowers — Four reps
- Inez Carrasquillo — Five reps
- Rob Kearney — Six reps
- Evan Singleton — Seven reps (bonus point)
Team UK (Total Reps — 19 reps)
- Donna Moore — Four reps
- Andrea Thompson — Six reps
- Luke Stoltman — Six reps
- Gavin Bilton — Three reps
[Related: 8 Overhead Press Variations for Stronger Shoulders]
Event 5: Wrecking Ball Hold
In this event, Team UK emerged victorious despite Kevin Faires setting a world record for holding the wrecking ball.
Team USA (Total Time — 4:01.84 seconds)
- Gabi Dixson — 6.84 seconds
- Nadia Stowers — 46.01 seconds
- Kevin Faires — 1:53.00 seconds (World Record)
- Evan Singleton — 1:15.99 seconds
Team UK (Total Time — 4:23.30 seconds)
- Lucy Underdown — 46.43 seconds
- Rebecca Roberts — 57.47 seconds
- Gavin Bilton — 1:02.02 seconds
- Mark Felix — 1:37.38 seconds
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Event 6: Tug of War
In a tug-of-war contest, Team UK triumphed in all three rounds, narrowing the point gap between the teams.
Pull 1: Women
Team UK (Moore, Roberts, Thompson, and Underdown) defeats Team USA (Carrasquillo, Dixson, Murray, and Stowers)
Pull 2: Men
Team UK (Bilton, Felix, L. Stoltman, and T. Stoltman) defeats Team USA (Kearney, Licis, Remick, Singleton)
Pull 3: Mixed
Team UK (Moore, Roberts, Thompson, Underdown, Bilton, Hall, L. Stoltman, and T. Stoltman) defeats Team USA (Carrasquillo, Dixson, Murray, Stowers, Faires, Kearney, Licis, and Remick)
[Related: Australian Strongman Smashes World Record by Pulling 44,753-Pound Crane]
Event 7: Power Stairs
The final event required athletes to carry weights up a set of stairs, with Team USA securing the World’s Strongest Nation title.
[Related: The 8 Best Upper Body Pulling Exercises]
All athletes showcased exceptional sportsmanship and dedication to their teams throughout the competition, with the potential for even fiercer competition in future editions of the World’s Strongest Nation. Time will tell whether Team USA can secure back-to-back victories in this prestigious contest.
Featured Image: Giants Live Strongman / Instagram
