Former pro strongman Laurence Shahlaei will compete for the World’s Strongest Master title at the 2023 Official Strongman Games (OSG), scheduled for Dec. 1-3, 2023. He will compete in the Men’s Masters 40+ division.
Shahlaei is training with fellow strongman competitors, including Romanian log lift record holder Alex Lungu and 2021 UK’s Strongest Junior champion Jack Osborn, to prep for the OSG. On Oct. 9, 2023, Shahlaei published a video on his YouTube channel wherein he shared his OSG training eight weeks out from the competition. Check it out below:
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2023 Official Strongman Games Events
The 2023 OSG is a three-day contest that will feature the following events:
- Stand or Submit Press Medley — four implements: barbell with wagon wheels, circus dumbbell, curved Yoke, and a block
- Stix and Stone Carry
- Deadlift Ladder
- GORUCK Survival Challenge
- Sandbag Toss
- Atlas Stone Series
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Laurence Shahlaei’s 2023 Official Strongman Games Training
Shahlaei focused on three events in the training session.
Stand or Submit Press Medley
The four implements in the opening event include:
- Barbell — 285 pounds
- Circus Dumbbell — 181 pounds
- Yoke — 322 pounds
- Block — 263 pounds
The athlete who successfully overhead presses all four implements in the quickest time within a 60-second time cap wins. Shahlaei lifted 80 percent of the competition weight in the first set and increased the load with each subsequent set. On the final set, Shahlaei lifted a 286-pound barbell, 187-pound dumbbell, 330-pound yoke, and 220-pound sandbag.
Since Shahlaei couldn’t access a block, he used a sandbag instead. Per Shahlaei, the most challenging implements in the first event are the block and the yoke, both of which are clunky and can hinder speed.
Stix and Stone Carry
The second event involves carrying a 750-pound timber frame 50 feet, followed by carrying a set of 235 and 280-pound stones for the same distance. Shahlaei excels in this kind of event — he is the current world record for the longest carry with the Dinnie Stones (22 feet, four inches at the Donald Dinnie Day in Scotland).
GORUCK Survival Challenge
The fourth 2023 OSG event comprises lifting a 275-pound medicine ball, a 325-pound GORUCK implement, and a 600-pound sled drag. Competitors will wear a 101-pound weighted vest during the competition, but Shahlaei forewent that during this particular training session.
Since defending champion Žydrūnas Savickas will not compete at the 2023 OSG, the throne is vacant. The stacked World’s Strongest Master lineup includes nine-time Canada’s Strongest Man champ JF Caron, 2022 World’s Strongest Master silver medalists Rauno Heinla, and 2018 Masters World’s Strongest Man winner Ken McClelland.
“There are so many good Masters [athletes], it’s going to be a really competitive show,” said Shahlaei. “I’m going to make sure I’m as well prepared as possible and fight as hard as I can.”
Featured image: @biglozwsm on Instagram
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