Giants Live is a professional
strongman tour which was originated in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. It hosts several prominent competitions each year, including national competitions such as
Britain's Strongest Man, international competitions such as
Europe's Strongest Man and single-lift competitions such as
The World Deadlift Championships and
The World Log Lift Championships. Since its beginning in 2009, each Giants Live show has served as a qualifier for the next year's
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...
, with the podium finishers from each show earning a spot in the competition.
With 9 wins,
Hafþór JúlÃus Björnsson has the most Giants Lives wins of any competitor.
Žydrūnas Savickas holds the second place with 6 wins. Third place is shared by
Mitchell Hooper,
Evan Singleton and
Eddie Hall with 5 wins each.
History
On 27 April 2009, Giants Live was named the official World's Strongest Man Qualifying Tour for 2009–2011, replacing the
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2001 to 2004 as the ''IFSA World Strongman Super Series'', from 2005 to 2008 as the ''World's Strongest Man Super Series'', and reverting in 2009 to the ''World Strongman Super Series'', is a sequence of grand ...
. Giants Live was licensed the exclusive rights by
IMG Sports Media
IMG, originally known as the International Management Group, is a global sports, fashion, events and media company headquartered in New York City. The company manages athletes and fashion celebrities; owns, operates and commercially represents ...
, the creator and owner of the
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...
competition. The
IFSA Strongman Super Series and later the
World's Strongest Man Super Series had served as the official qualifying tour from 2001 to 2008.
Significantly, Giants Live offered an opportunity for strongmen who had previously been affiliated with the
IFSA to return to World's Strongest Man. IFSA athletes were banned from competing in World's Strongest Man from 2004 until its dissolution in 2007; this meant that notable athletes such as
Zydrunas Savickas and
Mikhail Koklyaev were unable to compete during this time. With the dissolution of the IFSA and the beginning of
Strongman Champions League, many previously IFSA-affiliated athletes returned to competition at World's Strongest Man..
The first 2009 qualifying event took place on 17 May at the
Mohegan Sun Casino Arena in
Uncasville,
Connecticut
Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
.
Producers and key staff
Giants Live is a collaboration between
IMG Media and Power Productions UK owned. Notable staff include:
*
Colin Bryce – an ex-Strongman competitor and Olympic bobsleigher, Bryce is currently a long-term producer of World Strongest Man through his company Power Productions and formerly the head referee and commentator on strongman events such as
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...
,
Britain's Strongest Man,
Strongman Super Series
The Strongman Super Series, known from 2001 to 2004 as the ''IFSA World Strongman Super Series'', from 2005 to 2008 as the ''World's Strongest Man Super Series'', and reverting in 2009 to the ''World Strongman Super Series'', is a sequence of grand ...
and
World Strongman Cup.
*
Darren Sadler – an ex-Strongman competitor and former world champion in the U105 category, Sadler is currently a co-producer of World Strongest Man alongside Colin Bryce and formerly the head referee on for Giants Live competitions.
*
Magnús Ver Magnússon – an ex-Strongman competitor and four-time holder of
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...
, Magnússon is currently the head referee for Giants Live and
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...
competitions.
*
Bill Kazmaier – an ex-Strongman competitor and three-time holder of
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is an international strongman competition held every year. Organized by American event management company IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, it is broadcast in the US during summers and in the UK around the end of Decemb ...
, Kazmaier is currently one of three main commentators for Giants Live competitions, alongside Neil Pickup and
Radzi Chinyanganya.
*
Dave Warner – Ex strongman competitor and multiple time UK strongest man competitor. One of the head judges. Judged Eddie's 500kg deadlift
* Neil Pickup – formerly a professional arm wrestler, Pickup is currently one of three main commentators for Giants Live competitions, alongside
Bill Kazmaier and
Radzi Chinyanganya. Pickup is also the MC for these events.
*
Radzi Chinyanganya – Radzi is currently one of three main commentators for Giants Live competitions, alongside Neil Pickup and
Bill Kazmaier.
*
Will Clough – Live Stream Director
*
Lindsi Baldwin – Event Co-Ordinator
*
Nev & Neo – Team behind the live feed
Event results
Most wins
References
External links
Giants Live official websitewww.colinbryce.com
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129165828/http://www.colinbryce.com/ , date=29 November 2011
Europe's Strongest Man official website
Strongmen competitions
Giants Live