IFSA vs. Worlds Strongest Man

[btmagnus]

This sux!! No offense to Squatter. I just saw the official list of competitors for this years WSM contest in China.
The biggest names are Mariusz Pudzianowski, Jarek Dymek and Janne Virtannen. Squatter will definitely be there, and i think has a good chance of making his first WSM final.
But it is disappointing to hear who is not there. Last years winner Vasyl Virastiuk will not be there. Zadrunas Zavickas wont be there, and he finished 2nd the last three years. Raimonds Bergmanis wont be there, and neither will the former winners Magnus Samuelsson and Svend Karlsen.
Unless the list changes somehow, Id say Mariusz will be the heavy favorite to win.
Of course you never know, we'll be rooting for SQUATTER to pull of an upset of Mariusz.

 

[lynx]

Did they not qualify or what happened?

 

[jerrywear]

what i was reading is they did moved to deferent leag or how you call it,diferent federation,this is why polish guy and others not there.and all baltick guys still going to do WSM(zidrunas savickas and other)

 

[btmagnus]

what i was reading is they did moved to deferent leag or how you call it,diferent federation,this is why polish guy and others not there.and all baltick guys still going to do WSM(zidrunas savickas and other)

Yes there is a big split in the strongman world. There is the International Federation of Strength Athletes (IFSA) and there is the Worlds Strongest Man. In the past the World Championships of strongman has always been the WSM contest which has been on ESPN. Now the IFSA has formed its own world champioships series.
It is called the IFSA World Championships Super Series. There are a number of different Super Series events to earn points in. The one who earns the most points throughout the year wins the IFSA Championship Title.
So, the title "Worlds Strongest Man" is not as distinct as it was in the past.
If SQUATTER ever comes back here, he can explain it better.
By the way today is the first day of qualifying for WSM on espn, and he won the first two events in his group.