Round 2 in our celebration of WSM this year. Either called the McGlashan or Atlas stones they embody everything that is strongman into one contest. More often than any other event they have been the final decider to the World's Strongest Man contest.
Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Honourable Mention - Kazmaier and Sigmarsson in 1988
Only held off our list because the Stones were not yet contested head-to-head. Kazmaier and Sigmarsson had been trading the lead back and forth the lead all competition. Kaz looked to be pulling away until falling apart in the weight-over-the-bar. All that remained were the McGlashans. No one had yet managed to lift all five stone when Kazmaier's turn came. Knowing his only chance lay in lifting it, Kaz struggled through each one until finally placing the last one on its barrel. Sigmarsson proceeded to make everyone else's struggles seem meanless by tearing through every stone with speed ahead of his time to win the event and secure his 3rd title.
5) Savickas vs Virastyuk in 2004
For two years Zydrunas Savickas had come up second to Marius Pudzianowski but this year would be different. Marius was sitting in third. Savickas was tied for the lead with the explosive Vasyl Virastyuk three points clear of Pudzianowski. This was Savickas vs Virastyuk with Pudzianowski looking on. Savickas immediately fell behind and rushed to make up the difference but Virastyuk was too fast. The drama builds every time the camera turns Pudzianowski as he slowly realizes he's lost his title. Vasyl puts home the last stone while Savickas is still pulling it to his lap. In the after event interview you can see the heartbreak set in as Savickas realizes he's placed second at WSM for the third year in a row.
4) Pudzianowski vs Pfister in 2006
Phil Pfister does the impossible, beating Marius Pudzianowski at his prime. Despite winning four events in a row, Phil Pfister still found himself trailing Pudzianowski by half a point coming down to the Atlas stones. Everyone watching was thinking "Can he do it? Can he dominate the Dominator?". It's raining, the stones are wet and the tacky on the Strongmen's arms is nearly useless. The whistle blows and both men nearly skid into the first stone. For the first two they are neck and neck. On the third, Pudzianowski pulls ahead. On the very last stone, Pudzianowski laps it first and waddles to the pedestal. Pfister gambles and lifts the stone to his chest from where he picked it up. Phil guides his stone into place an instant before Pudzianowski and lets out a triumphant roar. Marius's stone skips over the hole and he let's it fall over the back in disgust.
3) Savickas vs Pudzianowski in 2009
The final climax of an epic rivalry. Savickas had been gone for four years. Pudzianowski had won three titles since the two he had over Savickas but in those years real competition was scarce. This was the biggest showdown in WSM since Kazmair and Sigmarsson in 1988. The stones were the fitting final event. Pudzianowski shot out to an early lead but bobbled the second stone. Savickas seized the lead and didn't let it go. When he put his final stone in its place and had the title that eluded him for seven years the joy in his face was unmistakable. Pudzianowski's era of dominance was over.
2) Magnusson vs Hoeberl in 1994
The first time the stones were contested face to face was in 1993. That event was between Riku Kiri and Gary Taylor. That showdown was spoiled by Kiri knocking over the second barrel with his stone and letting Taylor cruise to his victory. This was the first time we saw the now standard tiered podiums and as a showdown it didn't disappoint. It had been three years since Magnus ver Magnusson had won his first title and he'd been second in both the intervening contests. Manfred Hoeberl, the former bodybuilder with the huge physique and supermassive biceps, was getting better every year. Unfortunately, due to a serious motorcycle accident soon after this, it would be his last time at WSM. The two shirtless giants strode out into a colosseum to do battle. The imagery made us feel like this was a clash of titanic proportions. Manfred led out of the gates but Magnus over took him on the third stone. Hoeberl made one last surge at the end but it wasn't enough. Magnus captured his second of four crowns. It was epic, it was close, and it set the standard for years to come.
1) Pudzianowski vs Poundstone in 2008
Half an inch was all that separated this one from going the other way. Marius Pudzianowski was on the verge of his unprecedented fifth title. Derek Poundstone was in his first WSM and had upset Pudzianowski in an event earlier in the year. Poudstone was doing what no one expected and actually led Pudzianowski by a point coming into the Atlas Stones. The lead changed hands more times than you would think possible in such a short race. Poundstone hit the last stone first and was on the verge of ending the competition. He landed the stone on the lip of the podium. The audience held their breath. Instead of it rolling up on to the podium, the stone spun and fell to the ground. Marius placed his stone and won. Just half-an-inch.
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