Strongmen from 14 different countries competed for the prestigious title – first through preliminary rounds, then in the final, which took place over three days from August 17 to 20.

The man who will fight for Norway’s honor is Blaker’s Jon Olav Granli.

On Tuesday evening, he boarded a plane to the African country of Botswana.

Ten of the 30 competitors earned a place in the super final, where titles will be awarded. This is where Granli wants to go. If he enters the top ten, anything can happen.

All he knows about this competition is this:

– They are strong. Very strong! The people I met were some beasts.

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Fear of flights

For the 34-year-old from Blaker, his strong career began two years ago. His talent was evident, and today he trains 15 hours a week to get his body ready to lift more and heavier weights.

The results are already impressive: He lifted more than 300 kilograms in the deadlift without equipment, broke the Norwegian record in the Apollo pivot (lifting a barbell overhead) with 180 kilograms and lifted 350 kilograms in the deadlift in a suit.

– Are you ready to meet more of the strongest men in the world?

– NO. But I’ll be ready.

– Are the butterflies there yet?

– Oh yes. I’m always nervous before a competition. I should. Otherwise, everything will get messy. I’m really looking forward to competing with the big guys.

– What are you afraid of?

– Sitting for 15 hours straight on a plane.

– Then, not towing an 18 ton truck?

– No, I’ve done that before, answered Granli with a twinkle in her eye.

– Looks like a brick

The road to this competition was anything but straight. At the age of 13, he started strength training. The body responds decisively and produces big muscles, but then motorbikes and girls appear among the ambitions to be big and strong. He dropped weights and started judo.

But gradually less exercise and more junk food.

– I look like a brick, said Granli, who is 191 cm tall.

When the scale showed 144 kilograms, he decided to take action.

Two years ago, he began the task of changing his body. First with the intention of becoming a bodybuilder. But based on his body’s response, Granli realized that he should focus on raw power.

Praise the family

Muscle building does not reduce his weight. He currently weighs 163 kilograms. The difference is, the fat has been converted into large muscles. The journey to where he is today would not have been possible without smart, correct and extensive training. The stress he puts on his body also means he needs to get a lot of rest and sleep.

“I couldn’t do this without my wife and two children. They fully understand the enormity of this demand,” he said.

All the hard physical work left Granli with very severe burns. He consumed 6-8000 calories a day, almost three times as much as usual.

– I will qualify for the final. If I did, that would be great. Then anything is possible, he said.

– What are your goals with sports?

– Be the best. Norway’s strongest is inside. The strongest country in the world may have lost hope. There are men out there who are better than me. But nothing is impossible. It’s important to have faith.

Granli must master this exercise

The exercises that Granli and his five competitors in group two will do are:

1. Loading with oil barrel.

The barrel must be carried as quickly as possible as far as 15 meters and placed on a podium 1.20 meters high. The barrels weigh between 100 and 120 kilograms.

2. Truck pull.

A truck weighing about 18 tons must be towed 25 meters as fast as possible.

3. Keg Throw.

The oil barrel should be thrown as high as possible into the air. The barrel weighs between 16 and 20 kilograms.

4. Deadlifts.

Deadlift either with a regular barbell (as much as 380 kilograms) or with a car. The car weighs 400 kilograms. The number of repetitions applies here.

5. Viking Press.

A bar weighing about 170 kilograms should be pressed overhead as much as possible.

6. Atlas stones.

Five stones must be lifted onto the five podiums as quickly as possible. The stone weighs between 100 and 160 kilograms.

– Viking press, truck pulling and atlas stones are my workouts, says Granli.

Granli will face England’s Eddie Hall, Poland’s Gregorz Szymanski, America’s Nick Best, England’s Adam Bishop and Nigeria’s Frank Okalome.