On July 22, 2022, the Giants Live organization announced that strongman Pa O’Dwyer will join the 12-person roster for the 2022 Giants Live World Open and World Deadlift Championships (WDC). That contest will take place on August 6 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.
Before the announcement of O’Dwyer’s addition was made, there were two open slots — a Wild Card and a space that Adam Bishop vacated after a triceps tear in early July 2022. At the time of this writing, it is unclear whether O’Dwyer is the Wild Card or is replacing Bishop. Nonetheless, the Irish athlete’s addition to the roster should present him with a great opportunity in a strength contest.
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According to Strongman Archives, O’Dwyer most significant victory is the 2018 UK’s Strongest Man. He is also a five-time winner of Ireland’s Strongest Man (2016-2019, 2021). In 2022, the athlete has stayed close to home for his strongman competitions. In February, at the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man (BSM), O’Dwyer took home a fifth-place result. Later, in early April, the Irishman finished in 10th place at the 2022 Europe’s Strongest Man.
O’Dwyer will undoubtedly look to improve upon his recent results at the Giants Live World and World Deadlift Championships in early August. With his addition official, here is the confirmed full roster for the contest:
2022 Giants Live World Open & World Deadlift Championships Roster
Evan Singleton (United States) — 2021 Giants Live World Open Champion
Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) — 2021 Third place
Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
Ivan Makarov (Russia) — 2021 WDC Champion
Gabriel Peña (Mexico)
Rauno Heinla (Estonia)
Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
Asko Karu (Estonia)
Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
Peiman Maheripourehir (Iran)
Wild card — Announced at a later date
In his first Giants Live World Open and WDC, O’Dwyer joins a loaded field of top-tier strongmen.
Some names include defending Giants Live World Open Champion, Evan Singleton. Then comes stellar deadlifter and reigning WDC champ, Ivan Makarov. Rising strongman star Mitchell Hooper is also a part of the overall fray, as is Peiman Maheripourehir — whose 492-kilogram (1,084-pound) deadlift from March 2021 stands as the fourth-heaviest caught on camera.
Throw in former World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Champion (2020), Oleksii Novikov — who also won the recent Giants Live Strongman Classic — and this joint competition could prove to be a fascinating battle all around.
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At the time of this article’s publication, the Giants Live organization has not revealed the event format or schedule for the World Open portion of the competition. The only fact known concerns the Max Deadlift — which doubles as the 2022 WDC.
Notably, if any of the athletes can deadlift 505 kilograms (1,113 pounds) during the contest, Giants Live will reward them with a $55,000 prize. That mark would surpass the current all-time World Record held by 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Hafthor Björnsson — who pulled 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds) in the World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” series in May 2020. O’Dwyer did log a 420-kilogram (925.9-pound) deadlift during a June 2022 training session, but he has work to do before he can challenge for that prize.
Only time will tell whether O’Dwyer can answer the bell and topple his peers in his first appearance at this competition. If his performance around the United Kingdom says anything, he’ll definitely be a competitor to keep an eye on.
Featured image: @giantslivestrongman