World's Strongest Viking is a leading international Strongman competition organized by Strongman Champions League. It was held as a winter edition from 2014 to 2023, and as a summer edition from 2023 onwards, both with participation of top strongman athletes in the world. At the end of each edition, the winner is conferred with the title 'World's Strongest Viking'.
The roots of the competition goes back to the Nordic Strongman Championships which was continued until 2013 with participation of athletes from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. In 2014, Giants Live upscaled it to global level, officially renaming the competition and the title to 'World's Strongest Viking'. In 2015, Strongman Champions League took over.
During the initial nine editions, it was held under freezing and perilous weather conditions in winter at Vinstra, Norway, testing the athletes to their limits. The first nine editions also extensively featured vintage Viking events. Upon the introduction of summer format in 2023, the competition was shifted to the months of June to August and was held in Hämeenlinna and Joensuu in Finland.
Among the most iconic events were Viking deadlift, Viking boat pull, Viking press, Viking ship mast super yoke, Hercules hold, power stairs and Atlas stones. The competitions were noted for their heavily wood crafted implements and replicating historical feats of strength. One of the most legendary moments of the competitions came in 2015 when Iceland's Hafþór JúlÃÂus Björnsson surpassed the historical 1,000 years old Viking ship mast (Ormrinn langi) feat of strength by carrying a , 10 metres (33 ft) long, circumference Viking ship mast on his back for 5 steps in âÂÂ20 ðC weather.
Winter format (the competitions were also known by the names Giants Live Norway in 2014 and SCL Norway from 2015 to 2021).
Summer format