Britains Strongest Man

[luka]

Got this on telly at the minute. I'll tell you if anything interesting happens.

 

[boxedjoy]

back in the early 00s I would always end up finding myself watching this around this time of year, I don't know why but there's something about it that lends itself to being background noise. Strength for its own sake, nothing but a celebration of itself, impressive yet ultimately pointless. Scary-looking men pulling cars along with their teeth, lifting weights until blood pours from their nose, just the sense of achievement from something no sane person would actually want to do.

 

[luka]

Luke Stoltman looked impressive in the log lift challenge.

 

[boxedjoy]

and the grunting! It's bizarre.

 

[luka]

They're about to lift 330 kilos for reps. Thats the next challenge.

 

[luka]

there's a 53 year old competing.

 

[boxedjoy]

he's probably won it before.

 

[luka]

It's this guy

 

[luka]

I love it when they collapse like a sack of spuds after an event. They're discussing 'power bellies' at the moment.

 

[luka]

The Welshman is in last place. Irish man near the bottom too. Englishman in the lead, two big Scottish brothers close behind.

 

[version]

Do they still lift a Citroën?

 

[luka]

The events are really convoluted. They've lost that beautiful simplicity.

 

[version]

I hate John Inverdale. Does he still present it?

 

[luka]

They had a quad bike attached to steel scaffolding attached to an axle and they had to lift it up in the air and walk round in circles.

 

[luka]

I hate John Inverdale. Does he still present it?

No. It's Inverdale free. They're doing Atlas stones now. Classic event.

 

[boxedjoy]

one thing I can say confidently is that, despite consisting of muscular men in sportswear, the event is one of the least sexy things I have ever seen

 

[version]

He looks like John Berger had surgery to look like John Travolta.

 

[luka]

Tom Stoltman just broke the world record for atlas stones but the proud Englishman takes the overall trophy. The Welshman last.

 

[luka]

I'm round my mums. She's in Devon. I'm all alone. Central heating on her tropical settings. First time I've been warm since September or something. Eating stuff like oven chips and baked beans. There's no vegetables in the house but I did unearth a bottle of Sauternes which goes well with the soft furnishings and sweltering punitive heat

 

[luka]

this is my version of a recuperative health spa. Watching any old shit on telly. Eating six meals a day.