Mariusz Pudzianowski: Dominant in Minsk
by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind Enterprises, Inc. © 2006
World Strongman Cup Manager Martin Muhr, in what sounded like understatement, said that "Mariusz was in very good shape," as "he won all six events" in Minsk.
Muhr estimated the crowd at 1,500 and he said the weather was beautiful for the contest in which a lot of eyes in the strongman world would be watching young Arild Haugen. Haugen might have been a little nervous competing against some of these big-name competitors for the first time and made some mistakes in the first two events, said Muhr, but he was was able to rally and finished fifth overall.
Jesse Marunde had been expected to be in the hunt for a top place, but Muhr said that after "starting very well," he "couldn't lift the car, and this cost him a lot of points."
Here are the top six:
1. Mariusz Pudzianowski
2. Raivis Vidzis
3. Elbrus Nigmatullin
4. Antanas Abrutis
5. Arild Haugen
6. Jesse Marunde
The next stop in the 2006 World Strongmancup tour is Germany on July 1, said Muhr.