[2][3] After continuous progression in the competition, coming 10th in 2012, 8th in 2013, 5th in 2014, 7th in 2015, 5th in 2016, and finally 2nd in 2017, Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson won his first Arnold Strongman Classic after defeating the winner from 2017, the American Brian Shaw, who came 2nd.

[3] Athletes that qualified (in alphabetical order/ surname) are as follows:[4] Matjaz Belsak (Slovenia), Hafthor Björnsson (Iceland), Jean-Francois Caron (Canada), Rauno Heinla (Estonia), Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland), Mateusz Ostazsewski (Poland), Jerry Pritchett (USA), Dimitar Savatinov (Bulgaria), Brian Shaw (USA) and Mikhael Shivlyakov (Russia).Reserve: Vytautas Lalas (Lithuania)[5] Contestants have to throw heavy sandbags from 'a duck walk to an overhead position' over a high bar.

[6] Contestants have to hoist the legendary Odd Haugen's Tombstone to their shoulder for many reps as possible.

[6] Also known as the Frame Carry, contestants have to lift heavy barn timbers bolted together and travel up an inclined ramp.

[6] Contestants are required to lift a specially designed extra whipping long bar with Arnold Schwarzenegger inscribed weight plates from a standard 9" height.