[1] The defending champion was Oleksii Novikov of Ukraine, though he failed to progress to the final after coming fourth in his heat.

In so doing, he became the first World's Strongest Man reigning champion to compete at the following year's event and fail to qualify for the final since Magnús Ver Magnússon in the 1997 competition.

[3] Graham Hicks of the UK withdrew the day before the competition began, and was replaced by Ervin Toots of Estonia.

Travis Ortmayer set a record for longest absence between consecutive WSM appearances of 10 years, last competing at the 2011 contest.

In the third event of the final, 4 men broke the previous world record in the 15 kg Keg Toss for height, which stood at 7.25m (held by Brian Shaw).