The World's Strongest Man is a Yuletide tradition in the Turpin household. I've watched it since I was a kid, cheered on Geoff Capes (UK), Sigmarsson (The Viking!), Pudzianowski (incredible), Savickas (Big Z!).
In the UK, they screen the qualifiers over Christmas and the whole thing culminates with the Grand Final on New Years Day. I insist that the whole family sit down quietly and watch it with me. The rest of the Christmas TV can fuck off.
SPOILERS ......
This year was interesting. I'd managed to avoid spoilers (it's filmed in the summer!) so had no idea who would win it. I was honestly expecting Brian Shaw to win it. Hafthor won it in the end and no-one can argue with that really (how does Iceland do it?! With a population less than a UK city!)
The most incredible competitor for me though was Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski. Quiet, business-like, no-nonsense and incredible fast and strong considering he was much lighter than some of his contemporaries. In fact, he was the most 'normal', fittest looking one there. I find it astonishing that he proved so strong despite a distinct lack of 'power belly'! His deadlifting let him down a little but they all have an achilles heel.
I miss the old days though, when they used to arm-wrestle each other, or do tug-o-war, see how many swimsuit models they can lift! Too professional now.
Big Z has been my favourite of recent years and he's quietly losing ground, with old age and injuries. But for him to make the final yet again was incredible.