Kordiyaka seems ready to add another trophy to his shelf.
Pavlo Kordiyaka had a spring to remember in general as a professional strongman. In early April 2023, the Ukrainian athlete won his first Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) title. Then, were it not for a controversial penalty on Day Three of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) just weeks later, he could have potentially won a WSM title. With summer in full swing and a new title on the line at the 2023 Shaw Classic (SC), Kordiyaka looks poised to continue his recent momentum.
On July 17, 2023, Kordiyaka posted a video on his Instagram page where locked out a 183-kilogram (403.4-pound) log press for three repetitions and then completed a 130-kilogram (286.6-pound) power snatch. According to the strongman’s post caption, the recorded training session is part of his ongoing preparation for SC 2023 on August 19-20, 2023 in Loveland, CO.
Kordiyaka’s profile may be less well known than some of his peers, like reigning WSM champion Mitchell Hooper, but that doesn’t make him any less of a competitor. If anything, after Kordiyaka ousted former WSM 2020 champion Oleksii Novikov at the 2023 ESM and held his own against Hooper, Novikov and former two-time WSM (2021-2022) winner Tom Stoltman at the 2023 WSM, he has shown that he belongs on the most elite level of the sport.
With that trio of arguably more established peers backing Kordiyaka’s ambitions to become “The Strongest Man on Earth”, the 2023 SC could be another coming out party for the competitor. Trey Mitchell is the two-time reigning champion of the contest.
Here is an overview of the Shaw Classic 2023 challenge from a list that Kordiyaka will have to overcome:
Here is a summary of the events of SC 2023:
Shaw Classic 2023 Events
Prior to winning the 2023 ESM, the arguable highlight of Kordiyaka’s career was a first-place performance at the 2021 Official Strongman Games (OSG). According to his profile on strong men archivesthe 28-year-old has appeared in 15 international contests, winning four of them, including ESM 2023. His placement at the WSM 2023 Final was the first of his career.
Now he will have the chance to build on those performances at SC 2023.
Presumably, breaking through a cadre of star competitors is no easy task. Kordiyaka can be sure that every one of his teammates will likely see him in the same intimidating, yet respectful way at SC 2023.
Featured Image: @pavlo_kordiyaka on Instagram
