Loading race

A loading race or medley is an event in World's Strongest Man and other similar strongman competitions which requires competitors to carry, drag and load several heavy and irregular objects onto a platform over a course usually ranging from 10 to 30 meters.{{cite web|url=https://strongman.org/events/loading-medley/ |title=Loading Medley |publisher=strongman.org |access-date=2022-05-26 |date=2018-02-02 }} The competitor to move and load all objects in the fastest time is the winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/events/loading-race/ |title=Loading Race |publisher=theworldsstrongestman.com |access-date=2022-05-26 |date=2020-12-31 }}

Implements

Some of the frequently used objects for the events are anchors and chains, anvils, sandbags, sacks, safes, beer kegs, wine barrels and natural stones.{{cite web|url=https://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/events/loading-race/ |title=Loading Race |publisher=theworldsstrongestman.com |access-date=2022-05-26 |date=2020-12-31 }} They usually weigh between {{convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} to {{convert|150|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} but occasionally can be heavier than that.

Physical demands

Contrary to popular belief, the weight of the objects is not the defining factor in these events. The overall shape of the objects, their dimensions, and the terrain (which can range from rubble to sand to snow) makes these events challenging and requires physical strength, athleticism and speed equally{{cite web|url=https://www.elitefts.com/education/how-to-prepare-for-a-strongman-death-medley/ |title=How to Prepare for a Strongman Death Medley |publisher=Matt Mills |access-date=2022-05-26 |date=2019-05-14 }} and also different skills are required for different irregular objects.

Notable Strongmen

Below table summarizes the most successful Loading Medley winners in international Strongman competitions.{{cite web |title=Most Successful Athletes: Loading Race|url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewEvent.php?id=3|access-date=May 26, 2022|work=Strongman Archives|date=April 3, 2022}}
No. of total career Loading Medley's against the No. of wins (Entry criteria: A minimum of 4 wins and a >10% winning ratio, open category).
With over 2 wins per every 3 Loading Medleys he undertook, Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is the Greatest Loading Medley champion in Strongman history.

class="wikitable sortable" style="display: inline-table;width: 85%;"
# ! Name ! Nationality ! Events ! Wins ! Win %
1 \|Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson \| {{flagicon\|ISL}} Iceland \| 22 \| 15 \| 68.18%
2 \|JF Caron \| {{flagicon\|CAN}} Canada \| 22 \| 8 \| 36.36%
3 \|Tom Stoltman \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} United Kingdom \| 10 \| 7 \| 70.00%
4 \|Vytautas Lalas \| {{flagicon\|LTU}} Lithuania \| 8 \| 6 \| 75.00%
5 \|Aivars Šmaukstelis \| {{flagicon\|LAT}} Latvia \| 23 \| 6 \| 26.09%
6 \|Žydrūnas Savickas \| {{flagicon\|LTU}} Lithuania \| 27 \| 6 \| 22.22%
7 \|Dainis Zageris \| {{flagicon\|LAT}} Latvia \| 32 \| 6 \| 18.75%
8 \|Mike Burke \| {{flagicon\|USA}} United States \| 8 \| 5 \| 62.50%
9 \|Pavlo Kordiyaka \| {{flagicon\|UKR}} Ukraine \| 9 \| 5 \| 55.55%
10 \|Matjaz Belsak \| {{flagicon\|SLO}} Slovenia \| 13 \| 5 \| 38.5%
11 \|Marius Lalas \| {{flagicon\|LTU}} Lithuania \| 5 \| 4 \| 80.0%
12 \|Jón Páll Sigmarsson \| {{flagicon\|ISL}} Iceland \| 8 \| 4 \| 50.0%
12 \|Janne Virtanen \| {{flagicon\|FIN}} Finland \| 8 \| 4 \| 50.0%
12 \|Derek Poundstone \| {{flagicon\|USA}} United States \| 8 \| 4 \| 50.0%
15 \|Magnús Ver Magnússon \| {{flagicon\|ISL}} Iceland \| 11 \| 4 \| 36.4%
16 \|Travis Ortmayer \| {{flagicon\|USA}} United States \| 13 \| 4 \| 30.8%
17 \|Magnus Samuelsson \| {{flagicon\|SWE}} Sweden \| 17 \| 4 \| 23.5%

class="wikitable sortable" style="display: inline-table;width: 85%;"

! Name

! Nationality

! Events

! Wins

! Win %

|Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson

| {{flagicon|ISL}} Iceland

| 22

| 15

| 68.18%

|JF Caron