Over the last decade, Janne Virtanen of Finland and Phil Pfister of the United States have proven to be among the very best strength athletes in the world. The three men tasked with challenging them in Group 3 were Grenada's Mark Felix, Elbrus Nigmatullin of Russia, and Darren Sadler of England.
Day 1 - Carry and Drag
The Carry and Drag results for Group 3 were interesting. To no one 's surprise it was Janne Virtanen, the 2000 champion from Finland, picking up the victory. England's pocket powerhouse, Darren Sadler, amazed with his second place finish. The smallest man in his group at 5'10'' and 243 pounds, Sadler looked right at home with some of the biggest names in the sport. The experienced American, Phil Pfister, was surely disappointed by his third place finish.
Day 2 - Dead Lift
Mark Felix of Grenada entered the competition with the reputation as one of the best dead lifters in the field. He only enhanced his status here in Sanya, pounding out a phenomenal 17 reps to reign supreme in Group 3.
Day 2 - Fingal Fingers
The Fingal Fingers were the third event for Group 3. In this tightly contested group, surprisingly, Phil Pfister found himself in last place entering the Fingers. But the two-time finalist absolutely scorched the course in a time of 32.44 on his way to victory, and moved himself into second place in the overall standings.
Janne Virtanen driving to the fastest time of the day in the Car Walk (World's Strongest Man™, IMG Media Ltd.)
Day 3 - Car Walk
The unpredictable storyline continued for Group 3. Veterans Phil Pfister and Elbrus Nigmatullin stalled on the course. The diminutive, Darren Sadler, was dwarfed by the car but produced another inspiring performance, covering the entire course. Unfortunately for Sadler, he was in the same group as Janne Virtanen. And it was Janne who turned in the fastest heat of the day with a time of 23.43.
Day 3 - Farmers Walk
Janne Virtanen seemed in control of Group 3 until they reached the Farmers Walk. A calf strain suffered midway through the course ended Virtanen's event and suddenly brought him back to the pack. Phil Pfister bounced back from his disappointing showing in the Car Walk with a remarkable show in the Farmers Walk. Phil punctuated his victory with some posing for the cameras holding the two 265 pound anvils as if they were a pair of suitcases. Heading into Barrel Loading, the final event for Group 3, Pfister and Virtanen are tied for the lead, but Mark Felix, Elbrus Nigmatullin, and Darren Sadler all have realistic chances to advance. And Virtanen's questionable physical status will only add to the intrigue.
Darren Sadler battling with the barrels (World's Strongest Man™, IMG Media Ltd.)
Day 4 - Barrel Loading
Group 3 was remarkably tight, with Phil Pfister and Janne Virtanen tied for the lead but with just three and a half points separating the five men in the group. Pfister was an animal, thrashing through the water with the total of his 660 pounds without the slightest hint of difficulty, on his way to victory. Virtanen, clearly struggling with his calf injury, faltered in the Barrel Loading event. The former champion's problems opened the door for Grenada's Mark Felix to become a surprise finalist.
Mark Felix and Phil Pfister, two of the oldest men in the field at 40 and 35 respectively, showed enough in Group 3's qualifying round to be thought of as contenders to take home the WSM title.
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