The consensus in Sanya was that Group 4 would be the most competitive from top to bottom. The group featured three finalists from 2005, Jarek Dymek of Poland, Canada's Dominic Filiou, and Tarmo Mitt from Estonia. The other two members of the group, Iceland's Boris Haraldsson and Kevin Nee from the United States, both had impressive debuts a year ago.
Kevin Nee (World's Strongest Man™, IMG Media Ltd.)
Day 1 - Carry and Drag
The searing heat here in Sanya, China was definitely a factor for Group 4 in their first event, the Carry and Drag. Jarek Dymek collapsed under the weight of the 220 pound cannonball. The Polish strongman indicated he would continue in the competition but his fifth place finish in the Carry and Drag was definitely a set back to his hopes of claiming one of the two spots in the Final from Group 4. Estonia's Tarmo Mitt, and Canadian Dominic Filiou, a pair of 2005 finalists, finished first and second respectively.
Day 1 - Keg Toss
Iceland's Boris Haraldsson powered all 10 kegs up and over the wall in a time of 51.16 to secure the victory in Group 4. Jarek Dymek recovered enough from his fall in the Carry and Drag to finish second.
Day 2 - Dead Lift
Kevin Nee and Jarek Dymek topped the wide-open Group 4 in the Dead Lift. With five evenly matched athletes in the group, it's been a rollercoaster ride through the first 3 events. The eventual survivors of the "Group of Death" will really have to earn their places in the Final.
Day 3 - Farmers Walk
The Farmers Walk was the fourth event for Group 4. The big man from Estonia, Tarmo Mitt, added his second win of the competition. Dominic Filiou of Canada matched his best result to date with his second place finish.
King of the Stones: Boris Haraldsson (World's Strongest Man™, IMG Media Ltd.)
Day 4 - Overhead Lift
One man in Group 4 managed all four lifts and it was Boris Haraldsson. A huge performance for the man from Iceland. Tarmo Mitt was the only other competitor from the group to have more than one successful lift. Mitt's second place finish guaranteed that he would be in the World's Strongest Man Final for the second consecutive year. The other spot in the WSM Final will be determined at the Barrel Loading event.
Day 4 - Barrel Loading
With Tarmo Mitt already advancing to the World's Strongest Man Final, just one place was available as Group 4 reached the Barrel Loading event. With Dominic Filiou unable to move all three barrels from the water to dry land, it was a duel between Jarek Dymek and Boris Haraldsson for the second spot in the final from Group 4. Close throughout the race, Dymek separated from Haraldsson as the two strongmen approached the third barrel and held on to reach the World's Strongest Man Final for the fifth time in five attempts.
Both Tarmo Mitt and Jarek Dymek, have to be relieved to have survived Group 4, but it doesn't get an easier. They'll be facing the eight other elite strongmen in the World's Strongest Man Final.
