Eddie Hall

 Hall placed first in the UK's Strongest Man 2011 competition in Belfast and was followed by Ken Nowicki in second and Rich Smith in third.His win was helped by the fact that he set a new national record for the "Viking Hold" by holding onto 20kg (44lbs) Axes in each hand at full capacity for 18 seconds. Hall broke the tendons of his right arm during the event however he was hopeful of securing a spot at September's World's Strongest Man. However, his improved ranking would not guarantee a place for 2012, so Hall did not participate in WSM in 2011. Winning the UK title resulted in Hall became the top option to replace Jono MacFarlane from New Zealand in the Giants Live Melbourne event in February 2012, after MacFarlane suffered a back injury. He was fourth in his first taste of competition on the international stage. In April 2012, he was Hall was invited to participate in Europe's Strongest Man, another Giants Live event. This took place in the Headingley Carnegie Stadium, home of the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team and Hall was competing with six of the ten finalist of World's Strongest Man 2011, including two-time World's Strongest Man, Zydrunas Savickas. Hall placed eighth.