STRONGEST MAN – Christopher Oketch secured the heavyweight division title in the GCC’s Strongest Man category to headline the 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Championship, hosted by the kingdom at The Avenues Bahrain.
The event was held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who attended the competition’s closing ceremony.
GSA vice-chairman and Bahrain Combat Sports Council president Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa awarded the winners in each category. BOC vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa was also in attendance, along with BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji and other high-ranking sports officials.
Oketch claimed his title in the GCC’s Strongest Man’s heavyweight division, where he was followed by Murtadha Sayed Khaleel as the runner-up. Emad Hussain Al Qaffas came third.
In the middleweight category, Isa Aref Rashdan secured first place, followed by Abdulrahman Tariq in second and Christopher Byrne in third.
The lightweight division concluded with Samir Mohammed Abu Bakr in first place, Omar Al Kooheji in second, and Shubbar Abdullah in third.
At the closing ceremony, Shaikh Khalid noted the success of this year’s edition of the championship, which featured unique challenges and competitions that attracted a distinguished group of athletes from the kingdom and abroad.
The event highlighted the growing interest amongst young people in strength sports, which promote values of discipline, determination, and perseverance.
Shaikh Khalid underscored continued support for such initiatives, which provide Bahrain’s youth with opportunities to express their energy and capabilities and contribute to building physically and mentally resilient generations capable of honourably representing the kingdom at regional and international events.
The WSM’s participants competed in seven events, which included Carry and Load, XL Bar Deadlift, Viking Press, Wheel of Pain, Arm over Arm Pull, Hercules Hold, and Power Stairs.
The WSM Championship was launched in 2017 under the patronage of Shaikh Khalid as a national competition aimed at encouraging Bahraini youth. It has since evolved to include participants from across the GCC, consolidating Bahrain’s stance as a regional sports hub.
Held in its eighth edition this year, the championship took place under the slogan “Khallak Wahsh”, or “Beast Mode”.
Previous editions have taken place at key venues such as Bahrain Bay and The Avenues Bahrain and have included a wide range of strength competitions such as log lifting and vehicle pulling.
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