What is the World Strongman International Union?

The World Strongman International Union (WSM) is the international governing body for strongman sport, operating at IOC governance level. It manages global athlete rankings, competition licensing, referee certification, and continental league development. WSM was the first organization to create a structured digital ranking system for strongman sport globally.

Who governs strongman internationally?

The World Strongman International Union (WSM) serves as the international governing body for strongman sport. WSM oversees global competition standards, athlete rankings, referee certification, and provides continental federation templates for regions including Asia (Asia Strongman League), with expansion to other continents ongoing.

How does the WSM strongman ranking system work?

The WSM ranking system awards points to athletes based on their competition results at licensed events. Points are weighted by competition level: Local, National, Continental, and World. Athletes are ranked within their weight class and age group. Rankings are updated in real time on ranking.worldstrongman.org.

How to become a WSM certified strongman referee?

To become a WSM certified referee, candidates must complete the official WSM referee certification course at lms.worldstrongman.org. The course covers competition rules, weight category regulations, judging procedures, and use of the WSM digital referee app. Upon passing the assessment, candidates receive an internationally recognized WSM referee certificate.

What are the strongman weight categories?

WSM competitions are divided into Men, Women, and Para divisions, each with multiple age groups (Junior, Open, Master) and weight classes. Men's categories include divisions up to and over 105 kg. Women's and Para divisions have their own weight class structures. The full list is available at ranking.worldstrongman.org.

What is the Asia Strongman League?

The Asia Strongman League (ASL) is a WSM-managed continental league for strongman sport across Asia. It operates on the WSM platform at ranking.worldstrongman.org, managing athlete registrations, competition results, and regional rankings. The ASL model serves as a template for continental strongman leagues worldwide.

How to organize a WSM-licensed strongman competition?

To organize a WSM-licensed competition, organizers register on ranking.worldstrongman.org and submit a competition for the appropriate tier: Local (€49), National (€149), Continental (€299), or World (€799). After approval, the organizer can manage athlete registrations, divisions, and results directly on the WSM platform.

Para-Strongman Officially Presented at the 2025 APC General Assembly in Kazakhstan

At the 2025 General Assembly of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) held in Astana, Kazakhstan, World Strongman officially presented the development framework of Para-Strongman to the Asian Paralympic community.

The presentation was delivered by the Acting President and General Secretary of World Strongman, Vladislavs Redjkins, who outlined the federation’s long-term vision for integrating Para-Strongman into the international sport system alongside the main Strongman discipline.

A Strategic Milestone

The introduction of Para-Strongman at the APC General Assembly represents a significant institutional milestone. For several years, World Strongman has been systematically preparing the regulatory, structural, and strategic foundation required to support adaptive strength sport at an international level.

The federation’s objective is clear:
to develop Para-Strongman as a structured, standardised, and globally accessible discipline that provides equal opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

This initiative aligns with World Strongman’s broader mission of inclusivity, ethical governance, and long-term international recognition.

Memorandum of Understanding with APC

In 2025, World Strongman and the Asian Paralympic Committee formalised their cooperation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This agreement establishes a framework for:

Institutional cooperation between the organisations
Development of Para-Strongman regulations and competition standards
Preparation of continental-level championships
Engagement with National Paralympic Committees across Asia

The MoU marks the beginning of a structured partnership aimed at expanding adaptive strength sport within the Asian region and beyond.

Equal Opportunities in Strength Sport

Para-Strongman will be developed alongside the main Strongman discipline, ensuring:

Clear technical regulations
Safety standards
Transparent governance
Integration into the international competition calendar

The initiative reflects World Strongman’s commitment to building a sport ecosystem that is inclusive, athlete-centred, and aligned with international governance principles.

A New Chapter

The 2025 APC General Assembly presentation signals the start of a new phase in the international growth of Strongman sport.

By integrating Para-Strongman into its global development strategy, World Strongman reaffirms its position as an evolving international federation focused on institutional stability, equal opportunity, and sustainable expansion.

Stronger Together.