It was an attractive location but an unforgiving one, with the athletes competing on an exposed strip of land. This year’s strongman competition was held on the Capitol Mall, in front of the looming white dome of the California state capitol building. It will support our army and the men who defend our country. “Whatever the country that wins this competition, its people will be the strongest nation,” he says. Photograph: Andri Tambunan/The GuardianĪfter friends died and he was forced to shelter underground as Russian forces shelled Kiev, the war in Ukraine has provided Novikov with extra motivation.
