highest scoring competitor entering the event takes his turn. The competition continues in stepladder fashion, beginning with the fourth and fifth place competitors, until only one remains; that competitor is declared the winner of the event and secures the second place in the final for the qualifying group. The 2018 competition used the Atlas Stones event to determine the second finalist. The three lowest scorers were eliminated from the competition, and the second and third place finishers squared off with the winner advancing to the final. The 2019 competition saw the return of Last Man Standing, but instead of featuring the remaining four competitors, only the second and third place competitors square off to determine the second finalist. Championship breakdown Multiple time champions Multiple Top 3 Finishes Championships by country Australia, Bulgaria, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Samoa, Serbia, and Slovenia as of 2019 have all placed in the Top 10 but have not yet won a medal. Other Most times WSM top 5 placings: 13 – Brian Shaw (2009–2018, 2020–2022) Most WSM finals: 14 – Brian Shaw (2009–2022) Most times qualified for WSM: 17 – Mark Felix (2004, 2006–2011, 2013–2022) Most consecutive WSM Titles: 3 – Bill Kazmaier (1980-1982) and Magnús Ver Magnússon (1994–1996) Most consecutive WSM podium finishes: 8 – Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2012–2019) Most consecutive WSM finals: 14 – Brian Shaw (2009–2022) Most consecutive WSM appearances: 15 – Brian Shaw (2008–2022) Most WSM runner-up finishes: 6 – Žydrūnas Savickas (2002–2004, 2011, 2013, 2015) Most WSM 3rd place finishes: 4 – Brian Shaw (2009, 2014, 2017, 2018) and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2012, 2013, 2015, 2019) Longest Time Between First and Last Championships: 6 years – Jón Páll Sigmarsson (1984–1990) and Mariusz Pudzianowski (2002–2008) Longest Time Between First and Last Top 3 Finishes: 13 years – Žydrūnas Savickas (2002–2015) Longest Time Between First and Last Qualifications For Final: 16 years – Žydrūnas Savickas (2002–2018) Longest Time Between First and Last Qualifications: 20 years – Žydrūnas Savickas (1998–2018) Longest Gap Between Championships: 3 years – Magnús Ver Magnússon (1991–1994) Longest Gap Between Top 3 Finishes: 6 years – Bill Kazmaier (1982–1988) Longest Gap Between Appearances: 10 years – Travis Ortmayer (2011–2021) Hall of Fame The WSM Hall of Fame was created in 2008 to recognize the greatest competitors in the history of the contest. As of 2022,