New for 2027 – Men’s Masters 105kg / 231lb Weight Class!
We’re adding another class for our 40+ men: Men’s Masters 105kg / 231lb.
We’re also looking ahead to 2028. If we have at least 10 competitors in the Women’s Masters division in 2027, we plan to add a Women’s Masters 73kg / 161lb weight class for 2028.
New for 2027 – Divisional Championship now at Celeste Center
Friday’s Divisional Championships will be held at the Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center.
The move gives the World’s Strongest Firefighter competition a larger dedicated space for Friday’s events, with arena-style seating and plenty of room for athletes, spectators and competition equipment.
Athletes will compete for their divisional World’s Strongest Firefighter titles on Friday, with the top non-masters division competitors advancing to Saturday’s World’s Strongest Firefighter Finals on the Expo Stage at the Arnold Expo.
Thursday’s athlete check-in, rules meeting and firefighter shirt/coin swap will also take place at the Celeste Center.
Shuttle service will run between the Ohio Expo Center and the Greater Columbus Convention Center throughout the Arnold Sports Festival, and parking is available at the Ohio Expo Center.
Schedule
Schedule subject to change.
Competitors can attend any check-in session. If you are unable to check in Thursday or attend the rules meeting, please let us know!
Thursday, March 4th 2027
Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Weigh-Ins
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Weigh-In / Check-in session 2
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Weigh-In / Check-in session 3
6:00 PM – Rules Meeting
Immediately after rules meeting: Shirt Swap / Coin Swap
After rules meeting concludes, firefighter athletes will have the ability to meet their fellow competitors, and swap coins, patches, or department t-shirts with them.
Friday, March 5th 2027 – Divisional Championships
Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center
8:00 AM – Doors Open to Athletes/Coaches
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Events
5:00 PM – Awards
Saturday, March 6th 2027 – Finals
Goodale St and the Arnold Expo Stage
10:00 AM – Truck Pull on Goodale St (tentative)
1:00 PM – Finals on Expo Stage
6:00 PM – Athlete Dinner at Schmidt’s
Classes
Athletes weigh in on Thursday, March 4th. Athlete must weigh at or below the stated class in kilograms. There is no weight allowance. Nudity is not allowed in the weigh-in.
You must have been born on or before March 5th, 1987 to compete in the 40+ classes.
Lightweight Men: 90 kg (198 lbs) and under
Middleweight Men: 105 kg (231 lbs) and under
Open Men: Over 105kg (231lb)
Middleweight Masters Men: 40 years old and above and 105kg (231lbs) and under
Masters Men: 40 years old and above and over 105kg (231lbs)
Lightweight Women: 73 kg (161 lbs) and under
Open Women: Over 73kg (161lbs)
Masters Women: Women 40 years old and above
The top three finishers from the Lightweight Men, Middleweight Men, Lightweight Women, and Open Women divisions will advance to the finals. The top six finishers from the Open Men division will also move on to the finals. The Masters classes will not move on to the finals. If you want a chance at the finals, compete in a non-masters class.
- Divisional events will be released on 10/9/2026
- Finals Events will be released on 10/23/2026
- Early Bird Pricing ends 11/1/2026
- Entry Deadline: 1/30/2027
- Entries received after 1/30/2027 will have a $80 late fee.
- Extra shirts need to be in by 1/30/2027 to guarantee names will be on the shirts and badges.
- Preordered items are only guaranteed through 1/30/2027
- Coach’s Passes need to be ordered by 2/13/2027 to have name and team on the pass.
- Late entry ends on 2/13/2027
- Weigh-ins and Rules Meeting: 3/4/2027
- Divisional Competition is 3/5/2027
- Finals are 3/6/2027
Divisional Championship Events
Divisional Championship events will be released 10/9/2026.
Final Events
Final events will be released 10/23/2026.
