News
Individual World Championship 2023: Who will be crowned World Champion?
The battle for the most prestigious title in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series will take place on 4 November in the Porsche-Arena. Among the best individual athletes in the world, there are numerous competitors with a chance of winning the title, but it is hardly possible to pinpoint a clear favourite this year. Even though traditionally the athletes from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA are always fighting for the title, the European representatives are also eager to claim the medals or the victory itself.
Jack Jordan, New Zealand
This year, the Kiwi has the chance to win not only the World Trophy but also the Individual World Championship. Only his late compatriot and TIMBERSPORTS® icon Jason Wynyard has managed to hold both titles at the same time. Jordan has shown that he is in top form this year, most recently on the international stage of the World Trophy, where he secured the title with a new world record in the Trophy format. Even though the athlete from New Zealand has never competed in an Individual World Championship before, Jack Jordan is likely to have his sights set firmly on the title.
Jason Lentz, USA
Much like his qualification for the World Trophy this year, Jason Lentz's participation was once again decided in a heart-stopping final against Matt Cogar at the U.S. National Championship. The 2021 Individual World Champion is now looking to become the best TIMBERSPORTS® athlete once again in the world and round off his strong season with the prestigious title. With three new personal bests in 2023 in the Standing Block Chop, Underhand Chop and Stock Saw disciplines, Lentz has already shown top performances, and more are to follow in Stuttgart.
Jamie Head, Australia
Jamie Head wants to make sure that the Individual World Championship title once again goes to Australia this year and will attempt to continue the success story of the "Chopperoos". Since 2018, only in 2021 did the Individual World Champion not come from Down Under - and at that time no Australian competed due to the pandemic. At the national championships, Head made a statement with four new personal bests, beating former World Champions Brad De Losa, Laurence O'Toole and Brayden Meyer. Even though he is a newcomer to an Individual World Championships, he is automatically considered a contender for the title as Australia's representative.
Ben Cumberland, Canada
Ben Cumberland returns to the Individual World Championship stage this year. On his way to the season finale, Cumberland set a new world record on the Single Buck, overtaking his fellow compatriot Marcel Dupuis not only as the record holder, but also as the Canadian champion. After his fourth-place finish at the 2019 World Championship, the goal this year is to at least finish on the podium and possibly win the first World Championship title for Canada.
Danny Martin, Germany
Although the four-time German champion has a place on the starting grid at the World Individual Championships as a local hero, Danny Martin will also travel to Stuttgart as the best athlete of the European Ranking 2023. The 35-year-old confirmed his strong form from the World Individual Championship in Gothenburg 2022, just missing out on the podium with fourth place. Inspired by this, Danny Martin will once again be competing against the best in the world and with his home crowd behind him, there can be no better conditions for him to reach for the ultimate victory.
Michał Dubicki, Poland
Another athlete from Europe who can play at the top is the Pole Michał Dubicki. It was only in June that Dubicki excelled at the World Trophy, finishing second, beaten only by Jack Jorden's world record. Even though the Polish athlete is more known for his qualities in the axe disciplines, he set a new national record on the single buck at the national championship this year. Wherever Dubicki competes, you have to expect him to be in the fight for the podium.
In addition, the top European athletes Koen Martens (BEL), Pierre Puybaret (FRA), Martin Roušal (CZE), Emil Hansson (SWE), Redmer Knol (NEL) and Cyril Pabst (SUI) are among the twelve best looger sports athletes in the world. All of them can be expected to make it onto the podium.