Strongman legend Brian Shaw opens up on 'bittersweet' final World's Strongest Man & 'overwhelming' support

FOUR-TIME Champion Brian Shaw's World's Strongest Man career has come to a close.

The 41-year-old waved goodbye to the competition after finishing seventh in the Finals in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Sunday.

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Speaking to The U.S. Sun shortly after Canada's Mitchell Hooper lifted the trophy for the first time in his WSM career, Shaw reflected on his "bittersweet" Finals.

"I think its definitely bittersweet for me," Shaw said.

"You know I trained and prepared really hard for this and my expectation is always to come and perform at my best.

"And it's tough to walk away from a competition where I feel like I didn't perform my best.

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"But sometimes competition is that way. You plan on it, you train for it, and it just doesn't quite turn out the way you wanted it.

"And I can only look in the mirror for that, and that's how it's always been."

But while Shaw may have been disappointed with his performances, he still felt it had been a "special" week for him.

He said: "All of the love, all of the support, is overwhelming, it really is, and makes it special.

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"It's not just this moment, if you look at it, it's my entire career and the body of work, and I think that that truly is what I stand for."

And this love was felt not only by his adoring fans who had been screaming his name all weekend, but his fellow competitors also.

For example, following his final event - the Atlas Stones in which he competed against Great Britain's Luke Stoltman - his opposite number hoisted his hand in the air as he bowed down towards the former Champion.

A truly wholesome moment that perfectly demonstrated the brotherhood that is the Strongman contingent, Shaw had clearly been feeling the love from the guys.

"It made it special," Shaw said. "That support from not only the crowd but from all the guys and everybody here really is ... it's something I'll never forget."

And in what was perhaps the most touching moment of the final day of the competition, as Shaw walked out of the arena for the last time, he was greeted by his wife Keri, and their two sons, Braxton and Kellen, who swiftly gave their dad a big hug.

He described having his family with him as "beautiful," saying he was "a very blessed man.

Shaw continued: "I've got an amazing wife. I've got the best boys I could ever ask for. And to have them here supporting me, and watching me do what I do is amazing."

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