World Champion:
Patrick Doheny

Out of over 5,000 competitors and nine finalists, one operator finished the competition on top. Here's Patrick Doheny, the winner of the 2023 Cat® Global Operator Challenge finals at CONEXPO-CON/AGG.

TAKE ON THE WORLD
TAKE ON THE WORLD

Meet your Global Operator Challenge Champion, Patrick Doheny

The 1st-place champ of the 2023 Global Operator Challenge brought his 25 years of experience to Caterpillar's Operator Stadium. With a career focused in bulk earthworks and civil construction, Patrick Doheny's skills first took root thanks to his family's plant-hire business. He's since worked around the world, now serving as a director for CRE Group in Melbourne, Australia.
Champion Time: 26 minutes 49 seconds

Global Operator Challenge Winner
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Global Operator Challenge Winner

 

 

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Global Operator Challenge
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Global Operator Challenge




What does it take to be a champion of the Global Operator Challenge? Patrick Doheny's attention to detail and love for high-stakes work certainly helps.

 

"I am beyond thrilled to have earned the title of the best Caterpillar machine operator on the planet. Kudos to Caterpillar for hosting such an incredible event to highlight the importance of our profession. It is truly a dream come true to see your life’s passion be rewarded in such an amazing way."

- Patrick Doheny, 2023 Global Operator Challenge Champion

 

TEAM CHAMPIONS: AMERICAS

After a close competition, one group of operators prevailed –– Matt Ferris (Arizona, USA), Fernando Nascimento (Brazil) and John Schiedeck (Texas, USA) –– with a combined average time of 31:17.

Global Operator Challenge Team Winners
Global Operator Challenge Team Winners

Individual Challenge Winners


The 2023 Global Operator Challenge pitted the world's best operators against each other in a good-natured contest for the worldwide title. In addition to the top prize, three finalists went home with rewards for their performance in three individual challenges. In the race to win, they moved earth, lifted objects and maneuvered heavy equipment –– operating a Cat wheel loader, a Cat backhoe loader and a Cat excavator.  

  

 

Fork-N-Loader
Challenge

 

Finalists hauled two loads before testing their precision and placement skills.

Winner: Patrick Doheny from Australia
Time: 8 minutes 45 seconds

 

 

Backhoe Services
Challenge

 

Finalists crossed a trench, opened a CVA-themed box and loaded it with filters.

Winner: John Schiedeck from the United States
Time: 5 minutes 46 seconds

 

 

Trench Run
Challenge

 

Finalists dug a profile trench and placed balls into a barrel without breaking them.

Winner: Lukasz Mokrzynski from Poland
Time: 7 minutes 53 seconds

 

You've seen what it takes to be a champion. Now see how they got here.


 

GOC Countdown
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GOC Countdown

Local Challenges

Competitors show off their skills
at a local dealer event.

Regional Finals

Those who win move on to
the regional finals.

Global Finals

The top nine finalists from around the
world compete for the title.

2023 Global Operator Challenge Finalists

These nine finalists competed against more the 5,000 other machine operators to earn their spot in the final round. Get to know each of these outstanding competitors a little better in these quick profiles.

Pontus Eriksson
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Pontus Eriksson
Nick Thompson
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Nick Thompson
Matt Ferris
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Matt Ferris
Sebastian Behr
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Sebastian Behr
Fernando
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Fernando
Masato Imai
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Masato Imai
John Schiedeck
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John Schiedeck
Lukasz Mokrzynski
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Lukasz Mokrzynski
Patrick Doheny
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Patrick Doheny

 

 

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Pontus Eriksson
Nick Thompson
Matt Ferris
Sebastian Behr
Fernando Nascimento
Masato Imai
John Schiedeck
Łukasz Mokrzyński
Patrick Doheny

Hats off to our regional competitors!

We want to congratulate all of the machine operators who competed in our 2022 Global Operator Challenge regional. They really took this competition to next level.

See regional participants
finals
finals

DON'T WORRY, YOU DIDN'T MISS THE MAIN EVENT

Watch the 2023 Global Operator Challenge, which streamed live from Caterpillar's Operator Stadium at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas.

WATCH NOW
crowd cheering
crowd cheering

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM REGIONALS

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