As Tom Stoltman crouched down to pick up the fifth and final Atlas Stone, a 210-kilogram (almost 463 pounds) spherical behemoth – slightly heavier than an upright piano – and lift it up to a platform at shoulder height, he knew it was the only thing standing between him and becoming the ‘World’s Strongest Man.’
It was the final lift, in the final event, in a week’s worth of grueling challenges designed to test the upper limits of human strength, pitting giants from all over the world in trials ranging from pushing a 20-ton train for maximum speed, to squatting 320kg (about 705.5 pounds) for maximum reps, to tossing a 33-pound keg for maximum height and numerous other unimaginable feats of strength.
In the end, the title came down to two men: 2020 runner-up Stoltman, who is from Scotland, and four-time former ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Brian Shaw. A win for Stoltman over his American opponent in the Atlas Stones and the title was the Scot’s.
As Stoltman dropped the mammoth stone onto the platform, he turned to see his American opponent still negotiating his way through the colossal orbs.
The Scot dropped to his knees in equal parts exhaustion, celebration and relief. The 27-year-old knew he had achieved what once seemed impossible; he was the ‘World’s Strongest Man.’
It was the final lift, in the final event, in a week’s worth of grueling challenges designed to test the upper limits of human strength, pitting giants from all over the world in trials ranging from pushing a 20-ton train for maximum speed, to squatting 320kg (about 705.5 pounds) for maximum reps, to tossing a 33-pound keg for maximum height and numerous other unimaginable feats of strength.
In the end, the title came down to two men: 2020 runner-up Stoltman, who is from Scotland, and four-time former ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Brian Shaw. A win for Stoltman over his American opponent in the Atlas Stones and the title was the Scot’s.
As Stoltman dropped the mammoth stone onto the platform, he turned to see his American opponent still negotiating his way through the colossal orbs.
The Scot dropped to his knees in equal parts exhaustion, celebration and relief. The 27-year-old knew he had achieved what once seemed impossible; he was the ‘World’s Strongest Man.’
