I was never meant to be the World's Strongest Man and I'd lost all hope in life – my autism became my superpower
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BY his own admission, Tom Stoltman was never meant to be the World's Strongest Man.
Stoltman, 30, is one of the biggest names in the Strongman scene and the most decorated Brit in the history of the sport - earning the the title of World's Strongest Man in three of the last four years.
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Tom Stoltman is a three-time World's Strongest Man champion
But the Invergordon-born lifter had not always been aspiring to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
In fact, had it not been from a nudge by his mother and the help of his brother, he may have never even competed.
Stoltman has opened up about closing off the outside world in his youth as he battled with his autism diagnosis and claimed to have no future and no goals.
But thanks to his family - and the gym - he was able to turn his autism into his superpower and become the World's Strongest Man.
READ MORE IN STRONGMAN
MENTAL STRENGTH I was homeless and sleeping in barn, now I compete at World's Strongest Man
GROWING UP WITH AUTISM
Stoltman was diagnosed with autism when he was just five years old and found that he was written off from a young age due to his diagnosis.
He told the Guardian: "My teachers said you're not going to do anything with your life.
"I was getting bullied … I wouldn't be able to go sleep over at a friend's house. I wouldn't be able to go on a train 10 minutes from my house. I'd always have to have my mum everywhere."
Stoltman was isolated, spending every day alone in his room and feeling that he had no future and no goals in sight.
I locked myself in my house was like, 'Right, I'm either going into [the social care system] or I'll just kill myself.'
Tom Stoltman
And that feeling of being cut off from the rest of society had left Stoltman contemplating the worst.
He added: "I was really, kind of, disheartened that I had autism … I was like 'Why is it me who has it and not my brothers and sisters?'
'I quit my football team because all my friends had left and I didn't have anywhere to go.
"I locked myself in my house was like, 'Right, I'm either going into [the social care system] or I'll just kill myself.''
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Stoltman was diagnosed with autism when he was five years old
Credit: instagram @tomstoltmanofficial
Tom Stoltman shows off incredible strength as he trains ahead of World's Strongest Man
'THE GYM SAVED MY LIFE'
There's no way of knowing for sure what path Stoltman would have gone down if he had continued to isolate himself, but thankfully he found something that helped change his life.
Thanks to a nudge from his mother and the support of older brother Luke, Stoltman managed to get back on his feet and a find a passion that helped him make his autism his superpower.
Luke - who is also a strongman - was going to the gym at the time and took his younger brother along with him to help him get out of the house.
He previously said: "If I hadn't of said yes that day, if Luke hadn't taken me under his wing- I wouldn't have won World's Strongest Man, yet alone three times. The gym saved my life."
Stoltman suddenly had something to focus on and his big brother by his side while he did.
Although the initial sessions were hard with loud noises, mirrors and new faces, Stoltman soon found he couldn't keep away.
He added: "One session turned into two, and before I knew it I was hooked.
"My autism became my superpower, I was able to put 100 per cent focus into my new hobby.
"Training gave me something to focus on and Luke was by my side, supporting me every step of the way, never letting me give in."
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Stoltman's brother Luke took him under his wing and helped him find a passion at the gym
Credit: Todd Burandt
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The pair worked together to become the 'world's strongest brothers'
Credit: Rex
STRONGMAN AMBITIONS
At first the gym was just a hobby for Stoltman, a way of channeling his autism to benefit his health and keep him in good shape.
But that all changed when he watched Luke compete in Scotland's Strongest Man.
Stoltman was in awe of how his brother was lifting huge stones and carrying cars and immediately knew that he wanted to be doing the same thing.
He began to change his training routine, his diet and his application and by the age of 18 he won his first title - Highlands Strongest Man.
Soon after that everything began to snowball and Stoltman was earning a reputation within the sport.
Barely out of school, the 6ft 8in man-mountain began competing in the likes of Scotland's Strongest Man and Britain's Strongest Man.
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Stoltman became a strongman after being inspired by his brother
Credit: Alamy
THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD
Stoltman only got better and better, and that boy who didn't used to be able to step out of his own bedroom was soon crowned the World's Strongest Man.
At the age of 27, Stoltman won the 2021 edition of the Sacramento competition - becoming only the second Brit to do so in the 21st century.
But it wasn't just that he had managed an impressive performance when it mattered most, Stoltman had dominated the sport.
In the years that followed Stoltman became a three-time Britain's Strongest man winner and earned a consecutive WSM title in the 2022 competition - making more history as the first Brit to retain the title.
Stoltman - nicknamed the Albatross for his incredible wingspan - had admitted that he was more interested in football than strongman as a kid, but years later and he had etched his name in the sport's metaphorical hall of fame.
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Stoltman earned the title of World's Strongest Man
Credit: Joe Martinez
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He secured his third title last year
Credit: Rich Storry/World's Strongest Man
LIVING THE DREAM
Stoltman continued his dominance when he bounced back from a 2nd place finish in the 2023 WSM competition to win his third title in 2024.
But it hasn't just been about competing on the big stage, Stoltman has started to build an empire alongside his reputation.
The Scot now boasts nearly 300,000 YouTube subscribers on a channel he shares with his brother, while he's just short of half a million followers on his own Instagram page.
That has helped him create a clothing line that you've likely seen being sported by someone in your local gym.
While Stoltman has been able to earn himself incredible opportunities, including living out his dream of playing football at Wembley.
The Scot represented the Rest of World team in the 2022 Soccer Aid match, playing in goal and saving three penalties during the shootout.
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The 6ft 8in giant played in Soccer Aid in 2022
Credit: instagram
NOT FINISHED YET
It sounds like a fairytale ending to an incredible story, but at just 30 years old Stoltman is ready to win even more titles and go down in history as one of the best strongmen ever.
He returns to Sacramento to take part in his eighth World's Strongest Man competition this week, hoping to add a fourth title in five years.
His 10,000 calorie per day diet and his wealth of experience will help fuel him to success as he remains among the favourites to win a historic fourth title.
Brother Luke, 40, will also take part, having managed top 10 finishes for the last four years in a row.
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