Latest news with #StoneMedley
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
World's ‘strongest men' are not just brawn, but have more to their personalities
Eddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends. In his spare time, he lifts enormously heavy weights as he competes to be the world's strongest man. Some people think weightlifters are 'a lot of angry people who just like to throw weight around,' the 190-kg Australian said, but 'I can be, you know, a happy person, and still be able to lift heavy weights.' Dripping with sweat after a Stone Medley — that is, lifting very heavy stones — Mr. Williams insisted there is no contradiction between strength and likability. His wife, Hannah, agreed. 'They're these gentle giants that are just so lovely, such beautiful human beings that are caring, and they're all cheering for each other,' she said. They were in the California capital for the 'World's Strongest Man' competition, taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Human colossuses like Mr. Williams, with sculpted backs, impossibly muscled arms, and rippling thighs, compete by lifting objects to twice their own weight — or more. Mitchell Hooper, a 29-year-old former champion who has a Master's degree in clinical exercise physiology, agreed that people have a mistaken idea about competitive weightlifters. People think 'that we're uneducated meatheads,' said the 320-pound Canadian, whose nickname is 'Moose.' But, he added, 'a lot of guys have higher education, and we train to compete strongly, because we just like to challenge ourselves.' One man who clearly wanted to destroy stereotypes was American Rob Kearney, who dyed his hair and beard in rainbow colours for the competition and calls himself 'the world's strongest gay man.' Mr. Kearney, 33, a former competitor attending the event in Sacramento, said he wanted to 'break some of those stereotypes of what (people) think masculinity is.' 'Strength isn't just the amount of weight we can deadlift,' he said. 'Strength is all about who you are as a person, how you hold yourself, and how you support others.' A struggle of titans The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California. Over the years, the sport has gained investors and enthusiasts, becoming more professional: eight world records have been set here in the last 14 years. The names of the individual events — the 'Titan's Toss,' 'Atlas Stones,' 'Flintstone Barbell,' and 'Hercules Hold' — convey the magnitude of the challenges. To build the enormous strength necessary, nutrition is vital, said 30-year-old Rayno Nel, a South African beginner in such competitions. Mr. Nel, who took up the sport after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, puts in long nights at his gym while following a complicated eating schedule aimed at providing him with 6,000 calories a day. That takes sacrifice, he said, while quickly adding, 'I love it.' Once the competition is over, Mr. Nel plans to grab a burger and a beer. But for these Samsons — some over 6-feet-6 (two meters) tall — it's not all about food and exercise. 'In pain every day' Mr. Hooper, who was catching his breath after throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 12-foot-high bar, said there are downsides to being one of the world's strongest men. 'You wake up in pain every day. You don't fit in normal spots. You have to wear a sleep apnea machine. You're always sweating.' But, he added, 'the upsides are pretty cool.' Those include the enthusiastic fans, friends, and family members who explode with joy when their favorite lifter manages a feat, or suffer along with him if he falls short. Power lifting is a competitive discipline, but the sense of camaraderie in the arena is clearly felt. Competitors watch their rivals intently, cheering them on, shouting, and clapping. Such support, Mr. Kearney said, is the perfect refutation of all the stereotypes. 'When you see two men embrace each other and cheer for each other and support each other,' he said, 'it really shows just what strength means.'
Kuwait Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
‘Gentle giants': World's strongest men defy stereotypes
SACRAMENTO: Eddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends. In his spare time, he lifts enormously heavy weights as he competes to be the world's strongest man. Some people think weightlifters are 'a lot of angry people who just like to throw weight around,' the 420-pound (190-kilogram) Australian told AFP, but 'I can be, you know, a happy person, and still be able to lift heavy weights.' Dripping with sweat after a Stone Medley — that is lifting very heavy stones — Williams insisted there is no contradiction between strength and likability. His wife Hannah agreed. 'They're these gentle giants that are just so lovely, such beautiful human beings that are caring, and they're all cheering for each other,' she said. They were in the California capital for the 'World's Strongest Man' competition, taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Human colossuses like Williams, with sculpted backs, impossibly muscled arms and rippling thighs, compete by lifting objects up to twice their own weight — or more. Mitchell Hooper, a 29-year-old former champion who has a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology, agreed that people have a mistaken idea about competitive weightlifters. People think 'that we're uneducated meatheads,' said the 320-pound Canadian, whose nickname is 'Moose.' But, he added, 'a lot of guys have higher education, and we train to compete strongly, because we just like to challenge ourselves.' One man who clearly wanted to destroy stereotypes was American Rob Kearney, who dyed his hair and beard in rainbow colors for the competition.' Kearney, 33, a former competitor attending the event in Sacramento, said he wanted to 'break some of those stereotypes of what (people) think masculinity is. Strength isn't just the amount of weight we can deadlift,' he said. 'Strength is all about who you are as a person, how you hold yourself and how you support others.' A struggle of titans The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California. The concept has remained the same but, over the years, the sport has gained investors and enthusiasts, becoming more professional: eight world records have been set here in the last 14 years. The names of the individual events — the 'Titan's Toss,' 'Atlas Stones,' 'Flintstone Barbell' and 'Hercules Hold' — convey the magnitude of the challenges. To build the enormous strength necessary, nutrition is vital, said 30-year-old Rayno Nel, a South African beginner in such competitions. Nel, who took up the sport after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, puts in long nights at his gym while following a complicated eating schedule aimed at providing him with 6,000 calories a day in meat and vegetables. That takes sacrifice, he said, while quickly adding, 'I love it.' Once the competition is over, Nel plans to grab a burger and a beer. But for these Samsons — some over 6-feet-6 (two meters) tall — it's not all about food and exercise. Concentration and focus are also essential, said Odd Haugen, 75, a former competitor. 'You've got to be really ready,' he said, 'because it's really heavy!' 'In pain every day' Hooper, who was catching his breath after throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 12-foot-high bar, acknowledged to AFP that there are downsides to being one of the world's strongest men. 'You wake up in pain every day. You're constantly sore. You don't fit in normal spots. You have to wear a sleep apnea machine. You're always hot. You're always sweating.' — AFP But, he added, 'the upsides are pretty cool.' Those include the enthusiastic fans, friends and family members who explode with joy when their favorite lifter manages a feat, or suffer along with him if he falls short. Power lifting is a competitive discipline, but the sense of camaraderie in the arena is clearly felt. Competitors watch their rivals intently, cheering them on, shouting and clapping. Such support, Kearney said, is the perfect refutation of all the stereotypes. 'When you see two men embrace each other and cheer for each other and support each other,' he said, 'it really shows just what strength means.' – AFP
Int'l Business Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
'Gentle Giants': World's Strongest Men Defy Stereotypes
Eddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends. In his spare time, he lifts enormously heavy weights as he competes to be the world's strongest man. Some people think weightlifters are "a lot of angry people who just like to throw weight around," the 420-pound (190-kilogram) Australian told AFP, but "I can be, you know, a happy person, and still be able to lift heavy weights." Dripping with sweat after a Stone Medley -- that is lifting very heavy stones -- Williams insisted there is no contradiction between strength and likability. His wife Hannah agreed. "They're these gentle giants that are just so lovely, such beautiful human beings that are caring, and they're all cheering for each other," she said. They were in the California capital for the "World's Strongest Man" competition, taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Human colossuses like Williams, with sculpted backs, impossibly muscled arms and rippling thighs, compete by lifting objects up to twice their own weight -- or more. Mitchell Hooper, a 29-year-old former champion who has a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology, agreed that people have a mistaken idea about competitive weightlifters. People think "that we're uneducated meatheads," said the 320-pound Canadian, whose nickname is "Moose." But, he added, "a lot of guys have higher education, and we train to compete strongly, because we just like to challenge ourselves." One man who clearly wanted to destroy stereotypes was American Rob Kearney, who dyed his hair and beard in rainbow colors for the competition and calls himself "the world's strongest gay man." Kearney, 33, a former competitor attending the event in Sacramento, said he wanted to "break some of those stereotypes of what (people) think masculinity is." "Strength isn't just the amount of weight we can deadlift," he said. "Strength is all about who you are as a person, how you hold yourself and how you support others." The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California. The concept has remained the same but, over the years, the sport has gained investors and enthusiasts, becoming more professional: eight world records have been set here in the last 14 years. The names of the individual events -- the "Titan's Toss," "Atlas Stones," "Flintstone Barbell" and "Hercules Hold" -- convey the magnitude of the challenges. To build the enormous strength necessary, nutrition is vital, said 30-year-old Rayno Nel, a South African beginner in such competitions. Nel, who took up the sport after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, puts in long nights at his gym while following a complicated eating schedule aimed at providing him with 6,000 calories a day in meat and vegetables. That takes sacrifice, he said, while quickly adding, "I love it." Once the competition is over, Nel plans to grab a burger and a beer. But for these Samsons -- some over 6-feet-6 (two meters) tall -- it's not all about food and exercise. Concentration and focus are also essential, said Odd Haugen, 75, a former competitor. "You've got to be really ready," he said, "because it's really heavy!" Hooper, who was catching his breath after throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 12-foot-high bar, acknowledged to AFP that there are downsides to being one of the world's strongest men. "You wake up in pain every day. You're constantly sore. You don't fit in normal spots. You have to wear a sleep apnea machine. You're always hot. You're always sweating." But, he added, "the upsides are pretty cool." Those include the enthusiastic fans, friends and family members who explode with joy when their favorite lifter manages a feat, or suffer along with him if he falls short. Power lifting is a competitive discipline, but the sense of camaraderie in the arena is clearly felt. Competitors watch their rivals intently, cheering them on, shouting and clapping. Such support, Kearney said, is the perfect refutation of all the stereotypes. "When you see two men embrace each other and cheer for each other and support each other," he said, "it really shows just what strength means."
France 24
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
'Gentle giants': World's strongest men defy stereotypes
Some people think weightlifters are "a lot of angry people who just like to throw weight around," the 420-pound (190-kilogram) Australian told AFP, but "I can be, you know, a happy person, and still be able to lift heavy weights." Dripping with sweat after a Stone Medley -- that is lifting very heavy stones -- Williams insisted there is no contradiction between strength and likability. His wife Hannah agreed. "They're these gentle giants that are just so lovely, such beautiful human beings that are caring, and they're all cheering for each other," she said. They were in the California capital for the "World's Strongest Man" competition, taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Human colossuses like Williams, with sculpted backs, impossibly muscled arms and rippling thighs, compete by lifting objects up to twice their own weight -- or more. Mitchell Hooper, a 29-year-old former champion who has a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology, agreed that people have a mistaken idea about competitive weightlifters. People think "that we're uneducated meatheads," said the 320-pound Canadian, whose nickname is "Moose." But, he added, "a lot of guys have higher education, and we train to compete strongly, because we just like to challenge ourselves." One man who clearly wanted to destroy stereotypes was American Rob Kearney, who dyed his hair and beard in rainbow colors for the competition and calls himself "the world's strongest gay man." Kearney, 33, a former competitor attending the event in Sacramento, said he wanted to "break some of those stereotypes of what (people) think masculinity is." "Strength isn't just the amount of weight we can deadlift," he said. "Strength is all about who you are as a person, how you hold yourself and how you support others." - A struggle of titans - The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California. The concept has remained the same but, over the years, the sport has gained investors and enthusiasts, becoming more professional: eight world records have been set here in the last 14 years. The names of the individual events -- the "Titan's Toss," "Atlas Stones," "Flintstone Barbell" and "Hercules Hold" -- convey the magnitude of the challenges. To build the enormous strength necessary, nutrition is vital, said 30-year-old Rayno Nel, a South African beginner in such competitions. Nel, who took up the sport after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, puts in long nights at his gym while following a complicated eating schedule aimed at providing him with 6,000 calories a day in meat and vegetables. That takes sacrifice, he said, while quickly adding, "I love it." Once the competition is over, Nel plans to grab a burger and a beer. But for these Samsons -- some over 6-feet-6 (two meters) tall -- it's not all about food and exercise. Concentration and focus are also essential, said Odd Haugen, 75, a former competitor. "You've got to be really ready," he said, "because it's really heavy!" 'In pain every day' Hooper, who was catching his breath after throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 12-foot-high bar, acknowledged to AFP that there are downsides to being one of the world's strongest men. "You wake up in pain every day. You're constantly sore. You don't fit in normal spots. You have to wear a sleep apnea machine. You're always hot. You're always sweating." But, he added, "the upsides are pretty cool." Those include the enthusiastic fans, friends and family members who explode with joy when their favorite lifter manages a feat, or suffer along with him if he falls short. Power lifting is a competitive discipline, but the sense of camaraderie in the arena is clearly felt. Competitors watch their rivals intently, cheering them on, shouting and clapping. Such support, Kearney said, is the perfect refutation of all the stereotypes. "When you see two men embrace each other and cheer for each other and support each other," he said, "it really shows just what strength means."
Tom's Guide
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Tom's Guide
How to watch 'World's Strongest Man' 2025 online
A major shake-up has effectively turned "World's Strongest Man" 2025 into one extended final. The revamp makes WSM 2025, which is being staged in Sacramento, California, a test of both strength and endurance. Here's how to watch "World's Strongest Man" 2025 from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free. Be warned, though: while the competition runs from May 15-18, it won't start airing until several weeks later. "World's Strongest Man" 2025 runs from Thursday, May 15 to Sunday, May 18. It will air later this year.• WATCH FREE — My5 (U.K.)• U.S. — CBS and CBS Sports Network via Fubo or Paramount Plus• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free In another huge twist, the Stone-Off is no more, with the Stone Medley, involving every athlete, taking its place. Nobody can afford to rest on their laurels here. Two contenders from each of the five groups of five will make it through the heats, and they'll carry forward the points they earned. That's probably fine with Tom Stoltman and favorite Mitchell Hooper, aged 30 and 29 respectively. Perhaps not so good news for 40-year-old Luke Stoltman. With the younger Stoltman aiming for a fourth title, which would draw the Scotsman level with Brian Shaw, Magnus ver Magnusson and Zydrunas Savickas — one behind the great Mariusz Pudzianowski — he'll be pleased to have been drawn into Group 1. You can watch 2023 champion Hooper, last year's runner-up, in Group 2, while Group 3 features two-time WSM runner-up Mateusz Kieliszkowski, America's Strongest Man Lucas Hatton and Africa's Strongest Man Rayno Nel. Europe's Strongest Man Luke Richardson and in-form Ondrej Fojtu are in Group 4; Evan Singleton will contest Group 5 with the elder Stoltman and Pavlo Kordiyaka. Here's how to watch "World's Strongest Man" 2025 online from anywhere. We've also listed the events and contestants further down the page. Free-to-air My5 is the home of "World's Strongest Man" in the U.K., but it typically only starts airing on December 26 each year. By contrast, fans based in the U.S. can tune in throughout the summer on CBS and CBS Sports Network via Paramount Plus (7-day free trial) and Fubo (free trial). But what if you're on holiday and don't want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you'd usually be able to watch the event at home? Don't worry — you can watch it via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "World's Strongest Man" via your subscription? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) could be the fix you need. The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of whereabouts in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market – read our NordVPN review to find out why. There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Try the $3.99 per month plan for the best value Using a VPN is incredibly simple — just follow these steps: 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in Canada and want to view a British service, you'd select U.K. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to My5 and stream "World's Strongest Man" 2025 online. Broadcast plans for "World's Strongest Man" 2025 are under wraps at the time of publication, but it typically airs across CBS and CBS Sports Network, with streaming available via Paramount Plus (7-day free trial). CBS and CBS Sports Network are available to cord-cutters via Fubo. The Pro Plan costs $79.99 per month and gives you 189 channels, including ABC, USA Network, FS1, ESPN and FX, plus lots more for sports fans to enjoy. Paramount Plus starts at $7.99 per month, rising to $12.99 per month for live streaming and Showtime. "World's Strongest Man" premiered on July 20 last year, roughly six weeks after filming. For now, we'd recommend keeping an eye out for clips on the World's Strongest Man YouTube channel. Fubo is one of the best live TV services with CBS and CBS Sports Network. The streamer all of the local broadcast networks and most of the top cable channels. Who needs cable? Not Fubo subscribers. And it's got a 7-day free trial so you don't need to pay upfront. The Paramount Plus library includes "Survivor", "NCIS" and "Ghosts", as well as originals like "1923" and "Star Trek: Section 31". The Showtime plan also comes with that network's shows, like "Billions" and "Yellowjackets". "World's Strongest Man" typically starts airing on Boxing Day in the U.K.. On a more positive note, when it eventually arrives it will be available to watch for free on Channel 5 and its My5 streaming service. For now, you can watch snippets of the action on the "World's Strongest Man" YouTube channel. Anybody abroad in the U.K. from the U.S. can use one of the best VPN services to access their usual streaming service. We recommend NordVPN thanks to its speed, reliability and trusted security features. "World's Strongest Man" isn't available to watch in Canada. However, Americans and Brits traveling in Canada can catch it online by using a VPN, such as NordVPN. "World's Strongest Man" hasn't found a home in Australia. However, Americans and Brits traveling Down Under can still catch "World's Strongest Man" 2025 online by using a VPN like NordVPN. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
