Latest news with #World'sStrongestMan2025
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Rugby star turns up and wins World's Strongest Man on first attempt as amateur
Rugby star turns up and wins World's Strongest Man on first attempt as amateur The 30-year-old weighs over 23 stone and has made history The former rugby player has excelled in the Strongman arena. (Image: (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) ) Former rugby player Rayno Nel has won the World's Strongest Man 2025. The ex-Free State Cheetahs player became the first ever African to win the famous competition and defeated strongman royalty Tom Stoltman in the final in California. Claiming the coveted title by a mere half-point, Nel became the first rookie to win WSM since 1997. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Nel's success is fairly unprecedented too, he only took up strongman training three years ago, and took part in his first event at South Africa's Strongest Man in 2023. His strength was first recognised while at Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein, where he was captain of the rugby team for three consecutive years before going on to play for the Cheetahs. CUT posted a statement following the success of their alumnus: "His journey reflects CUT's commitment to excellence, resilience, and innovation on and off the field. We salute Rayno for his outstanding achievement and for carrying the CUT flag with pride and power." Nel is an electrical engineer by trade and works full-time unlike many of the other athletes, and despite just winning the most sought after prize in the world of strongman, he insists he has no intention of going professional at the moment. Article continues below Speaking to the legendary Eddie Hall after taking the title, he was asked about this, with Hall fully expectant that Nel would be putting all his eggs in one basket with strongman. "I love what I do," explained Nel. "I'm an electrical engineer by trade and it's really something I hold close to my heart. So, I don't think I'll ever go away from it, strongman is just a couple of years. "That's a good question, I need to sit down and think: 'What is my future?', for now, I'm going to enjoy winning the World's Strongest Man. "It's something you guys work for, for so many years, and for me it's just something that came in the first year. "I'm amazed by the great result, I'll just go back to the drawing board, plan and see what's next." Article continues below Check out this clip below. Content cannot be displayed without consent Nel also completed a stunning repetition of 490 kilograms on the deadlift. For context, the world record is 501kg, set by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (controversially besting Hall's 500kg record).
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Brit vying for World's Strongest Man - 8,000 calorie diet and insane gym routine
Meet Andrew Flynn, the British dad, railway worker and strongman smashing 8,000-calorie days and epic garden workouts as he takes on the world's elite at World's Strongest Man 2025 A British powerlifter is gearing up for the fight of his life, taking on other titans of strength at the 2025 World's Strongest Man competition. Andrew Flynn, from East Sussex, has officially made his debut at the iconic contest, which kicked off in Sacramento, California, on 15 May. The man behind the massive lifts and even bigger meals i s a down-to-earth dad juggling it all. Andrew has a full-time day job in materials control at Southern Railway and a homegrown training regime that's anything but conventional, The Sun reports. From trains to tyres Born on 12 April 1992, Andrew stands at an imposing 6ft 2in and weighs in at around 138–142kg (22 stone). He lives in Peacehaven but is from nearby Lancing. The 33-year-old only entered the strongman scene nationally in 2021, coming seventh in UK's Strongest Man. But he quickly made waves, rising to fourth in 2023 and bagging back-to-back third-place finishes in 2024 and 2025, which earned him a spot on the world stage. At Britain's Strongest Man 2025, Andrew came out singing, winning the medley event, taking second in the log lift, and finishing a solid fourth in the iconic Atlas Stones challenge. He's also been making a name for himself in Europe's Strongest Man and the Giants Live Strongman Classic. Dad first, then strongman Despite the brutal demands of training and competing, Andrew is a devoted family man, he regularly credits his wife and children as his driving force, saying their support has been vital in helping him climb to the top. Gruelling training routine Andrew keeps things simple, there are no glitzy gyms as Andrew trains four times a week in his back garden. Each session stretches beyond three hours, and often follows a full shift at work. Andrew consumes between 5,200 and 8,000 calories a day to keep up with the physical toll. His meals are jam-packed with protein, carbs and fats, with hefty portions of meat, veg and complex carbs to power through punishing routines. Early in his career, Andrew was sidelined by a major bicep injury, but instead of stopping, he came back stronger. Dubbed 'Flying Flynn' in the strongman world, he's earned a reputation for speed, grit and surprising resilience. Andrew said: 'My nickname in strongman is Flying Flynn. When I first started, I'd been playing rugby, so I was a lot lighter, a lot more mobile. I've still got that speed there, so I've always been good at the moving events. I don't really feel pain if I'm doing an event like that.' Just a lad from East Sussex Andrew admits stepping onto the World's Strongest Man stage still feels surreal especially going toe-to-toe with global icons of the sport. He said: 'It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life. On one hand, it's hard to tell people it's attainable because it's obviously very hard to get to that level and it's taken me ten years to do it, but they're human as well.' With the likes of strongman royalty including Scotland 's Stoltman brothers, Luke and Tom also vying for the crown, Andrew knows the competition will be fierce. Regardless of the legends around him, Andrew has proven he can hold his own and isn't there just to make up numbers.
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Who is Andrew Flynn? Meet the powerlifter competing in World's Strongest Man 2025
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITISH strongman and powerlifter Andrew Flynn is making his debut at World's Strongest Man 2025. The qualifying round of the competition in Sacramento, California kicked off on May 15 — here's everything you need to know. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Andrew Flynn is competing at World's Strongest Man foe the first time in 2025 Credit: Instagram @flynnflyflynn Who is Andrew Flynn? Andrew Flynn was born on April 12, 1992 and stands at 6ft 2in tall, weighing approximately 138–142kg. He hails from Lancing and currently lives in Peacehaven, both in East Sussex. Andrew balances his strongman career with his day job in materials control at Southern Railway. He began competing at the national level in 2021, initially placing seventh in the UK's Strongest Man. Over the next few years, he consistently improved, achieving fourth place in 2023, third in 2024 and 2025 at the same event, securing qualification for the World's Strongest Man. At Britain's Strongest Man 2025, he excelled in the medley, winning the event, placed second in the log lift, and also finished fourth in the Atlas Stones. He has also competed in Europe's Strongest Man and the Giants Live Strongman Classic, regularly placing in the top half of the field. Family man Andrew is a devoted family man, balancing his demanding strongman career with his responsibilities as a husband and father of two. He often credits his family as his greatest motivation, emphasising how their support and encouragement have fuelled his journey to the top of the strongman world. Despite the rigorous demands of training and competition, he prioritises spending quality time with his loved ones. Shock moment ex-World's Strongest Man & MMA fighter Eddie Hall chases driver screaming 'I'll rip your f***ing head off' Unconventional training Andrew's training approach is a bit different to most competitors — he trains four times a week in his garden. His sessions are intense, often lasting longer than three hours after a full day's work. Nutrition is a critical part of Andrew's regimen — he consumes between 5,200 and 8,000 calories daily, with a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and fats. His everyday meals are substantial, with large portions of meat, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, reflecting the immense energy requirements of elite strongman athletes. Overcoming injury Andrew overcame a significant bicep injury early in his career, which sidelined him from major competitions. It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life Andrew Flynn But it also ultimately fuelled his determination to return stronger. Known as the 'Flying Flynn' in the strongman community, his resilience and work ethic have earned him a reputation as an underdog who consistently exceeds expectations. Andrew said: 'My nickname in strongman is Flying Flynn. When I first started, I'd been playing rugby, so I was a lot lighter, a lot more mobile. "I've still got that speed there, so I've always been good at the moving events. I don't really feel pain if I'm doing an event like that.' 2025 World's Strongest Man Andrew's debut at World's Strongest Man 2025 marks a significant milestone in his career. As he explained: 'It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life. "On one hand, it's hard to tell people it's attainable because it's obviously very hard to get to that level and it's taken me ten years to do it, but they're human as well. "It's about taking the veil down really. You understand the hard work that everyone's put in." He'll be facing off against the biggest names in the game, including 'Strongest Brothers in the World' Luke and Tom Stoltman, ads well as newcomers including
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Who is Andrew Flynn? Meet the powerlifter competing in World's Strongest Man 2025
BRITISH strongman and powerlifter Andrew Flynn is making his debut at World's Strongest Man 2025. The qualifying round of the competition in Sacramento, California kicked off on May 15 — here's everything you need to know. 1 Andrew Flynn is competing at World's Strongest Man foe the first time in 2025 Credit: Instagram @flynnflyflynn Who is Andrew Flynn? Andrew Flynn was born on April 12, 1992 and stands at 6ft 2in tall, weighing approximately 138–142kg. He hails from Lancing and currently lives in Peacehaven, both in East Sussex. Andrew balances his strongman career with his day job in materials control at Southern Railway. He began competing at the national level in 2021, initially placing seventh in the UK's Strongest Man. more world's strongest man Over the next few years, he consistently improved, achieving fourth place in 2023, third in 2024 and 2025 at the same event, securing qualification for the World's Strongest Man. At Britain's Strongest Man 2025, he excelled in the medley, winning the event, placed second in the log lift, and also finished fourth in the Atlas Stones. He has also competed in Europe's Strongest Man and the Giants Live Strongman Classic, regularly placing in the top half of the field. Family man Andrew is a devoted family man, balancing his demanding strongman career with his responsibilities as a husband and father of two. Most read in Sport He often credits his family as his greatest motivation, emphasising how their support and encouragement have fuelled his journey to the top of the strongman world. Despite the rigorous demands of training and competition, he prioritises spending quality time with his loved ones. Shock moment ex-World's Strongest Man & MMA fighter Eddie Hall chases driver screaming 'I'll rip your f***ing head off' Unconventional training Andrew's training approach is a bit different to most competitors — His sessions are intense, often lasting longer than three hours after a full day's work. Nutrition is a critical part of Andrew's regimen — he consumes between 5,200 and 8,000 calories daily, with a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and fats. His everyday meals are substantial, with large portions of meat, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, reflecting the immense energy requirements of elite strongman athletes. Overcoming injury Andrew overcame a significant bicep injury early in his career, which sidelined him from major competitions. It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life Andrew Flynn But it also ultimately fuelled his determination to return stronger. Known as the 'Flying Flynn' in the strongman community, his resilience and work ethic have earned him a reputation as an underdog who consistently exceeds expectations. Andrew said: 'My nickname in strongman is Flying Flynn. When I first started, I'd been playing rugby, so I was a lot lighter, a lot more mobile. "I've still got that speed there, so I've always been good at the moving events. I don't really feel pain if I'm doing an event like that.' 2025 World's Strongest Man Andrew's debut at World's Strongest Man 2025 marks a significant milestone in his career. As he explained: 'It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life. "On one hand, it's hard to tell people it's attainable because it's obviously very hard to get to that level and it's taken me ten years to do it, but they're human as well. "It's about taking the veil down really. You understand the hard work that everyone's put in." He'll be facing off against the biggest names in the game, including '
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Who is Shane Flowers? Meet the powerlifter competing in World's Strongest Man 2025
SHANE Flowers is rapidly rising through the ranks of British strongmen, having previously slept on a barn floor while working 84-hour weeks. The former international powerlifter is competing in World's Strongest Man 2025 — here's everything you need to know. Advertisement 2 Shane Flowers was a powerlifter before transitioning to strongman events Credit: Who is Shane Flowers? Standing at an impressive 6'4" and weighing in at around 153–160kg, before his Strongman career, Shane was a competitive powerlifter, representing England at international level. His transition to strongman began during the Covid-19 lockdown, when gym closures forced him to improvise and train with heavy construction items such as bags of sand and weighted scaffolding poles. He Advertisement read more on shane flowers "With powerlifting you have to train with very specific kit and I no longer had access to that, but I wanted to carry on lifting weights. "So I literally just bought a budget strongman kit, which was just sandbags and logs — all that kind of stuff. "I started training on my driveway and realised I was pretty good at it." Shane's rapid rise Shane's ascent in the strongman world has been remarkably rapid. Advertisement Most read in Other Sports Latest After only eight months of dedicated strongman training, he won England's Strongest Man in 2021 — his debut competition. The victory propelled him to the Giants Live circuit, where he faced off against elite competitors including the Stoltman brothers and World's Strongest Man launches new career In his first appearance at Britain's Strongest Man in 2022, Shane finished fourth, narrowly missing a podium spot and a direct qualification for the He also placed in fifth at Europe's Strongest Man the same year, despite suffering a bicep injury on the final event. Advertisement Competition highlights Shane has consistently delivered strong performances at major events, including: England's Strongest Man 2021: Winner on debut Britain's Strongest Man 2022: 4th place Europe's Strongest Man 2022: 5th place SCL England 2023: Winner Giants Live World Open Deadlift Championships 2023: Podium finish with a 430 kg deadlift 2 Shane's transition to strongman began during the Covid-19 lockdown when gym closures forced him to improvise Credit: In addition to podium finishes, Shane has excelled in events such as the sandbag toss and Atlas Stones, often placing first in these disciplines. His background in powerlifting gives him a strong foundation in static strength, while his natural athleticism and speed make him a threat in loading races and medleys. Advertisement Balancing work and training Remarkably, Shane has achieved these impressive results while working long hours in the oil industry. Only recently has he been able to reduce his work hours to focus more on training and recovery, setting up a dedicated strongman gym at home. He explained: "I basically worked a security role on an oil farm, and I was doing upwards of 84 hours and still trying to coach and train at the same time. I was burning the candle at both ends." Outside of competition, Shane also works as an online strength coach and maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares training insights and interacts with fans. Advertisement
