Invergordon, Scotland’s Tom Stoltman is using a wave after regaining the World’s Strongest Man title for 2024 after his back-to-back streak of successful in 2021 and 2022 was halted by Mitchell Hooper. Having returned to his native nation simply days in the past following these epic feats of energy in Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina, “The Albatross” sat down with M&F to bask within the glory of a job nicely achieved, discussing among the vital modifications that he made with the intention to reclaim the coveted crown.
“It’s not sunk in an excessive amount of,” admits Stoltman of his latest WSM success. “Clearly, dropping it final yr and getting it again, it’s a sort of a wee dream as a result of I wished to get three earlier than I used to be 30 years outdated, that was sort of what I mentioned in my head, and I’m 30 on the finish of this month.” Standing in Stoltman’s method was a severely sturdy class of opponents, not least of which was the person who took his spot final yr, Mitchell Hooper, however with the intention to change into the World’s Strongest Man, the bottom line is to compete at your strongest and perceive that the most important competitors is with ones self. Stoltman explains that after successful his second WSM title in 2022, he took some much-needed time without work to spend high quality time along with his spouse.
The flip aspect, he says, was that taking a number of months off and dwelling it up in Disney Land made it all of the tougher for him to get his head again within the sport when it got here time to coach in 2023. “Clearly, when you find yourself making an attempt to prep for an enormous competitors you want to be 100% and I went into that competitors, not 100%. However then, in my head as nicely, I used to be in a position to nonetheless come second place, at me being about eighty p.c, so yeah, it did harm a wee bit dropping my title however then I simply realized; proper, I must have a go.”
How did Tom Stoltman win his third World Strongest Man title in 2024?
Deciding that he wished to “have a go” at regaining strongman’s largest title, Stoltman entered a number of high-profile competitions, together with ending forward of Mitchell Hooper on the Giants Dwell Strongman Basic. Then, on the 2023 Shaw Basic, “The Albatross” pulled 499kg (1,100 kilos) within the Hummer Deadlift. He received the World Tour Finals in Glasgow however got here second to Mitchell Hooper on the Rogue Invitational to spherical out 2023. Stoltman began out sturdy once more in 2024 by successful Britain’s Strongest Man for the third time, however positioned third within the 2024 Arnold Strongman Basic, one other occasion received by Hooper. The backwards and forwards between the 2 behemoths undoubtedly set the scene for Stoltman’s hardest WSM problem but, with the previous champ seeking to make any modifications essential to get again on high.
Stoltman says that throwing himself into the combination and exhibiting what he might do was an enormous confidence booster within the run as much as the 2024 WSM. He sat down along with his trainers, vitamin coach, and sports activities psychologist to essentially dial-in and see what tweaks could possibly be made to enhance his efficiency additional. “I mentioned, look, the issues I want to vary for World’s Strongest Man this yr is up my workload within the fitness center. I don’t should get stronger, I’ve to get fitter; I want to begin operating,” shares Stoltman, who added 2K runs to his regime. “That was one in all my secrets and techniques I did there.” The strongman additionally invested in an oxygen chamber, thought to have many advantages together with sooner restoration.
Tom Stoltman strengthened his thoughts in addition to his physique to win WSM 2024
“That’s why they name it World’s Strongest Man,” says Stoltman. “As a result of, it’s not simply powerful mentally and bodily, it breaks you, and it breaks you huge time.” On the psychological aspect of his sport, Stoltman, who talked to M&F about his autism in 2022, understands that how we give attention to any job at hand can play an enormous function in our possibilities of success. The massive Scot says that he had used visualization methods previously, however took the idea additional this time round.
“I (had) by no means achieved respiratory and visualization — collectively,” he says. “Clearly, with World’s Strongest Man, its fairly lengthy days so that you’re doing, like, one occasion within the morning, and you then’re not going to be competing till 4, five-o-clock within the afternoon, so it was (about) the breathwork to get psyched as much as the occasion, however then as quickly because the occasion is over, get your heartrate again down and get better.”
Stoltman explains that he practiced this within the fitness center earlier than heading to the USA. He discovered to magnify on the exhale, making a noise as he breathes out. “Do brief breaths, and breathe type the diaphragm,” he says. “I’ve by no means felt so match, after the loading race, at World’s Strongest Man, I might have ran for one more thirty-forty seconds.” Stoltman was stunned by the enhancements that he made by controlling his respiratory and visualizing an final result, till he was on the rostrum and realized he’d really change into the champion as soon as once more.
Tom Stoltman appreciates having a worthy opponent like Mitchell Hooper
“You might be competing in opposition to your self,” says Stoltman, explaining that in case you lose sight of that then there’s no level turning as much as a contest. Within the weeks earlier than WSM 2024, Stoltman stopped placing his progress stories on social media. “I simply used all of it to my benefit. The me and Mitchell Hooper factor, it’s an enormous rivalry and the factor I like about it’s; I wanted somebody to push me as a result of, in all honesty, I assumed (in WSM) earlier than Mitchell Hooper got here I used to be successful by fairly a ways and I didn’t really want to vary an excessive amount of in my coaching, however because of Mitchell Hooper; I modified stuff in my coaching, I modified my psychological aspect of issues, and it’s made me an excellent higher athlete.”
Tv protection of the 2024 WSM is about to be broadcast worldwide to greater than 70 totally different international locations and territories, totaling near 500 million households. Within the U.S., the 2024 SBD World’s Strongest Man protection will premiere on CBS Sports activities Community and CBS starting this summer time. In the UK, the occasion can be proven through the vacation season on Channel 5. For extra data go to The 2024 World’s Strongest Man in Myrte Seaside had maybe it’s largest ever contingent of UK followers. “It was essentially the most I’ve ever seen,” says Stoltman, making his win all of the sweeter. Those that couldn’t be there, like stars from the worlds of MMA, WWE, and bodybuilding additionally despatched message of assist, together with his beloved Glasgow Rangers soccer group. “I like my Rangers,” he beams.
So, what’s subsequent? You can be happy to right here that huge Tom Stoltman is already trying in direction of WSM 2025, and he needs to see his older brother, Europe’s Strongest Man, Luke Stoltman on the rostrum too. And, irrespective of your degree of health, you possibly can study from the world’s strongest brothers by becoming a member of their on-line Stoltman Academy. Let’s get lifting!
