Invergordon, Scotland’s Tom Stoltman is driving a wave after regaining the World’s Strongest Man title for 2024 after his back-to-back streak of profitable 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 effectively accomplished, discussing a few of the important modifications that he made so as to reclaim the coveted crown.
“It’s not sunk in too much,” admits Stoltman of his current WSM success. “Obviously, losing it last year and getting it back, it’s a kind of a wee dream because I wanted to get three before I was 30 years old, that was kind of what I said in my head, and I’m 30 at the end of this month.” Standing in Stoltman’s approach was a critically sturdy class of rivals, not least of which was the person who took his spot final yr, Mitchell Hooper, however so as to grow to be the World’s Strongest Man, the secret’s to compete at your strongest and perceive that the most important competitors is with ones self. Stoltman explains that after profitable his second WSM title in 2022, he took some much-needed day without work to spend high quality time along with his spouse.
The flip facet, he says, was that taking a number of months off and dwelling it up in Disney Land made it all of the harder for him to get his head again within the recreation when it got here time to coach in 2023. “Obviously, when you are trying to prep for a big competition you need to be a hundred percent and I went into that competition, not a hundred percent. But then, in my head as well, I was able to still come second place, at me being about eighty percent, so yeah, it did hurt a wee bit losing my title but then I just realized; right, I need to 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 Reside Strongman Traditional. Then, on the 2023 Shaw Traditional, “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 profitable Britain’s Strongest Man for the third time, however positioned third within the 2024 Arnold Strongman Traditional, 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 prime.
Stoltman says that throwing himself into the combination and displaying what he may do was an enormous confidence booster within the run as much as the 2024 WSM. He sat down along with his trainers, diet coach, and sports activities psychologist to actually dial-in and see what tweaks might be made to enhance his efficiency additional. “I said, look, the things I need to change for World’s Strongest Man this year is up my workload in the gym. I don’t have to get stronger, I have to get fitter; I need to start running,” shares Stoltman, who added 2K runs to his regime. “That was one of my secrets I did there.” The strongman additionally invested in an oxygen chamber, thought to have many advantages together with quicker restoration.
Tom Stoltman strengthened his thoughts in addition to his physique to win WSM 2024
“That’s why they call it World’s Strongest Man,” says Stoltman. “Because, it’s not just tough mentally and physically, it breaks you, and it breaks you big time.” On the psychological facet of his recreation, Stoltman, who talked to M&F about his autism in 2022, understands that how we give attention to any activity at hand can play an enormous position in our probabilities of success. The large Scot says that he had used visualization strategies prior to now, however took the idea additional this time round.
“I (had) never done breathing and visualization — together,” he says. “Obviously, with World’s Strongest Man, its quite long days so you’re doing, like, one event in the morning, and then you’re not going to be competing until four, five-o-clock in the afternoon, so it was (about) the breathwork to get psyched up to the event, but then as soon as the event is over, get your heartrate back down and recover.”
Stoltman explains that he practiced this within the health club earlier than heading to the USA. He discovered to magnify on the exhale, making a noise as he breathes out. “Do short breaths, and breathe form the diaphragm,” he says. “I’ve never felt so fit, after the loading race, at World’s Strongest Man, I could have ran for another thirty-forty seconds.” Stoltman was shocked by the enhancements that he made by controlling his respiratory and visualizing an consequence, till he was on the rostrum and realized he’d really grow to be the champion as soon as once more.
Tom Stoltman appreciates having a worthy opponent like Mitchell Hooper
“You are competing against yourself,” says Stoltman, explaining that when 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 reviews on social media. “I just used it all to my advantage. The me and Mitchell Hooper thing, it’s a big rivalry and the thing I love about it is; I needed someone to push me because, in all honesty, I thought (in WSM) before Mitchell Hooper came I was winning by quite some distance and I didn’t really need to change too much in my training, but thanks to Mitchell Hooper; I changed stuff in my training, I changed my mental side of things, and it’s made me an even better athlete.”
Tv protection of the 2024 WSM is about to be broadcast worldwide to greater than 70 completely different nations 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 will probably be proven in the course of 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 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 help, together with his beloved Glasgow Rangers soccer workforce. “I love my Rangers,” he beams.
So, what’s subsequent? You may be happy to right here that massive Tom Stoltman is already trying in direction of WSM 2025, and he desires to see his older brother, Europe’s Strongest Man, Luke Stoltman on the rostrum too. And, regardless of your degree of health, you may be taught from the world’s strongest brothers by becoming a member of their on-line Stoltman Academy. Let’s get lifting!