The 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest in Sacramento, CA, was one for the history books. For the first time in the competition’s history, a strongman from South Africa hoisted gold over his head atop the podium.
Rayno Nel didn’t just beat the two most recent WSM champions — Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper — who stood alongside Nel on the podium in second and third place, respectively. Nel accomplished that feat in his WSM debut.
In the interview below, Nel shared his mindset throughout the contest, realizing he was on the cusp of accomplishing the unthinkable, what it’s like to Hercules Hold into the lead over some of the sport’s living legends, and more.
Editor’s note: The following interview has been lightly edited for readability.
BarBend (BB): What were your WSM debut expectations?
Nel: My goal for my first appearance at WSM was to be as competitive as possible. I wanted to reach the Final, placing in the top 10. More than that, I wanted to truly test myself against the absolute best, not just make the Final, but see how my strength compared at the highest level.
BB: Did your expectations change after the Qualifying Stage?
Nel: As the competition progressed, my expectations grew. After the first day, I realized I had a good shot at winning my group and focused on scoring points that would help in the Final.
By day two, I was third overall. That’s when the possibility of a podium finish felt real. After the first day of the Final, I had a seven-point lead. For the first time, I believed I might actually win WSM.
BB: Did anything surprise you throughout the competition?
Nel: I was surprised by the deadlift setup during the Group Stage — it was much more challenging than I expected.
The kit felt completely different from a normal bar. It demanded more from the athletes. I went out first in my group and managed eight reps, which won the event in my group and ranked second overall. That was a great surprise.
Even more satisfying was taking second in the Silver Dollar Deadlift during the Final — both times behind Trey Mitchell. That’s when I realized my deadlift has reached a world-class level. It’s something I’ve worked really hard on, and seeing that pay off was incredibly rewarding, especially knowing there’s still room to grow.
BB: Did you like the new rule of the Qualifying Stage, which compared all athletes and awarded points before the Final?
Nel: I actually really liked the new points system. Even though I didn’t benefit the most from it, since two athletes in the Final started with more points than I did, I think the format is excellent.
It pushes everyone to compete hard from the very first event. By the time you reach the Final, everyone is equally fatigued, which means it truly comes down to who’s the strongest across all 10 events, not who had more rest. I’d definitely support seeing this format used again in future competitions.
BB: You excelled in events requiring agility and speed. Did the events test all the facets necessary to determine the WSM?
Nel: I think WSM is the perfect test of strength. Agility has always been an important part of strongman. You can be incredibly strong, but if you can’t move efficiently or get to the platform properly, your strength is limited. A true strongman is someone who is both powerful and athletic.
BB: Do you think five events in the Final are sufficient?
Nel: Five events in the final works really well, especially when the Group Stage points carry over.
Six events could work in theory, but considering there are 10 events across four days, adding more could lead to excessive fatigue. I think this year’s format struck the perfect balance between challenge and performance.
BB: Are there any events you want to improve?
Nel: There’s definitely still a lot of room to improve. I’m still very new to the sport and haven’t hit my peak in any event.
Some areas, like pressing, need more development. Others, like grip, might be stronger for me right now. Overall, I haven’t perfected anything yet, and that’s motivating. I’m excited about how much more I can still grow.
BB: What were your thoughts during the Hercules Hold when you knew you beat Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper to take the overall lead on the leaderboard?
Nel: The Hercules Hold, in particular, is more about pain tolerance than grip, especially with the equipment used at WSM. The knurling was aggressive, and grip wasn’t always the deciding factor.
It became more about staying mentally strong through the discomfort. I tried to zone out, not overthink it, and let time pass.
My focus during the event was trying to win it or place well. I didn’t specifically think about how Hooper or Stoltman were doing. I was locked in on my own performance. That was simply the mindset I had going into it.
BB: You showed the most emotion in the Flintstone Barbell. What happened during the lift you missed, and what were your expectations for that event?
Nel: The Flintstone Press at WSM gives you only one attempt; no room for error. Unfortunately, I made a technical mistake, and that was the end of it. I knew I was capable of completing the lift and going further, so it was frustrating to miss the chance.
The emotions in that moment weren’t about losing big points, but more about disappointment. I knew the result didn’t reflect my true ability in that event. It’s tough, but it’s part of the sport, and something I’ll use to fuel future improvements.
BB: Did you think you could beat Hooper’s time when taking the stage for the Atlas Stones? When standing next to Stoltman, awaiting the Atlas Stones results, were you surprised to hear your name, or did you know your run was enough to beat Hooper’s time?
Nel: Going into the final event, my focus was simply on doing my best. I needed to load all five stones or be the fastest to four, specifically, to beat Hooper’s time. I planned to get all five stones up, and I wasn’t aiming to be the fastest to four.
After 10 events, though, the fifth stone wouldn’t go. Since I hadn’t gone in with the strategy of rushing four stones, I genuinely didn’t know whether my time was good enough. Standing there waiting for the winner to be announced, I had no idea whether it would be me or Stoltman. It was a surreal and unforgettable moment.
BB: What can we expect from you next season?
Nel: I truly love the sport of strongman. This isn’t something I do for money or external rewards. I do it because I genuinely enjoy competing. While I appreciate the training side, it’s competition day that I live for.
BB: Will you compete in more Giants Live events or other strongman competitions before the 2026 WSM?
Nel: You’ll definitely see more of me soon. I’m planning to compete in several events, including Giants Live and some other major competitions.
Since I’m still new to the sport, every event gives me valuable experience. Each has its format, organizers, and challenge. Staying active is the best way for me to continue learning and improving.
Since Winning WSM
Nel’s first competition since winning the sport’s most prestigious title was the 2025 Strongman Champions League (SCL) Italy contest on June 7, where he won gold.
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Featured image courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
