American strongman Bobby Thompson is calling it a career. On Aug. 18, 2025, Thompson shared a post on his Instagram page that included two photos. The first image of himself is captioned “Retired” above his head.
The second image included a more detailed statement that said, in part, “I’ve given this sport more than most but less than some as an athlete. I am proud of all I have done and leave with more than I came in with.”
Thompson’s announcement followed his withdrawal from the 2025 Strongest Man on Earth (SMOE) contest, won by Evan Singleton at the Shaw Classic in Loveland, CO, on Aug. 16-17. Thompson completed three of the six events before bowing out of his final contest.
Bobby Thompson
After winning the 2019 Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships, Thompson burst onto the strongman scene, making his World’s Strongest Man (WSM) debut in 2020. He ranked third in his group.
Thompson won the 2021 Mammoth Strength Challenge, breaking Rob Kearney’s American record in the Log Press with a lift of 217.5 kilograms. That record is currently held by Lucas Hatton, who lifted 218.7 kilograms at the 2025 SMOE.
Thompson returned to the WSM that same year and finished in ninth place overall. Thompson earned bronze at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic and won the 2022 Beerstone contest. He failed to reach that year’s WSM Final but won the 2022 America’s Strongest Man contest.
In 2023, Thompson earned bronze again at the Arnold Strongman Classic before failing to reach the WSM Final. In 2024, Thompson suffered a foot injury, forcing him to bow out of the WSM. He returned for that year’s SMOE, ranking eighth overall. He earned that same rank at the 2024 Rogue Invitational.
Thompson ranked eighth at the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic and did not compete in the WSM.
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Featured Image: @bobby_thompson_prostrongman on Instagram
