Peter JollyThe first ever Scot to win the World’s Strongest Man competition has repeated the feat by claiming the title for a second year in a row.
Tom Stoltman, from Invergordon in the Highlands, is only the tenth man to win the prestigious tournament in consecutive years since it was first launched 1977.
The 28-year-old, known as King of the Stones, defeated Oleksii Novikov in the final two events in Sacramento, California, to claim the title on Sunday.
The Ukrainian was ahead by 3.5 points going into the second last event, but Stoltman’s nine points put him 1.5 ahead going into the Atlas Stones in the final event.
The Atlas Stones is Stoltman’s signature event meaning he was the strong favourite once it got to that stage.
And the 6ft8 strongman didn’t disappoint and he came out of the final round with a convincing 10.5 lead at the top of the pile that was enough to claim his second title.
Speaking to USA Today following the victory, Stoltman, whose brother Luke is a five-time Scotland Strongest Man winner and won the Europe Strongest Man title in 2019, said: “To do it once is unbelievable. Back to back? Almost unheard of.”
In his four World Strongest Man competitions he has finished fifth, third and, after Sunday, first twice.
On having to wait until the last two rounds to bring it back and get in front, he said: “You still have to keep your head in it.
“You can’t overthink these things. It was kind of an easy ride to the end for me.”
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