South African athlete Rayno Nel finished in the top three in four out of five events at the 2025 World’s Strongest Man competition held in Sacramento.
Crowned as the World’s Strongest Man, Nel achieved this remarkable feat in his debut appearance. With this victory, he also became the first African athlete ever to win the prestigious title.
Nel had set his sights on the competition in 2023, after giving up on his dream of becoming a professional rugby player.
Describing the road to becoming the world’s strongest man as extremely demanding, Nel explained that he trains for three hours on three weeknights and for six to eight hours on Saturdays.
He consumes around 6,000 calories per day, mostly from steak, dried meat, and pasta. Weighing 148 kilograms and standing 191 centimeters tall, Nel shared that during a recent suit fitting, the tailor couldn’t find a shirt large enough to fit his neck.
Known by his nickname “The Rhino,” Nel managed to edge out Britain’s three-time champion Tom Stoltman by just half a point.
After deadlifting an incredible 490 kilograms, Nel entered the penultimate event — the Flintstone Press (a behind-the-neck shoulder press) — with a comfortable lead and went on to secure the championship title.