Tom Ryan Stoltman (born 30 May 1994) is a Britishstrongman, from Invergordon, Scotland. He is a three time winner of theWorld's Strongest Man in 2021, 2022, and 2024. He also won the national title ofBritain's Strongest Man in the same years.[2] Nicknamed "The Albatross" due to his sizeable arm span, Stoltman is known for his prowess with theAtlas Stones. He holds the world records for the 5 Atlas stones (light set) 100–180 kg (220–397 lb), completing them in 16.01 seconds, and the heaviest Manhood stone at 286 kg (631 lb).[3]
Stoltman won2021 World's Strongest Man competition, becoming the first Scotsman and fifth Briton to win the title.[4] He then won2022 World's Strongest Man, becoming only the second Briton to win two titles (37 years afterGeoff Capes) and the first to win back-to-back. In the2024 World's Strongest Man he reclaimed his title, becoming the only Briton to have won three titles.
Tom Stoltman was born inInvergordon,Ross and Cromarty to parents Ben and Sheila, ten years after his older brother and fellow strongman competitor Luke. He was diagnosed withautism at the age of 5.[5][6][7] Tom attended Newmore Primary School and Invergordon Academy in theScottish Highlands where he developed his passion for playingfootball. As a result of his performances in the school football team, Stoltman was invited to Ross County and Rangers youth set up for trials.[8] Inspired by Luke's success as Scotland's Strongest Man, Stoltman switched his attention toweight training in the local gym at the age of 16. Within a year, he was showing such potential that Luke decided to take him under his wing and guide him through training for strongman.[7]
Aged 18, Stoltman entered and won his first competition, Highlands Strongest Man. This was followed by success at the Scotland's Strongest Man (SSM) qualifier where he subsequently placed 5th in the main event.[7] In 2015 Stoltman reached the podium of SSM, finishing second only to his elder brother Luke the next three years in a row.
2017 was seen as Stoltman's breakout year: he finished second in theUK's Strongest Man competition[9] behind reigningEurope's Strongest Man,Laurence Shahlaei, and placed 6th at Britain's Strongest Man (BSM). These performances gained him an invitation to his firstWorld's Strongest Man, but he withdrew from the competition after the first two events in the heats. This was followed up by taking his first SSM win ahead of Luke in 2018, and an 8th-place finish at theWorld's Ultimate Strongman (WUS) inDubai the same year.[10][7]
Stoltman ranked 5th at the 2019 WSM and 3rd at WUS.[11][12] He also won his second SSM trophy and a podium finish at BSM. In 2020 Stoltman returned to the World's Strongest Man finals inFlorida, finishing in second place after a low scoring finish in theHercules Hold.[7] At BSM in the same year, Stoltman took 2nd place and broke the world record for the Giants Live light set of 100–180 kilograms (220–400 lb) Castle Stones in 16.01 seconds.[2]
In 2021, Stoltman won the World's Strongest Man title inSacramento, California. He won two of the first five events, placing him in first ahead of four-time winner Brian Shaw going into the final event. The win was sealed with Stoltman completing the Atlas Stone (140–210 kilograms (310–460 lb)) run in 20.21 seconds, taking the event win and overall title to Scotland for the first time in the competition's history.[13] Stoltman also wonBritain's Strongest Man in 2021, the same year in which his brother Luke won Europe's Strongest Man.[14] Stoltman ended his season coming 2nd place at theRogue Invitational.
In 2022, Stoltman successfully defended his BSM title at theUtilita Arena inSheffield, England. He then competed at theArnold Strongman Classic for the first time and placed 7th. At World's Strongest Man, Stoltman took first in his heat, winning the first 4 events. In the final, Stoltman faced three former winners: four-time winner Shaw, 2019 winnerMartins Licis, and 2020 winnerOleksiy Novikov. Stoltman won by a margin of 10.5 points, becoming only the second Briton to win two titles, 37 years afterGeoff Capes and the first ever to win back-to-back titles.[15]
After a brief period away from competing, in 2023, Stoltman came 6th at the Arnold Strongman Classic. He then came in 2nd place at the World's Strongest Man, behind championMitchell Hooper. He followed this up by beating Hooper at their next competition, Giants Live Strongman Classic at theRoyal Albert Hall though was pipped to first place by 0.5 points. At theShaw Classic, Stoltman had a slow start, picking up 0 points on the first event, but went on to win 3 of the 4 events on day 2, more event wins than any other competitor, and reach the podium.[16] During the show, Tom won the Hummer Deadlift event where he pulled 499 kilograms (1,100 lb).[16] Stoltman rounded off his 2023 season winning the World Tour Finals in his native country at Glasgow and finishing 2nd at the Rogue Invitational.
In 2024, Stoltman started his season by winning Britain's Strongest Man for the 3rd time. He then finished 3rd at the Arnold Strongman Classic continuing his podium streak. He also regained the title of Worlds Strongest Man from Mitchell Hooper, making it his 3rd Worlds Strongest Man title and 5th podium appearance. Stoltman finished 2nd at the Strongman Classic at theRoyal Albert Hall in July. He then finished 7th at the Strongest Man on Earth in Colorado. Due to injuries Stoltman had to pull out of the US Strongman Championships in Las Vegas mid competition. He finished the year placing 2nd at the Rogue Invitational inAberdeen.
In 2025, Stoltman began his season finishing 7th at the Arnold Strongman Classic in Ohio. In May, Stoltman finished 2nd at the World's Strongest Man in Sacramento, missing out on the title by half a point.
Stoltman is one of five siblings, all of whom live in and around their hometown of Invergordon close to their father, Ben. Stoltman's youngest brother Harry works for the Stoltman Brothers' business and is currently training to compete in strongman competition.[17] Stoltman married wife Sinead in 2015 and is a supporter ofRangers.[18]
Stoltman's mother Sheila died aged 56 in 2016. Stoltman and his brother Luke regularly cite their mother's influence as key to inspiring them to succeed in their careers.[19]
In 2021, a permanent tribute to Stoltman and brother Luke was installed by Invergordon Community Council in their hometown, where the signs at the entrances to Invergordon were updated to include their names and achievements. The sign reads "Welcome to Invergordon. Hometown of the Stoltman Brothers. World, European and UK Strongest Men".[20]
In 2018, alongside brother Luke, Stoltman opened a commercial gym, The Stoltman Strength Centre, in Invergordon. This was originally a joint venture with another party though is now fully owned by the Stoltman Brothers Ltd. The brothers use the facility for the majority of their training, having originally trained in Luke's home gym in his garage.[21] In 2023 the brothers announced a partnership with Glasgow based commercial strength equipment brand Primal. As part of the deal, the Stoltman Strength Centre received an upgrade and redesign.[22]
The brothers sell Stoltman Brothers branded merchandise via an online shop. Original offerings were primarily focused around images of the brothers; however this has now been built up to include more everyday lifestyle clothing with Stoltman branding, 'motivational' apparel featuring some of the company/brothers' values and quotes.[23] All clothing is sold via the Stoltman brothers website and their shop which they opened in Invergordon in 2022.[24]
Together with brother Luke, Stoltman has aYouTube channel through which they show training and competition footage, partake in various challenges, and provide an insight to everyday life for professional strongmen athletes.[citation needed]
5 Atlas Stones run (heavy set) – 120–200 kg (265–441 lb) 20.69 seconds (2019 Giants Live Wembley)
5 Atlas Stones run (light set) – 100–180 kg (220–397 lb) 16.01 seconds (2020 Britain's Strongest man) (World Record)[32]
10 Atlas Stones run – 100–200 kg (220–441 lb) 40.70 seconds (2019 World's Ultimate Strongman) (World Record)[32]
Ardblair Stones – 9 stones ranging from 18–152 kg (40–335 lb) loaded onto 4 ft 4 in (52 in) whiskey barrels in 21.81 seconds (2019 Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games) (World Record)[32]
Inver Stones (hitching post setup) – 5 Stones weighing 125–191 kg (276–421 lb) in 29.16 seconds (2021 Rogue Invitational)
Inver Stone press – 136 kg (300 lb) (2024 Arnold Strongman Classic) (Joint-World Record)
Shield carry – 200 kg (441 lb) 65.3 m (214 ft) (2022 Britain's Strongest Man) (former world record)[34]
Titan's turntable – 29,937 kg (66,000 lb) in a 30m course in 46.89 seconds (2021 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)[35]
Medley – 440 kg (970 lb) yoke for 10m course into 350 kg (772 lb) frame carry for 15m course in 18.36 seconds (2021 World's Strongest Man) (World Record)[36]
Powerlifting:
Squat (Raw with wraps) – 325 kg (717 lb) (2017 GPC Savage Pro, England)[37]
Bench Press (Raw) – 220 kg (485 lb) (2017 GPC Savage Pro, England)[37]
Deadlift (Raw) – 360 kg (794 lb) (2017 GPC Savage Pro, England)[37]
Total – 905 kg (1,995 lb) (2017 GPC Savage Pro, England)[37]
^abcd"Tom Stoltman".Open Powerlifting. 10 December 2017.Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved9 March 2021.
^"420KG DEADLIFT vs 380KG SQUAT?!"(Video).YouTube. Stoltman Brothers. 11 August 2020.Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved11 August 2020.See from 9:20 to 9:40
