When the World’s Strongest Man 2025 tournament began, all eyes were on two men; defending champion and three-time winner Tom Stoltman and 2023 champion Mitchell Hooper. Can “The Albatross” bounce back and cement his legacy as a historic fourth title, or can Hooper reclaim the title that may have literally slipped from his grasp due to the hand injury he suffered in the 2024 final?
The answer was actually C: None of the Above. This is because the man from South Africa who was considered a dark horse who can enter the finals has pulled off what some experts believe is the biggest upset of his century to win this title. Rayno Nel wasn’t a name many outside the powerhouse community knew before the tournament, but his was the last to be called the 2025 champion, taking the title by half a point to Stoltman. He did not see himself winning the title in his first go.
“I first entered with the goal of reaching the finals and competing,” said Nel. “I was a little shocked.”
From Unknown to Champion: Rayno Nel’s Rise
To know how Nel became the first person since Jouko Ahola won the title in his first year, one must go back to the way he came into the sport. Nel is from Krugersdorp, a mining town on the West Rand in Gauteng province. He was an engineer by trade but he also played rugby which he said was a religion in his area. He discovered the sport of strongman through a local competition that was held every year.
“Most of them were local boys doing it, like farmers in the community,” said Nel. Then, they will forget about it for a whole year.
Nel also saw Gerrit Badenhorst, a leading powerlifter and strongman, who would do local shows for schools and teams. Rugby was Nel’s biggest dream until about three years ago when he was having a beer with family members that he had what he calls a light bulb moment.
“Let’s try strong man,” he thought. Although his country is a big place, he has been fortunate to be around experienced athletes, including men who have been ranked high in their countries’ two major championships. Nel learned well and quickly. In 2023, he not only entered that year’s South Africa’s Strongest Man competition, but won it. Obviously, he didn’t know that was a sign of things to come, but he understood that he was strong.
“I think I did this game for six or seven months, and I just got over that.
The SCL is a respected organization within the sport, and serves as a launching pad for many of the sport’s stars. They host many national and international tournaments, and Nel wasted no time establishing himself in 2024, winning twice and ending with their world title at the end of that year. He will do the same in 2025. That victory did more than give Nel confidence; they prepared him for the last stage.
“It almost gave me the sense that, if I make it to that next level, I won’t be surprised. I know I can compete.”
Nel arrived in Sacramento, California for the WSM event and was placed in Group 3. He was joined by veteran competitors such as Shane Flowers, Lucas Hatton, and former runner Mateusz Kieliszkowski. Nel did not finish lower than second in any event in the qualifiers, and took the top spot in her heat, putting her in the final.
Nel looked poised to do the same in the finals, but in the fourth event, the Flintstone Press Max, he finished eighth. That opened the door for Stoltman or Hooper to leave. Nel and Hooper were tied for the lead going into the final game, Atlas Stones.
The purpose of the final event is to lift five stones, increasing the weight, from the ground to the platform in the fastest time. Stoltman was once called the “King of Stones”, while Hooper was a master of technology. Stoltman beat the wind in the event by less than 32 seconds, giving him the win. Nel finished third with four stones in 30.17 seconds. Hooper finished less than one second behind Nel. When the points were awarded based on the finish, Nel had won the title by less than one point. He had no knowledge of the history behind the win, but he knew that his future was changed forever.
“A lot of things have changed.”
How Rayno Nel beat Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper
As the title of Mr. Olympia in bodybuilding, becoming the World’s Strongest Man becomes part of the winner’s legacy. Nel’s name will forever be remembered for her amazing performance. There are activities associated with the title such as sports representation and international travel. Nel is privileged to be in her position but she is also passionate about her full-time engineering career, and has no plans to give it up anytime soon.
“For me, it’s a very good thing to have something to turn off the strongman part and focus a little bit that is completely different.”
When he’s in strongman mode, his training and preparation have been sound, and he’s more confident this year than last. Nel mentioned working on his upper body pressing ability and maintaining his strength in the areas he excels in such as the deadlift and carlift.
Nel wasn’t preparing alone, though. Along with his wife, Monya, he has been working with trainer Terence Bosman and celebrity nutritionist Nathan Payton to ensure he is at his best in the competition. He originally planned to compete in the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic but withdrew due to a salmonella infection and focused on defending his title. Now that he is a hunted man, he knows the other 24 men who are locked in and want to remove him from the throne.
“There are many boys who will be a threat,” he admitted. “That said, I know what Tom and Mitchell can do, but that must take less than 1% of my strength.”
Can Rayno Nel Defend His Title in 2026?
The 25 strongest men in the world converge on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from April 23-26 to compete in the 2026 edition of the World’s Strongest Man. It’s clear that Nel can’t fly under the radar this time because he’s the defending champion. On top of that, now both Stoltman and Hooper are determined to remind him who the ultimate sports manager really is.
However, Nel is not only thinking about the finals. That first trophy has worn loneliness, and he is fully committed to bringing another one back to South Africa to continue building his own legacy in the game. As for Hooper and Stoltman’s goals, Nel did what most champions in his position would do – control his preparation and effort.
“When I get to the tournament, I don’t care who the guys are or what history says, I want to do as well as possible.”
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